FREEZE-DRIED FOODS
Freeze-dried foods have become increasingly
popular as storage foods in recent years. Freeze-dried (FD) foods are created
when fresh or cooked foods are first flash frozen. Moisture is removed in a
vacuum chamber and sublimated to keep it from turning to liquid. The cell
structure of the food remains the same and much of the freshness, nutrients and
color are retained. The final product is a lightweight food that can be stored
for many years.
Freeze-dried foods have many advantages:
FD foods have a long shelf life when properly stored. Some can be stored as
long as 25 years but many are best if used in 5 to 7 years.
FD food is lightweight. It is 75% to 90% lighter than the fresh food
equivalent.
FD food is available in a large variety of foods both as single foods and
meals.
FD food rehydrates quickly.
FD food looks and tastes very much like fresh or frozen food products after it
is rehydrated.
FD food is quick and easy to prepare.
In spite of the many advantages, FD food
also has disadvantages:
FD food is very expensive, comparatively.
Most FD food comes in #10 cans which should be used within 2 weeks after
opening for best quality and nutrition.
Many FD foods contain additives.
FD food is not easily replaced in many areas of the country or world. It is
locally unsustainable for most.
FD food cannot be reproduced at home.
Dehydrated food is a similar product but
the moisture is removed by slowly drying the food. A comparison of dehydrated
and freeze-dried foods is in the following chart:
|
DEHYDRATED |
FREEZE-DRIED |
| Water is
slowly removed |
Food is
quickly frozen and water removed |
| Requires a
relatively small amount of shelf space |
Requires
more shelf space since the volume is not significantly reduced |
| Heavier
because it is dense |
Lightweight |
| Takes
longer to absorb water |
Can absorb
water in about 10 minutes |
| Rehydrated
doesn't always resemble fresh |
Rehydrated
often resembles fresh |
|
Many foods can be eaten in the
dehydrated state |
Many foods can be eaten in the
freeze dried state |
|
Usually individual foods |
Individual foods and also meals |
|
Variety somewhat limited |
Wider variety available |
| More
easily replaced |
Not as readily available |
|
Can be produced at
home |
Cannot be produced at home |
|
More affordable |
More expensive |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Weight of
#10 can |
Price |
# 1/2 cup
servings per can |
Cost/
serving |
| Basic Foods |
|
|
|
|
| Black beans |
5.5 lbs |
$4.55 |
66 |
.07 |
| Pinto beans |
5.2 lbs |
$4.70 |
62 |
.08 |
| White beans |
5.3 lbs |
$4.25 |
64 |
.07 |
| Powdered milk |
4.1 lbs |
$8.60 |
164 |
.05 |
| White rice |
5.7 lbs |
$4.00 |
86 |
.05 |
| Wheat |
5.8 lbs |
$3.50 |
42 flour
77 whole |
.08
.05 |
| Macaroni |
3.4 lbs |
$4.30 |
31 |
.14 |
| Quick oats |
2.6 lbs |
$2.50 |
45 |
.06 |
| Regular oats |
2.7 lbs |
$2.50 |
45 |
.06 |
| Spaghetti |
4.3 lbs |
$4.95 |
34 |
.15 |
| White flour |
4.8 lbs |
$3.40 |
34 |
.10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Entrees |
|
|
|
|
| Dried Baked Potato Cheese Soup |
4.15 lbs |
$41.39 |
96 |
.43 |
| FD Beefy Chili with Beans |
2.25 lbs |
$41.19 |
24 |
1.72 |
| Dried Broccoli Cheese Soup |
4.15 lbs |
$41.89 |
96 |
.44 |
| Dried Cheesy Potatoes with Chives |
2.25 lbs |
$28.69 |
36 |
.80 |
| Dried Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup |
4.10 lbs |
$29.19 |
86 |
.34 |
| FD Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chicken |
1.88 lbs |
$37.89 |
24 |
1.58 |
| FD Curry Rice with Chicken |
2.03 lbs |
$37.89 |
24 |
1.58 |
| FD Dijon Rice with Chicken |
2.44 lbs |
$37.89 |
24 |
1.58 |
| FD BBQ Rice and Beans with Chicken |
2.63 lbs |
$41.39 |
24 |
1.72 |
| FD Rice with Sweet Pepper Beef Steak |
2.27 lbs |
$36.19 |
24 |
1.51 |
| Dried Vegetable Risotto |
2.25 lbs |
$30.39 |
24 |
1.27 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Meat |
|
|
|
|
| FD turkey |
20 ounces |
$42.49 |
25 |
1.70 |
| Home canned turkey @ .99/lb bone-in |
pint |
$ 1.60 |
4 |
.40 |
| FD sausage crumbles |
24 ounces |
