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Today we dive into how to freeze dry fresh peaches. The world of freeze drying has absolutely exploded. And we for one jumped on board with this concept the moment we heard that freeze dried foods can last up to 25 years! That is not a typo, let me say it again….
….food that is freeze dried can last up to 25 years!
In this article we will explain what this freeze drying contraption even is, how it all works and finally how to freeze dry those beautiful delicious peaches you may have picked up from a local farmers market! If you are a freeze drying veteran and want to skip on over to the meat and potatoes of the this article click through the table of contents!
Table of Contents
- ….food that is freeze dried can last up to 25 years!
- What is a Freeze Dryer?
- When Was Freeze Drying Invented?
- Why Should I freeze Dry My food?
- Yes, But Is The Food Good?
- How Long is Freeze Dried Food Good For?
- Where Can I Buy a Freeze Dryer?
- Why Should I Freeze Dry Fresh Peaches?
- How To Freeze Dry Fresh Peaches
- Step one
- Step two
- Step Three
- Step Four
- Step Five
- Step Six
- Step Seven
- Ways To Use Your Freeze Dried Peaches
What is a Freeze Dryer?
This is one of the first questions we get asked and rightfully so. A freeze dryer is a machine that uses three steps to making food shelf stable.
- The food is pretreated. Meaning, peeled, cut, cooked, blanched…ect…prior to putting it in the freeze dryer.
- The food is then cooled below its triple point. Below triple point is where a solid, liquid and gas can all coexist together at the same time. This helps to ensure that the food goes directly from a solid state to a gas state without becoming a liquid.
- The last step in the freeze drying process is drying. At this point the pressure within the chamber is lowered and the chamber produces just the right amount if heat for a specific amount of time for the ice to then go from a solid state directly to a gas state. This process is called sublimation. The vapors are then vacuumed out of the chamber leaving almost 95% of the foods nutritional value intact.
When Was Freeze Drying Invented?
The freeze dryer was invented in 1906 in France. Freeze drying was widely used during World War II, specifically to preserve blood serum. During the 1950’s mass production of freeze dried foods became increasingly popular. Military and NASA heavily depended on freeze dried foods since refrigeration was not an option. Just a small amount of warm or hot water was all they needed to have nutrient dense foods.
Up until about a decade ago freeze dried foods were limited to commercial use. Now, you can find these incredible machines online or even your local Tractor Supply.
Why Should I freeze Dry My food?
For us, investing in a freeze dryer was a no brainer. The abilities a freeze dryer has when it comes to food preservation is absolutely incredible. You can freeze dry almost anything except for fatty foods like bacon, chocolates…and honestly I can’t think of anything else! You can freeze dry:
Dairy Products
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Ice cream
- Sour cream
- Eggs
Fruits & Vegetables
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Bluberries
- ALL THE BERRIES
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Carrots
- Peppers
- Chilies
- ALL THE VEGGIES
Entire Meals
- Spagehitti
- Chili
- Shepards pie
- Rice
- Lasagna
- Chicken
- Ground meat
- Beef stew
- ALL THE MEALS
This list is a small list. The possibilities seem almost endless when it comes to freeze drying.
Yes, But Is The Food Good?
The moment you stick a freeze dried banana in your mouth you are going to fall over! The flavor in freeze dried foods almost amplify in the best way possible. And they are so fun to eat!
How Long is Freeze Dried Food Good For?
Because there is not moisture content in the food, freeze dried foods can last up to 25 years. If store properly. Storing freeze dried foods properly requires the use of mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. Mason jars can be used for shorter term storage but again either the use of oxygen absorbers should be used or a vacuum sealer can also be used.
Where Can I Buy a Freeze Dryer?
There are a handful of companies now offering home based freeze dryers. Doing research on the company is something we highly encourage before making this investment. Because it is an investment. We decided to go with Harvest Right and we are so glad we did. Not only is the product incredible but the customer service is down right amazing.
