The most recent popular form of preserved foods is freeze dried foods. Freeze dried foods are a fantastic way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables.
This method of preserving food will save you time, money, and perhaps your life. Freeze dried foods are also appealing because they do not lose their nutritional value or taste.
Freeze drying consists of a process that includes cold temperatures and low pressure. These two factors combine to have an effect on food that can prevent it from spoiling.
The effect of the process of freeze drying is known as sublimation. Sublimation is when a solid skips changing into a liquid and becomes a gas.
Foods that are dried this way have a very long shelf life. When they are to be eaten, they are also easy to prepare and revitalize.
The packages of food storage are also very easy to store and move around compared to other forms of food storage because of much of the weight is removed as the food dries. In fact, 98 percent of the weight comes from the water stored within the food.
Freeze drying can be done in two different ways. One way uses high technology, and the other only require technology most people in America have in their homes.
The low technology way is a great way for people who cannot afford to buy the fancy prepackaged preserved foods at a store for their food storage. The only things you will need for freeze drying at home include a normal freeze, the food to be frozen, and a rack with holes in it.
This way will cost you more in time however. For people who are trying to budget their time in a wiser manner, but can afford to spend some money, the high technology way is the best solution for their food storage problem.
The high technology way involves either investing in the technology itself or simply purchasing freeze dried foods at the store. No matter how you decide to develop your personal food storage, a personal food storage supply is a necessary thing to develop.
If you are planning to go with the financially economic option of freeze drying, the best foods to begin with are apples and potatoes. Home grown products are always the best, but purchased products will work as well.
Try to pick fruits or vegetables that are fully ripe, but not too far past their prime. Then, take the mesh metal tray with holes in it and make sure it is washed.
If you do not have one of these trays you can easily find one at any restaurant store. The holes will allow the drying process to occur more quickly because both sides of the fruit or vegetable will be exposed to the air.
If you only have a tray that does not have holes in it, it can be used, but it will take much longer. Then, cut the apple, potato, or other fruit or vegetable into thin slices.
The thinner you can cut the fruit or vegetable, the less time it will take to dry. Likewise, the thicker you cut each slice of fruit or vegetable, the longer it will take to dry.
Then, lay the slices on the mesh metal tray. The slices should not overlap or they will take longer to dry, and they will stick together.
Then, place the tray in the freezer. Depending on the thickness of the fruit or vegetable slices, they should be frozen in a half an hour.
Likewise, depending on the thickness of the slices, the fruit or vegetables will be completely dried in about a week. In order to test the slices to see whether or not they are completely dry, simply pull a slice out of the freezer and let it thaw.
If it turns black when it thaws, it was not completely dry. Leave the rest of the slices in the freezer and test one every day until the slice does not become black when it dries.
When the slices are done, place them in an air-tight container or zip lock bag. Remove as much air as possible and put the bag in the freezer until it is needed.
Apples can be eaten while still freeze dried, but other foods can be reconstituted by placing it in hot water. Store bought freeze dried foods can be stored at room temperature however.
There are definitely advantages to both methods of freeze drying.
Author Resource:-
Terry Daniels is an accomplished expert in family preparedness and has been giving seminars for over 15 years. He recommendsFreeze Dried Foods to be included in your emergency food storage.
Contact Info:
Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com
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