How to Freeze-Dry Food at Home Without a Machine

Freeze-drying is an excellent method to use if you want to preserve food. You’ll always have some of your favorite foods on hand regardless of the season. It’s also a great way to save some money. 

Freeze-drying food is usually done using a specialist machine. But if you don’t have one of these, you can still do it using your freezer or with dry ice. As long as you have the time to do it and you follow the instructions, both methods work great.

What food is best for freeze-drying?

When you freeze-dry foods like fruit and vegetables you can ensure you have an endless supply of your favorites. While fruit and vegetables are the best to freeze-dry, you can also freeze-dry whole meals, desserts, dairy, and certain meats. When choosing food to freeze-dry, make sure you use fresh food products that can be cut into small pieces. This will ensure the food lasts for much longer. 

How to freeze-dry food with a freezer

If you don’t have a freeze-dryer, you can use your household freezer instead. It does take much longer than using a machine, but the results are good and you don’t have to purchase an expensive freeze-dryer.

To freeze-dry food using your freezer, follow these instructions. 

• Wash the food items you want to freeze-dry to remove any dirt and other residue from them. This ensures food safety and helps the freeze-drying process work better.
• Cut the food items into small pieces. This helps the freeze-drying process.
• Place the food you want to freeze-dry on a flat tray, making sure the food is evenly spread. Making sure it’s spread properly is important because you want the food to freeze evenly.
• Next, place the trays of food in your freezer. Before closing the door, make sure the freezer temperature is set correctly.
• Leave the trays in your freezer for two weeks. The food needs this long for all of the moisture to be removed.
• After two weeks, remove the trays from your freezer and quickly place the food items into small airtight bags. Only take one tray out at a time to avoid the food rehydrating while you’re bagging it. 
• Place the bags in your freezer or the pantry in a cool, dark spot. 
• After a couple of days, check the bags (especially if they are in the pantry) to make sure the food has properly air-dried. If not, it will probably have to be thrown out.
• If the freeze-drying process works correctly, you can safely store the food for many months.

How to freeze-dry food with dry ice

Another freeze-drying method you can employ if you don’t have access to a freeze-dryer or don’t want to wait two weeks for the food to freeze-dry is to use dry ice. Dry ice works well because it rapidly removes moisture from the food, allowing it to freeze-dry quickly.

To freeze-dry food using dry ice, follow these instructions: 

• Wash the food items you want to freeze-dry to remove any dirt and other residue from them. This ensures food safety and helps the freeze-drying process work better.
• Cut the food items into small pieces. This helps the freeze-drying process.
• Next, place the food you want to freeze-dry in freezer-safe bags. Make sure to use bags that are designed for use in the freezer and can withstand very low temperatures. Next, place the bags of food in a cooler, making sure you leave enough room for both the bags and the dry ice.
• Once the food is in the cooler, cover it with dry ice. Make sure you use enough dry ice to cover the food completely, but not so much that it spills over the sides of the cooler. It’s important to handle dry ice with care as it can cause burns if it comes into direct contact with the skin. It’s best to wear gloves and use tongs or a scoop when handling dry ice.
• Leave the food in the cooler with the dry ice for 24 hours before removing the bags. The food should be completely freeze-dried at this point, with all the moisture removed. You can store the freeze-dried food in your freezer or pantry. The food will stay fresh for many months.

How do I rehydrate my freeze-dried food?

After successfully freeze-drying your food using your freezer or with dry ice, it’s essential to learn how to rehydrate it properly when the time comes to eat it. Small-sized fruits and vegetables can be eaten directly out of the bag. If you prefer, you can sprinkle a small amount of water on them to revive their texture. For larger freeze-dried items like whole meals, leave the bag in a warm place for a few minutes and the food should start to rehydrate. You can then heat the meal on the stovetop or in the microwave.