$43.79 |
25 |
1.75 |
| Home canned sausage @ $2.00/lb |
pint |
$ 1.59 |
4 |
.40 |
| FD roast beef |
22 ounces |
$45.69 |
25 |
1.83 |
| Home canned beef roast @ $1.99/lb |
pint |
$ 2.04 |
4 |
.51 |
| FD ground beef |
29 ounces |
$44.69 |
25 |
1.79 |
| Home canned ground beef @ $1.99/lb |
pint |
$ 1.70 |
4 |
.43 |
| FD white chicken |
17 ounces |
$37.49 |
25 |
1.50 |
| Home canned chicken @ $1.49/lb |
pint |
$ 1.66 |
4 |
.42 |
| Home canned chicken @ $1.99/lb |
pint |
$ 2.16 |
4 |
.54 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Vegetables |
|
|
|
|
| FD broccoli |
7 ounces |
$19.19 |
25 |
.77 |
| FD cauliflower |
3 ounces |
$12.99 |
25 |
.52 |
| Dehydrated carrots |
48 ounces |
$17.09 |
24.5 |
.70 |
| Home canned carrots @ .40/lb |
pint |
$ .44 |
4 |
.11 |
| FD spinach |
6 ounces |
$17.69 |
25 |
.71 |
| FD green beans |
5 ounces |
$15.99 |
25 |
.64 |
| FD peas |
20 ounces |
$21.29 |
25 |
.85 |
| FD potatoes |
14 ounces |
$19.49 |
25 |
.78 |
| Dehydrated potatoes |
42.4 ounces |
$12.89 |
25 |
.52 |
| Home canned potatoes @ .30/lb |
pint |
$ .37 |
4 |
.09 |
| FD corn |
16 ounces |
$19.09 |
25 |
.76 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Fruit |
|
|
|
|
| FD bananas |
19 ounces |
$28.79 |
25 |
1.15 |
| FD blueberries |
17 ounces |
$39.89 |
25 |
1.60 |
| FD Mandarin oranges |
6 ounces |
$23.29 |
25 |
.93 |
| FD peaches |
9 ounces |
$29.09 |
25 |
1.16 |
| Home canned peaches @ .59/lb |
pint |
$ .60 |
4 |
.15 |
| Home canned peaches @ .88/lb |
pint |
$ .80 |
4 |
.20 |
| FD pears |
10 ounces |
$29.89 |
25 |
1.20 |
| FD pineapple |
19 ounces |
$37.39 |
25 |
1.50 |
| Dehydrated pineapple |
56 ounces |
$18.69 |
20.5 |
.91 |
| Home canned pineapple @ $1.99 each |
pint |
$ .97 |
4 |
.24 |
| FD strawberries |
9 ounces |
$26.69 |
25 |
1.07 |
| FD mangos |
13 ounces |
$23.99 |
25 |
.96 |
| Home canned mangos @ 3/$1 |
pint |
$ .61 |
4 |
.15 |
| FD blackberries |
14 ounces |
$35.49 |
25 |
1.42 |
| Home canned blackberries @ $3.50/lb |
pint |
$1.92 |
4 |
.48 |
*Basic storage foods are from the LDS Home Storage Centers.
Number of servings in cans from the LDS Home Storage Center are based on
weight/volume equivalency charts in Pantry Cooking: Unlocking Your Pantrys
Potential by Cheryl Driggs. Prices are as of May 2011.
+Freeze dried and dehydrated foods are from Shelf Reliance.
Number of servings of FD foods are based on a #10 can volume being 12-3/4 cups,
assumes that the cans are completely full and that the volume of the freeze
dried food does not significantly increase upon rehydration. Number of servings
of dehydrated foods are according to can label. Shelf Reliance was chosen for
this study because of the variety of FD foods available and comparable pricing
to other popular sources for FD foods. Prices are as of May 2011.
#Home canned prices include one canning lid at .17 each.
Pounds/amounts per jar are based on personal home canning experience in
2008-2011.
Too many people equate #10 cans of freeze
dried and dehydrated food (including powdered eggs) with food storage. These can
be a part of food storage after the basics are stored but are not a requirement
and no one should give the impression that they are required. Freeze-dried and
dehydrated food is a supplement to, not a replacement for, basic foods. It is
not the long-term storage we have been counseled to have.
Freeze-dried food is locally unsustainable
for most. When you become dependent on freeze-dried foods, you become dependent
on something you will never be able to create yourself that is not readily
available in most communities. Freeze dried food creates a false sense of
preparedness and takes the frugality and self-reliance out of food storage.
Freeze-dried food is a good supplement when
the budget allows but think twice before storing only freeze-dried foods or
relying heavily on them in your food storage. There are wiser ways to have
your food storage. A year's supply of freeze dried food is the world's answer to food
storage, not God's.
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