Freezing any food not only saves money, but it’s also time-saving. In the event of a sale, you may stock up on significant quantities of food that you can freeze and then thaw as per your requirement.
You may do this with many foods, but have you ever frozen dried fruit? Confusing, right, so the question arises can you freeze-dried fruit?
Is Freeze-dried fruit healthy?
According to the USDA, almost any product may be frozen, and dried fruit is no exception. Because the dried fruit has already been preserved, it is more susceptible to freezing than other fruits.
You can preserve dried fruit in the freezer while retaining its original flavor, texture, and nutritional value.
Freeze Drying of Fruits
It is possible to preserve fresh fruits without using preservatives by freeze-drying them, and it is one of the valuable ways to maintain the nutritional value of the fruit.
You can use a freeze-dried as a nutritious snack, used to sweeten food, or to bake.
The commercial procedure of freeze-drying fruit entails placing the fruit in a vacuum chamber at a temperature below freezing. The fruit’s solid water molecules form a gas, dissolving and escaping from the meal.
This process preserves the fruit and berries in their natural state and much of the nutrition they contain.
After processing, you must package freeze-dried fruit. You should use airtight, moisture-proof packaging to maintain its freshness.
It is possible to freeze-dry fruit at home with the right equipment, but a freeze dryer and its attachments might cost thousands of dollars. But, Lyophilization is when you freeze fruit in a vacuum-sealed container and then dehydrate it.
Still, you can freeze-dried fruit at home; here is a guide.
Freeze Dried Fruit at Home
Photo Credit: Unsplash
- Take the dried fruit out of the bag or container.
- The fruit should be thoroughly cooled before you freeze it if you dry it yourself.
- Divide the fruit into servings and freeze each one in a freezer bag.
- When closing the bags, take care to push out every last bit of air.
- Do not forget to date the bags.
- Put the bags in a freezer container that is vapor and moisture-proof.
- Keep it in your freezer at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If adequately kept and frozen, dried fruit may last for up to a year in your freezer.
Helpful Tip: Defrost only the amount of dried fruit you intend to eat or use. Constant defrosting and refreezing can cause the texture and flavor of the fruit to degrade. Discard dried fruit if it seems moldy or slimy, tastes rotten, or produces a terrible odor.
Advantages of Freeze-Dried Fruits
Take edge of these advantages by using freeze-dried products in your next application.
Lots of Fiber
Freeze-dried fruit has a lot of fiber. For a healthy digestive system and reduced cholesterol, consuming the recommended daily allowance of fiber is essential.
Crispy Bananas provide two grams of nutritional fiber in each bag, making them a good choice for individuals trying to increase their fiber intake.
It’s a tasty win-win situation!
High Concentrations of Nutritional Components
One serving of freeze-dried fruit provides a powerful nutritional punch! Freeze-dried fruits retain up to 90% of their original nutritional value.
As a result, you no longer need fresh fruit on hand to achieve your recommended daily intake of vitamins C and A.
You can also ask a Nutritionist to confirm more about it.
Low in Calories/Fat
With only 55 calories or fewer per bag, Freeze-dried fruit is an excellent option for people who like a sweet snack but are trying to watch their weight.
Freeze-dried fruit makes up nearly half of each serving in this recipe, and it does not include any added sugars, sweeteners, or preservatives because the sole ingredient is the fruit itself.
So you may indulge in guilt-free munching at any moment, even on the go!
More Shelf Life and Freshness
It is theoretically possible to keep freeze-dried substances for several years. The prepped fruits are dehydrated using the freeze-drying technique, and oxygen is removed from cans and pouches to preserve the freshness of these fruits.
Additional oxygen absorbents are an option. The fruits serve this way will taste better. Freeze-dried fruits have a longer shelf life than their fresh counterparts. It is possible to keep these items in your pantry.
You get extra space in your freezer if you use freeze-dried fruits for smoothies and shakes instead of large bags of frozen fruits.
Easy to Prepare
Preparation of freeze-dried fruit is a simple process, and it simply necessitates fast rehydration of the fruit, making it excellent for long-term storage.
You can reconstitute most freeze-dried foods by adding warm water to the product.
Variety
You can use freeze-dried fruit to make various sweets and meals. It’s as if you’ve got a freezer full of freeze-dried strawberries or freeze-dried raspberries.
There is a lot of research showing that freeze-dried fruits are healthy and beneficial. You can use it alone or add it to your snack, adding more value.
The most commonly freeze-dried fruits are berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries), grapes, mango, peaches, bananas, etc.
If you want to get expert advice on this, you can book an appointment with the Best Nutritionist to have an adept discussion.
FAQs
1. Is freeze-dried fruit a good option for health?
Freeze Dried fruit contain Vitamins and minerals making it an excellent supplement to a healthy diet.
2. How dehydrated and freeze-dried fruit differ?
Heat drying procedures remove moisture from dehydrated meals and can reduce the product’s flavor. Freeze-dried goods (even fruits!), on the other hand, maintain much of their natural flavor.
3. How can I use freeze-dried fruits?
When you add freeze-dried fruit to water, it only takes about five minutes for the fruit to rehydrate, giving the water a delicious fruit taste in the process. Aqua Fruit and a pitcher of water are all you need.
About The Author:
Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology, and nutrition and provides in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.