How exactly to Freeze Dry Food
How to freeze dry food
How do you want to compile your emergency or survival food su0pply cache that may last for over 30 years? Have a peek here so that you can eat for years ahead?
As an added bonus, you can store this at home at room temperature. It requires less space compared to the original food you start with and weighs close to nothing. So, imaginable how much you can store in a little space! The cost is minimal also it doesn't even take much time to obtain it done.
How awesome is that?
No special longterm storage equipment, so special freezers or refrigeration or anything like this.
Here's good news for you personally. This technology is available for the common man or woman. You can protect your loved ones by stocking up your survival food cache and never have to pay an arm or perhaps a leg. You will be amazed at how easy this technique is for everyone!
(The technical terms, if you are interested are lyophilisation or cryodesiccation - but you don't need to know these words - knowing the term freeze dried foods is enough!)
Determining how to freeze dry food without expensive gear
The ability to freeze dry food to preserve it was first invented during World War II. It was used to obtain foodstuffs to the front lines during the war so the soldiers could eat great, nutritional foods. Prior to using freeze drying, the foods shipped to the soldiers would spoil without refrigeration on its way to them. Freeze drying solved this huge problem. It didn't take long for the public to start to see the value in this process!
The process includes several steps:
First: Flash freeze the foodstuffs. That is done by freezing the product extremely fast at extremely low temperatures. This keeps the ice from becoming crystals and damaging the cells of the meals.
Second: The moisture is taken off the food by using sublimation (changing it from solid ice to vapor) - Usually with the use of a vacuum chamber.
Third: Now that the moisture is removed, the food is locked into moisture- and air-proof bags and stored away.
All you need to do to prepare the meals to eat would be to add boiling water - this rehydrates the meals to its original state. Yum for you personally when you are on the run with survival gear during a disaster or emergency!
There are numerous good questions you should pose to yourself before you begin:
How quickly can you develop your survivalist acumen?
And how valuable can be your survival kit? Whether you're camping or backpacking due to a natural disaster or crisis, you need to be prepared for survival.
IN THE HOME Freeze Drying - How exactly to freeze dry food
Vacuum Chamber
Utilizing a vacuum chamber, you can freeze dry your personal food products at home. Once you have frozen your meal - stick it in vacuum pressure chamber with a pump level below 133 X 10-3. This can cause the sublimation process to occur quickly and you can prepare more food in less time. Once the food is fully sublimated, it is ready for you yourself to place in your storage cache.
With Dry Ice
You may use dry ice to get ready your freeze dried foods. Enclosing your meal in dry ice (CO2 in a solid state) can make a near zero humidity environment and perform the procedure by efficiently drawing out the moisture.
You will need a container than is double the size of the food you may be freeze drying. Using a lockable plastic container is a common choice. Punch a couple of holes in the lid therefore the gasses can escape. Place the dry ice and food in a 1:1 ratio inside the container. A layer of dry ice, a layer of food, another layer of dry ice may be the optimum way to stick it inside the container. Now place the container into your freezer in order to keep the dry ice solid so long as you can. Check your container every 24 hours or so until you see that the dry ice is no longer. At this stage, your food should be completely freeze dried and ready for longterm storage. As mentioned before, place it into a moisture-proof and air-proof container to preserve in your survival cache.
Freezer
You can freeze dry using your own freezer instead of a vacuum chamber, but it takes a little longer. First, slice the food into small pieces and then lay them from a perforated tray inside your freezer. In a few hours the food will undoubtedly be frozen through and through. It will require in regards to a week for the entire process of sublimation to happen (getting all the moisture out of your food). To test the meals, remove a piece from the freezer and allow it to thaw - if it turns black, it isn't yet fully sublimated. If it generally does not turn black, you are ready for placing it into air-proof, moisture-proof bags and storing it away. (Using a vacuum sealer - just like the Food Saver brand - may be the only way to be sure that your meal is protected.)
Machine Dryers
Of course, there are machine dryers for home use - however, they're significantly more expensive compared to the procedures mentioned above to dehydrate the things you wish to store.
Storing the food
It is strongly suggested that you use vacuum pressure sealer like Food Saver to safeguard your cache. Although some folks have been successful using zip lock bags, it is so hard to essentially get all of the air out. To find the best protection, purchasing one of these vacuum sealers will assist you to maintain the value of your stored foods. It is possible to complete your survival kit by learning how to freeze dry foods.
What can be freeze dried?
Website link and vegetables will be the easiest and best for you to prepare at home. Understand that only the water sublimates (is removed) so acids and chemicals inherent in foodstuffs will remain. Occasionally, test the things in your stash to confirm its viability and usefulness.