Freeze-Dried Versus Dehydrated: What’s The Difference?

Meals preservation strategies have come a great distance from conventional methods corresponding to salting and sun-drying. In as we speak’s world, the place comfort and vitamin are key components for customers, two modern strategies are sometimes in contrast: freeze-drying and dehydration. Each processes serve the important goal of extending the shelf lifetime of meals by eradicating a good portion of its moisture content material, which inhibits the expansion of microorganisms and slows down meals degradation. Nonetheless, there are key variations that make their completed merchandise distinct. So, what’s the distinction between freeze-dried and dehydrated meals?

Let’s discover out.

WHAT IS FREEZE DRYING AND DEHYDRATING?

Freeze-drying, scientifically referred to as lyophilization, is a meals preservation technique that entails freezing meals after which eradicating its moisture content material whereas it’s nonetheless in a frozen state. The method consists of three principal phases: freezing, main drying, and secondary drying.

Within the first stage, the meals is frozen, locking in its construction and dietary content material. Then, within the main drying part, the stress and temperature are lowered, inflicting the frozen water within the meals to sublimate immediately into water vapor. This light course of prevents the meals from present process important harm. Lastly, in the course of the secondary drying part, the meals is barely warmed to take away any remaining moisture, forsaking a light-weight, shelf-stable freeze- dried meals.

I’ve mentioned freeze drying in additional element in a separate publish, which you’ll be able to entry right here: The Course of Of Freeze Drying Meals

Dehydration is an identical technique to freeze drying. Nonetheless, it primarily entails the removing of moisture from meals by way of the appliance of warmth and airflow. The method goals to scale back the water content material within the meals with out freezing.

Within the technique of dehydration, meals gadgets are first ready by slicing, dicing, and even pureeing to facilitate the removing of moisture successfully. Then, these ready meals are positioned in a dehydrator, an oven, and even uncovered to the solar, the place warmth and airflow steadily draw out the moisture. The warmth causes the water throughout the meals to evaporate, whereas the airflow carries it away. The result’s dehydrated meals that’s much less susceptible to spoilage and is extra appropriate for long-term storage.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FREEZE DRIED AND DEHYDRATED FOOD

Freeze drying and dehydrating are each strategies of preserving meals by eradicating moisture. However freeze-dried and dehydrated meals differ in a number of methods.

Shelf life

Freeze-drying entails taking a lot of the moisture out of the meals. This creates an setting the place the expansion of micro organism, yeasts, and molds—issues that make meals go dangerous—is considerably slowed down. This cautious course of offers freeze-dried merchandise a very lengthy shelf life, with some lasting as much as 25 years or extra.

Then again, dehydrated meals does job too, lasting round 15 years or much more. Nonetheless, it won’t keep good for so long as freeze-dried meals. The reason being that the dehydration course of, whereas efficient, would possibly go away a little bit of moisture behind, although it’s not a lot. The excellent news is that the expertise of as we speak has improved quite a bit. Again within the outdated days, dehydration would depart about 30% moisture within the meals. At this time, dehydrated meals comprises round 2 % to three% moisture.

This leftover moisture might nonetheless make the shelf life a bit shorter in comparison with freeze-drying, the place they eliminate virtually all of the moisture. This little distinction highlights why freeze-dried meals can final so impressively lengthy. Thus, it makes them a best choice for anybody who desires their meals to remain good for an extra-long time. On this planet of conserving meals recent, freeze-drying is sort of a chef rigorously crafting a dish to final, standing out for its skill to make meals last more than the standard strategies.

Dietary worth

When it comes vitamin, freeze-drying stands out as a result of it naturally retains the next share of vitamins that have been within the recent meals. Right here’s the way it works: they freeze the meals after which take out the ice, conserving the construction and all of the vitamins intact. Which means that freeze-dried meals holds onto extra of its shade, taste, and all of the good-for-you stuff. One examine discovered that freeze-drying strawberries zero loss in vitamin C in addition to phenolics.

Now, dehydrated meals isn’t any slouch both. It manages to maintain chunk of its dietary worth. Nonetheless, there’s a little bit of a trade-off. In the course of the dehydration course of, the place the meals will get dried out with warmth, a number of the nutritional vitamins and minerals would possibly take a success. It’s like they’re saying, “Okay, I’ll stick round, however I’d lose a little bit of my sparkle.” The extent of this nutrient retention can rely on what sort of meals we’re speaking about and the way it’s processed.

You may also like: How Nutrient Loss Happens In Fruits and Greens

Vitamin C is delicate to warmth, and its content material in fruit and veggies can decline in the course of the dehydration course of. Meals wealthy in vitamin C, corresponding to citrus fruits and berries, might expertise some loss. B-vitamins, together with B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B6 (pyridoxine), are water-soluble and may be inclined to degradation throughout dehydration. These nutritional vitamins are sometimes present in grains, legumes, and greens.

So, freeze-drying and dehydration—each heroes in their very own proper—have their distinctive methods of coping with vitamin. Freeze-drying goes for the gold, conserving issues vibrant and nutritious, whereas dehydration, whereas nonetheless doing job, may need a little bit of a trade-off.

Purposes

Each freeze-dried and dehydrated meals discover numerous functions, however their makes use of differ primarily based on components corresponding to weight, texture, and rehydration time. Freeze-dried meals, due to their gentle and ethereal texture, are standard amongst hikers, campers, and backpackers. The light-weight nature of freeze-dried merchandise makes them handy for carrying throughout outside actions. Moreover, freeze-dried meals typically require much less time to rehydrate in comparison with their dehydrated counterparts, making them a fast and handy possibility.

Prompt espresso is commonly produced by way of the freeze-drying course of. The result’s a espresso that enables for a fast and simple rehydration when scorching water is added. The freeze-drying technique preserves the espresso taste and aroma successfully, and the ensuing granules shortly dissolve in water.

Then again, dehydrated meals are extensively utilized in residence kitchens and meals storage. Their affordability and ease of use make them a well-liked selection for individuals who need to protect seasonal fruits, greens, and herbs for later use in cooking and baking. Dehydrated meals are additionally frequent within the manufacturing of snacks like dried fruits and jerky.