Freeze-drying removes water from food, allowing it to last for years without spoiling. Fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and drinks can all be freeze-dried. Ready-to-eat meals and individual foods are available, including freeze-dried ice cream. Backpackers often use freeze-dried foods.
Almost any type of food can be freeze-dried to remove water, allowing the food to last for many years without spoiling. Fruits and vegetables are some of the most commonly freeze-dried foods and are often eaten dried rather than rehydrated before eating. Meats, grains, and flavored beverages are also commonly freeze-dried. Water is usually added to these foods before they are eaten.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are often freeze-dried. The fruits are usually cut into bite-sized pieces so they can be enjoyed from the pocket. While you can add water to these freeze-dried foods to reconstitute them, many people choose to enjoy them as crunchy fruit chips that are much healthier than fruit chips, such as banana chips, which are made by frying slices of fruit in oil. Vegetables are also commonly freeze-dried and can be enjoyed freeze-dried or can be reconstituted and cooked.
The drinks can also be freeze-dried. Instant coffee is commonly freeze-dried so it lasts longer without losing its flavor. The bags of powdered drink mixes are also freeze-dried and allow you to prepare sugary or fruit-flavored drinks with plain water. Some ingredients, such as herbs and spices, can also be freeze-dried to increase their shelf life.
The popularity of freeze-dried foods has spawned a variety of companies that specialize in creating ready-to-eat meals. Foods such as lasagna, rice pilaf, stir-fries and fajitas can all be cooked and then freeze-dried for future consumption. These meals can be eaten when fresh foods are not available or when a person wants to save time by preparing a quick and easy meal.
Some of the most recognizable types of freeze-dried foods are bags of freeze-dried ice cream. These products were popularized as novel dessert items and were marketed as “Astronaut ice cream” because they were consumed by people in space. Many foods eaten by astronauts are freeze-dried because they are easier to eat in zero gravity.
Freeze-dried foods can be purchased individually or in packages that contain whole meals. Backpackers often make use of freeze-dried foods stocked with all the necessities for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All that needs to be done to enjoy these meals is add water. Individual foods are also popular with people who wish they had more choice in what they will eat. There are also kits available that contain a year’s supply or more of freeze-dried foods.
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