[baja]

Just now discovered this subforum.
Does anyone here freeze dry foods? I am new at it and looking for hints and advice.
Thanks

 

[Rory]

Does anything retain its flavor?

 

[spencegunsmithing]

Does anything retain its flavor?

I’m curious to hear the answer seems practical and beneficial

 

[ScottD]

Didnt you guys ever spend your allowance on 'space food' as a kid at the grocery store? Sure it keeps its flavor. Freeze dried strawberries taste like Styrofoam and strawberries. Freeze dried ice cream tastes like .....Styrofoam and ice cream. Its like eating a mouthful of delicious flavored styrofoam. Now if you take your time and cook it, (and really cook it, not just pour hot water) most foods reconstitute to a slightly mushier version than before. Everything tastes mostly the same, just mushier.

 

[50Cal Indian]

Everytime I wonder through the camping section. I see freeze dried icecream sandwiches. All I can do is poke them with a stick. Yep, they're dead...like a opossum, I'm not trying them.

OP sorry 😞 you may have come to the wrong place. I'm sure you can find better answers elsewhere. Only thing that comes to mind is an old episode on food network with Alton Brown. But it may have been an about flash freezing.

Have done some Dehydrator stuff. The worst was when the wife would put a batch of hot peppers in over night. Does anyone know what it's like to walk into pepper spray first thing in the morning? Still brings a tear to my eye thinking about it. 😭 And yes, some were ghost peppers. Then we had a designated coffee grinder to grind them for seasoning. And yes, she has entire cupboard designated to spice/seasoning. The best was when she would make hot pickled eggs. Then I would turn them into what I call "dare deviled eggs". But I don't believe that is what you're looking for. I apologize for the derailment. I can't help it, I live in Ohio. It's what we do.😂

 

[spencegunsmithing]

Everytime I wonder through the camping section. I see freeze dried icecream sandwiches. All I can do is poke them with a stick. Yep, they're dead...like a opossum, I'm not trying them.

OP sorry 😞 you may have come to the wrong place. I'm sure you can find better answers elsewhere. Only thing that comes to mind is an old episode on food network with Alton Brown. But it may have been an about flash freezing.

Have done some Dehydrator stuff. The worst was when the wife would put a batch of hot peppers in over night. Does anyone know what it's like to walk into pepper spray first thing in the morning? Still brings a tear to my eye thinking about it. 😭 And yes, some were ghost peppers. Then we had a designated coffee grinder to grind them for seasoning. And yes, she has entire cupboard designated to spice/seasoning. The best was when she would make hot pickled eggs. Then I would turn them into what I call "dare deviled eggs". But I don't believe that is what you're looking for. I apologize for the derailment. I can't help it, I live in Ohio. It's what we do.😂

I also live in Ohio…… we nothing 😂😂that’s all you😎

 

[Knowarms]

Its not that bad. I would say everything I have had that my friends wife drys. Is all right. Taste like it should but texture is different

 

[Karl_T]

IMHO, freeze dry is not the way to go. Too much work for too little quality.

We can a HUGE amount of garden produce. Freeze a bunch more. Dehydrate a bunch of fruit - especially apples. Lots of root crops will store nearly a year if you take care to get great storage conditions.

For SHTF, store bushels of grains, rice, beans.

my two cents.