Differences Between Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Food

Do you know what freeze-dried foods and dehydrated foods are? Do, you know how they differ? Well, they are both able to withstand long term storage, which varies between product types. Yet, there are notable differences between the freeze-dried and dehydrated food. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Differences Between Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Food

What are freeze-dried foods?
Freeze-dried foods are foods that are frozen very quickly and then dried out. They are then packaged as fully-cooked gourmet meals.

The drying process involves removing the water from the foods using extremely cold temperatures. When you freeze dry foods, it removes 98% of all water, but none of the flavor.  This allows the foods to keep all their fresh taste, nutrients and vitamins that they originally contained. Removing so much moisture also causes the foods to weigh less. This is a good benefit in an emergency situation, especially during an evacuation. Freeze drying foods is usually more expensive then dehydrating your foods. But, the quality speaks for itself.

Whether you want to freeze-dry or dehydrate your foods, both are a benefit to have in your food storage. Having both adds variety to your food supply because both types are prepared differently. Dehydrated foods can be cooked using your very own recipes. You just add the ingredients and seasoning that you desire. However, freeze dried food comes as prepared meals. All you have to do is add water, and you’re ready to eat in ten minutes.

What are dehydrated foods?

Dehydrated foods are quality foods, picked at their ripest points. They’re cleaned properly and trimmed, leaving only the best parts.

These top quality choice foods have 98% of their moisture removed. This process is done using a sophisticated dehydrating process. Next, the foods are packaged and sealed to ensure that they will last as long as possible during storage. This process takes a lot longer and the food appearance will change. Some people say that the taste is very different. But, many still enjoy eating dehydrated foods like bananas, apples and other fruits.
Dehydrated foods are usually packed without adding seasoning or any additional ingredients. There are some exceptions though, such as mixes, stews and soups. These products include multiple ingredients and can be used “as-is” without adding any additional items.

Freeze-Dried vs. Dehydrated

No matter which you choose, both are able to provide the nutrients and vitamins that you need on a daily basis during a crisis. There are advantages to using either one. Many technical advances have been made, redefining these processes since the early days of sun dried foods.

The old question remains, still left unanswered, which foods are better freeze dried or dehydrated? The only one that can make that determination is you, based on your own personal preferences and needs.

Author Bio
This article was written by Chett Wright who is an emergency preparedness expert. Click here to learn about food storage and emergency preparation.

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