Are you in love with freeze-dried candies? We know we are! Here at That Sweet Lyfe, we’re dedicated to bringing you the very best freeze-dried candy and snacks in Canada (and hopefully, the world!). Whether you want to munch on our freeze-dried fruits, get your sugar fix with our freeze-dried candies, or up your hydration game with our freeze-dried B*tch Water slices, That Sweet Lyfe is here for you and all your freeze-dried cravings.
But you might be wondering, what actually is freeze-drying? You know you love freeze-dried snacks, but how are they made? If that’s you, keep reading because in this blog, we’re going to explain the science behind the freeze-drying process: what it is, how it works, and why it tastes so darn good.
Freeze-drying is, in its simplest terms, the process of removing the moisture from a piece of food or candy. Freeze-drying eliminates the water from food, which transforms its texture and can even enhance its flavour. Plus, freeze-drying extends the shelf life of your favourite foods by years, without affecting the nutritional value of the food – that’s why it’s such a popular option among campers, hikers, and even astronauts!
The process of removing the water content from the food is fascinating, and has three major steps involved: freezing, sublimation, and adsorption. The science behind these steps can be a bit complicated, so here at That Sweet Lyfe, we like to use the Harvest Right freeze-dryer to ensure every step is done right.
But let’s break down what’s going on in each of these steps! In the first step, freezing, the food is frozen to below its triple point. This means that all the water content in the food, whether solid, liquid, or gas, becomes solid ice.
Once all the water in the food is turned into ice, then sublimation can occur. In this step, the freeze-dryer lowers the pressure inside the machine and increases the temperature. When the pressure is lowered and the temperature is raised, the ice in the food is turned directly into gas. It essentially skips the liquid phase. By turning the ice into gas through sublimation, the water molecules are able to escape the food. About 95% of the food’s water is removed through sublimation.
The rest of the water is removed in the third and final step: adsorption. In this step, the freeze-dryer raises the temperature even more. This allows the stubborn water molecules that remained stuck to other molecules in the food to break away and be removed.
When the freeze-drying process is complete, you’re left with an absolutely delicious snack. It’s the perfect way to switch up your snack routine. Freeze-drying keeps all the amazing flavour of the original snack, but adds a fun new texture that transforms your tasting experience. Candies that were once chewy or hard become light, airy, and perfectly crisp. Sometimes freeze-drying can even enhance the sweetness of the food by removing the water, leaving you with a bite of pure sugar. Yum!
Clearly, freeze-drying is one of the coolest ways to play around with your food. But if these steps all sound a bit too complicated, don’t worry – you can still enjoy delicious, freeze-dried candies and food whenever you want. Check out our product pages and order a batch of That Sweet Lyfe products today. You’ll never look back!