How to Do Your Own Freeze Drying Food Storage
Freeze drying is a form of food preservation that removes all of the moisture from the food. Freeze drying food is a popular method because it doesn't have much of an fan effect on taste, and food can be rehydrated and eaten normally. Though freeze-drying typically takes a special vacuum chamber, you can freeze dry food at home using a baking sheet and freezer. When you first start out freeze-drying your own food, apples, potatoes, and carrots are the easiest to work with and are recommended for beginners. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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How to Freeze Dry Food at Home
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Use a sharp knife to cut the apples, potatoes, and carrots into paper-thin slices. The thinner you slice the food, the faster they are to freeze dry, so this step is important.
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Arrange the fruits and vegetables on the perforated pan. A cooling rack, mesh tray, or pizza pan with holes is the best for this experiment. If you don't have a perforated pan, you can use a normal cookie sheet; the freeze drying process will just take longer. Place them in the freezer.
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Leave the food in the freezer for about a week, checking them sporadically. After a week, the slices should be completely dry, because the water in the food has transformed into water vapor. To test the fruits and vegetables to see if they are ready, remove 1 slice from the freezer and allow it to thaw in room temperature. If the slice turns black, it is not completely dry, so you'll need to test them again in a few days.
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Tips & Warnings
To eat the foods you have freeze dried, place them in a bowl with a small amount of boiling water, and they will be ready to serve. You can also eat the dried food, as is.
