Want to know how to store freeze-dried food? In this post we share all the tips and tricks to preserve and store it to make it last longer.
Freeze-dried food has been a growing trend in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. This food is lightweight, easy to pack, and lasts for a long time.
However, there are some common misconceptions about storing them, so we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to store freeze-dried food.
Jump to:
- 👪 The Benefits of Freeze-Dried Food
- 🤔 What food can be freeze-dried
- 💭 The Best Ways to Store Freeze Dried Food
- 🍓 Storing Freeze-Dried Food
- 🌡️ Where should you store your freeze-dried food?
- 🍽 Things that would be convenient to have
- ⏲️ How long does freeze-dried food last
- ✔️ Is it safe freeze-dried food?
- 📋 Summary of how to preserve freeze-dried food
From storing in containers, packaging in bags or jars, and where you could keep your product in the home, this guide will teach you all you need to know.
👪 The Benefits of Freeze-Dried Food
There are plenty of situations where freeze-dried food can come in handy, such as hiking or camping, but it also can be a great option for home use. There are also emergencies where freeze-dried food may be your only option for eating.
Some of the benefits of freeze-dried foods are:
Freeze-dried foods are minimally processed.
In addition, freeze-drying preserves the quality of the food and the flavor and nutritional value of raw foods.
It weighs less by removing approximately 97% moisture content from food, so freeze-dried food offers convenience, portability and also takes up less space.
In addition, by removing the water content, bacterial growth is eliminated. So, if you conveniently preserve freeze-dried food, it will have long term storage.
And having a longer shelf life than canned goods means your investment will last longer too.
As for the cooking time, freeze-dried foods can be ready in less time.
🤔 What food can be freeze-dried
Different types of food can be freeze-dried. In addition, most small fruits and vegetables are good candidates for freeze-drying, including broccoli, corn, peas, carrots, bananas, peaches, and blueberries.
Meat such as chicken, turkey, beef, and pork make delicious meals after the dehydration process. Seafood also does well in a freeze dryer.
With so many options available, it is almost impossible not to find food that your family enjoys!
Companies specializing in freeze-dried food offer various products that even include full meals.
For example, some Mountain House products are Chicken Fried Rice, Pasta Primavera, or Lasagna with Meat Sauce.
💭 The Best Ways to Store Freeze Dried Food
Freeze-dried food keeps almost indefinitely if you store it properly. Freeze-dried food is dehydrated or partly dehydrated by freeze-drying.
When you remove the water, you get a much longer shelf life out of your food than if you’d kept it in its original state.
You can even find freeze-dried versions of many foods at the grocery store.
But how do you store your freeze-dried food once you’ve purchased it? Here are some tips to help your long-term storage go smoothly.
🍓 Storing Freeze-Dried Food
Storing freeze-dried food is vital for emergency situations. However, it can be challenging to keep it properly if you don’t know what you are doing.
First, there are three primary considerations when storing freeze-dried food: temperature, light, and humidity.
The temperature should always stay below 60°F, and the relative humidity should be less than 80% to prevent food spoilage.
You should also avoid storing these foods in direct sunlight or any other type of light.
Finally, you will need an airtight container to prevent moisture and insects.
These containers should have a water-tight seal to ensure the safety of your freeze-dried food supply for years to come.
Containers
Containers are essential for storing your food supply. You will need to keep your food in airtight seal and water-tight containers.
Labels for your food
Labels are a great way to keep track of your food.
Labeling your freeze-dried food safely and efficiently is essential to know what food you have in your stockpile and the deadline on which you can consume it.
You will want to label the name of the product, its expiration date, and any other information that might be necessary.
There are many different types of labels on the market that you can use.
They come in various sizes so you can find the right one for your needs.
The benefits include writing directly on them with an ink pen or marker, and they are waterproof.
They are removable without leaving any sticky residue on the container or on the surface where it was removed from, making it easy for you to reuse containers again later on!
For example, using a label maker or writing on them with a permanent marker is inexpensive. Still, it doesn’t last as long as adhesive labels.
