How To Freeze Dry Blueberries?

It’s a form of food preservation that retains their nutritional content and allow for indefinite storage. Many different foods can be freeze dried but we’re going to focus on one specific fruit – blueberries! But what is the process of freeze drying, and why would you ever want to freeze dry a blueberry?

What is Freeze Drying?

Freeze-drying, technically called lyophilisation, involves removing the water from a product after it’s been frozen and placed in a vacuum where the water in the food sublimates directly from solid (ice) to gas (vapour) bypassing the liquid phase. The result is a product that is far lighter and drier, retaining its shape and size.

Why Freeze Dry Blueberries?

They are tiny powerhouses of nutrition full of vitamins, antioxidants and fibre, and retaining all these nutrients during freeze-drying means that their colour and flavour remains vibrant and intense and is largely the same as fresh. The fact that freeze-dried blueberries can be removed weeks, months, years or even decades from being in a fridge or freezer makes them the ideal emergency food, camping food – or even simply the ideal easy ‘grab and go’ snack.

The Freeze-Drying Process

Take the appreciation of how to freeze dry blueberries, for example. On with the show. 1.

Overview of the Process

To freeze dry blueberries takes four steps:
1) picking good blueberry
2) preparing berries
3) freezing the berries
4) put the berries into vacuum and drying them
5) seal them.

Importance of Quality Fruit Selection

Quality counts. Begin with plump blueberries harvested at optimum ripeness and free from blemishes and bruises. These will deliver the best flavour – and most nutrition – in the finished product.

Preparing Blueberries for Freeze Drying

Wash the blueberries well and dry them completely. Place them one layer on freeze drying trays without touching one another. This will help to ensure even drying.

Steps to Freeze Drying Blueberries

The berries are frozen, placed in a vacuum chamber and then the pressure reduced so that the frozen water in the blueberries will sublimate (change state from a solid to a gas). Finally, the freeze-dried blueberries are placed in a moisture-proof package.

Benefits of Freeze Dried Blueberries

Freeze-dried blueberries have several advantages over their fresh counterparts.

But the process of nutritional value freeze drying maintains the superfood qualities of blueberries, such as their high levels of antioxidants, vitamin C and fibre, which makes them a great healthy ingredient, whether you’re using them as a baking ingredient, in smoothies or as a snack.

Shelf Life and Storage

In freeze-dried blueberries, these emissions are concentrated into a shelf-stable, lightweight and compact package with a shelf life of several years, if stored properly.

Versatility in Use

The FD blueberries can be used in a multitude of applications. Add to cereal or pancakes; mix into baked goods; sprinkle on top of salads; use the un-rehydrated berries for a crunchy snack, or rehydrate with a little water to eat like fresh!

Organic Freeze Dried Blueberries

Good news for organic lovers – organic freeze dried blueberries are available!

Why Choose Organic?

Organic blueberries are cultivated without the use of artificial pesticides or fertilisers. Not only is it good for your health, it's also good for the environment. Organic blueberries are not genetically modified(gm). The best solution is when you purchase organic freeze dried blueberries.

Organic vs. Non-Organic Freeze Dried Blueberries

The cons include the fact that both organic and non-organic freeze dried blueberries have the same qualities: long shelf life, no need for refrigeration and nutrient preservation . The only distinction would be that the former are grown under more friendly methods, a practice not usually applied on the latter.

Purchasing Freeze Dried Blueberries

Look no further: now that you know the process and the benefits of freeze-dried blueberries, GeekWrapped has got you covered regarding where to buy them.

What to Look for When Buying

If you’re buying freeze dried blueberries, make sure you’re purchasing high-quality products without added sugars or preservatives. In fact, the only ingredient should be the blueberries.

Where to Buy

Freeze-dried blueberries can be found in many grocery stores, health food stores and on the internet. You might find them in the dried fruit section or in food that’s geared toward camping or emergencies.

Conclusion

If you’re a health nut, a camper or simply someone who loves blueberries and the taste of their sweet-tart bursts in the mouth, freeze-dried blueberries can have a place in your stores. They’re nutritious, preservable in a convenient form, and ‘organic’ ones can even adjunct elements of true-to-values.

FAQs

Is freeze-drying blueberries at home possible?

YES: Home freeze dryers Consumer-grade home freeze dryers are expensive, but if you invest in one you will be able to freeze-dry your own fruits and vegetables, as well as a variety of other foods.

How you are supposed to rehydrate the blueberries?

Hell, they are freeze dried! They are prepared like this – to rehydrate, you just put them in a little water for several minutes and they soak it up and it is like eating fresh blueberries.The blueberries in question are freeze-dried, meaning that they were dried to a powder-like form at extreme cold temperatures, then had the water molecules vaporised and removed from the powder using vacuum.

Do freeze-dried blueberries qualify as Healthy?

SureIf we look at the definition of Healthy, we note that it encompasses the nutrient-dense, low-caloric, and wholesome aspects of freeze dried blueberries. According to health.com, research shows that ‘freeze-dried blueberries retain most of their nutrient content’.

Is freeze-dried blueberry refrigerated?

No, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, as long as it’s kept dry.

I love to add the freeze-dried fruit into my baked goods to add some colour and a burst of flavour. They are easy to add to banana or zucchini bread or even in the middle of something like an apple pie so that you get a delicious burst of fruity goodness in every bite. You can use freeze-dried blueberries in almost any recipe that calls for fresh or dried blueberries.