Last week I had to run an update on our machine and it had been a while since I have done one. I called the customer service number….on a SATURDAY….around 3p. I thought for sure I was just wasting my own time with trying to call on a Saturday. Three rings in, an actual person answered. Just like that and walked me very patiently through the entire update.
Mind blown!
Why Should I Freeze Dry Fresh Peaches?
So you can enjoy either your harvest or a local farmers harvest through those dreary winter months! And also because they are down right absolutely delicious. Not to mention that keeping a pantry stocked with nutrient dense shelf stable food is the ultimate goal.
Now, on to what you came here for….freeze drying peaches!
How To Freeze Dry Fresh Peaches
Some foods need to be prepped a little more than others. Peaches for example need to be blanched before being freeze dried as opposed to let’s say, bananas. Peaches have a specific enzyme, like potatoes, that cause browning called enzymic browning.
Enzymic browning occurs when sliced fruit or vegetables are exposed to oxygen. Inside the cell walls of some fruits and vegetables is an enzyme called phenolase and phenols. When these are exposed due to cutting the cell walls open and exposing them to oxygen the phenolase turns the phenols into melanin which has a brown color.
There are two ways that you can stop enzymic browning from occurring it, through heat or acid. Lemon juice is typically used to help stop enzymic browning by just pouring lemon juice onto of the fruit or vegetable. Another way is to blanch your fruit or vegetable. Blanching is simply boiling your fruit or vegetable for no more than three minutes then immediately transferring that food to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
Long Story Short, Back to How To Freeze Dry Fresh Peaches….
You will need to blanch your peaches before freeze drying!
Step one
First start off by preparing all your stations. Bring a big pot of filtered water to a boil, prepare your ice bath, a big bowl of filtered water with ice inside. Be sure to either put in fridge to keep cold or add the ice right before use. Next, prepare all freeze dryer trays with either parchment paper or silicone mats. And lastly, prepare a cutting board with a towel to drain off the peaches.
Step two
Next, rinse and slice your peaches. Don’t worry about skinning them, during the blanching process the skins will fall right off.
Step Three
Once you have all your peaches sliced, work in batches and add your peaches to the boiling water. Allow peaches to boil no more than three minutes. Then place peaches directly into ice bath to stop the cooking process. Peaches can sit in ice bath for as long as you need.
Step Four
Ladle out your peaches onto your prepared towel and allow to drain. Remove all the skins from your peaches and place on your freeze dryer trays leaving a touch of space between each peach. Leaving space will ensure that all areas of your peaches will dry adequately.
Step Five
Prepare your freeze dryer per manufacturing instructions. Harvest Right freeze dryers require 15 minutes to bring the chamber down to a cool temperature. Place trays inside your freeze dryer, ensure the valve is closed and hit continue.
Step Six
Once your freeze dryer says the process is complete, be sure to double check the middle of your peaches by snapping one open and checking to see if the middle is dry. Sometimes depending on how thick you sliced them, they may need extra dry time added.
Step Seven
Store your peaches in a mason jar for short term storage or in mylar bags with an oxygen absorber for long term storage. Don’t forget to label and date!
Ways To Use Your Freeze Dried Peaches
Freeze dried peaches can go into cereals, oatmeals, be eaten as a healthy snack, blended up in smoothies, added to homemade ice creams, rehydrated and eaten and even put on top of yogurt. The possibilities are endless people!
For more information of other food preservation methods be sure to read this article. It goes in depth on multiple ways you can preserve your harvest!
Until next time…
Your articles have a nice balance of information, history and interesting facts. Interesting that the freezer dryer was invented to preserve blood serum to doing all that you do with yours that has only been possible until recently.
Now, you’ve mention you cannot freeze dry pasta, correct? If so, I want would like to know why lasagna you can???
In an earlier post, “Learn How to Preserve Food” I mentioned you cannot can noodles as it interferes with the heating process that preserves the food. When it comes to freeze drying noodles can be freeze dried! Hope this helps!