Storage space
One of the people’s main concerns about storing freeze-dried food is how much space they will take up.
You may be surprised to learn that these foods, when packaged correctly, take up a fraction of the space that canned food does.
While you can store canned food on its side, you should always keep freeze-dried food upright.
When you store your freeze-dried food in boxes or containers, make sure to leave some headspace for fresh air circulation.
This headspace will help protect the food from spoilage and provide more storage flexibility.
Mylar Bags to store freeze-dried food
Freeze-dried food can be stored in Mylar bags, specifically designed to keep these types of foods.
These bags are airtight and allow the perfect environment for freeze-dried food storage.
They are also light-resistant, which will help keep your food from spoiling quickly.
🌡️ Where should you store your freeze-dried food?
Properly storing your freeze-dried food is essential.
Exposure to excessive heat and moisture can damage food, leading to clumping or poor taste and smell.
Always store freeze-dried foods in an airtight container.
🍽 Things that would be convenient to have
Mylar bags
Mylar bags are great because they are reusable. You can use them for other purposes after storing your food supply.
For example, you could use it as a protective bag while packing fragile items in your luggage when traveling.
Or use them to seal away clothes you will not wear until next season.
If you’re looking for an airtight container to store your freeze-dried food, Mylar bags are the best option.
They offer protection against spoilage and help control bugs that may enter the container by accident.
Oxygen absorber
Storing your food in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers prevents oxidation and prolongs shelf life.
These products absorb oxygen molecules from inside your package. These absorbers help ensure that it’ll stay fresh much longer.
Vacuum sealers
The quickest and easiest way to store dried food is in a vacuum-sealed pouch.
You can purchase vacuum sealers in some stores or online.
You pour your food into a bag and use the vacuum pump to remove as much air out of it as possible before sealing it shut.
⏲️ How long does freeze-dried food last
Freeze-dried food has a long shelf life.
To keep it in perfect condition for a long time, you’ll want to make sure that you store your food in a tightly sealed container and that you keep it out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
It is also a good idea to check on your freeze-dried food now and then and make sure that everything is fine.
✔️ Is it safe freeze-dried food?
Freeze-dried food is safe to eat.
📋 Summary of how to preserve freeze-dried food
Find the best storage containers for your food
As you are undoubtedly aware, plastic containers and plastic bags can break down over time and be a problem because they can affect temperature and humidity levels.
You want to make sure that any container or bag is airtight and moisture-proof. The size of the container doesn’t matter when it comes to how to store freeze-dried food as you can break up your food into smaller batches and split it between a couple of them.
Store your bags in a cold and dry place
Even if you have an airtight container, that does not mean that it will keep out moisture.
To prevent any condensation from forming inside the container, you need to store it in a cold and dry location.
Keep your containers sealed until you are ready to use them
As with any foodstuff, moisture will be one of your main enemies.
If you start using some of your food before the rest, you’re going to end up with moldy bits.
So make sure to keep all the containers sealed until you are ready to use them.
For this reason, it’s also best not to open your bags or containers more than necessary.
You can take out what you need and then reseal the bag.
Consider vacuum sealing your food
Vacuum sealing isn’t foolproof, but it can help. Some people like to remove their food from their bags and then vacuum pack them themselves.
It’s worth looking into this option if you want to extend the shelf life of your food even further.
Keep everything in a cold temperature and dark place
As with anything else you store, you want to keep it somewhere cool and dry.
Don’t just assume that if the container is airtight, it’s automatically going to be okay.
It would be best to try not to expose it to too much light, as it will quickly degrade some products.
Keep an eye on the dates
When storing freeze-dried food, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and assume that anything you haven’t eaten within a few months is bad.
As with any other type of foodstuff, your senses are still your best bet.
If you can do a smell test or even take off the lid, look around for any dark spots or signs of mold.
If it seems like something has grown in your containers, assume that everything is no longer good and discard it right away.
Finally, don’t be afraid to try different food preservation methods.
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