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Freeze-dried raspberries are made by removing moisture through cold, making them crunchy but regaining softness when moistened. Home cooks can dry freeze raspberries in a regular freezer, but store-bought options are available. Properly freeze-dried raspberries can last for years and are used in various dishes.
Freeze-dried raspberries are raspberries that have had their moisture removed through severe cold rather than heat. Commercially freeze-dried raspberries are frozen, then vacuum sealed to extract all of the water. This storage method is popular with green living advocates because it requires no artificial preservatives and allows the berries to retain most of their nutrients.
Store-bought freeze-dried raspberries are usually hard, dry, and very crunchy. They instantly regain a soft, chewy texture when moistened with liquid. Cereal companies often include them in oatmeal mixes and fruity breakfast cereals. Freeze-dried raspberries absorb milk or water quickly and add a fresh fruit flavor to your morning meal.
Home cooks looking for a way to store raspberries for winter use have two options: buy a freeze dryer and dry freeze the fruit. Freeze drying machines are generally expensive and impractical for gardeners and cooks who only want to preserve a few berries. A cheaper option is dry freezing, which is done inside a regular freezing unit and is essentially the same as freeze-drying. Temperatures inside a home freezer typically don’t drop as much as they do inside a freeze dryer, so raspberries stored in a regular freezer usually don’t dry out completely.
Dry freezing usually begins with gently spreading the raspberries in the bottom of a freezer-safe container. You must then place the container inside a freezer unit for 24 to 48 hours. The longer the berries stay in the freezer, the more moisture evaporates from them. The berries can then be placed in a vacuum sealable plastic bag and vacuum sealed. This type of freeze-dried raspberry should remain frozen or refrigerated until ready to use.
Raspberries exposed to pesticides should be washed before freezing. Just gently blot them with a paper towel to dry them after rinsing. Bruised or broken berry skin could cause freezer burn. If any of the husks break during the wash, it’s best to eat or use those berries immediately. Only whole berries freeze well.
Properly freeze-dried raspberries should remain fresh and edible for several years. Those stocking up on emergency food supplies should invest in freeze-dried fruits and vegetables. They can be hard to find in local grocery stores, but online survival websites and health food distributors generally sell freeze-dried raspberries and other foods at competitive prices. Uses for freeze-dried raspberries include: a side of ice cream, an addition to a parfait, a smoothie flavor, or an ingredient in fruity blends.
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