Freeze drying has changed the candy scene by providing a way to make regular old candies unique, crunchy, and long-lasting. This process freezes the candy and then runs it under a vacuum to evaporate the ice without melting, thereby removing its water content. Due to this, you get a light, crunchy form of the candy that can go years without refrigeration.
But not all candies create equal results after freeze drying. While some show rather great taste and texture, others not so much. This blog will look at the best and worst candies for freeze-drying, go over what kinds of treats to stay away from, provide tips on how to freeze dry candy, and how to choose the right freeze dryer for great results.
Best Freeze Dried Candy: Top Choices for Freeze Drying
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Gummy Candies:
Reasons they work: Keeping their original taste but coming out with a different texture from the freeze drying process, these chewy treats become light, crunchy snacks. Amazingly, the gummies puff up somewhat to create a delicious bite.
Freeze drying method: Just arrange the gummy candies on the trays of a freeze dryer. Make sure they’re separated and not touching one another if you want even drying. Turn the machine to the recommended candy settings mentioned on the freeze dryer; within 24 to 36 hours you will get an awesome, gummy, crunchy treat.
Popular choices: gummy bears, sour worms, and gummy worms.
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Marshmallows:
Reasons They Work: Marshmallows remain another excellent choice for freeze drying. When freeze-dried marshmallows, they become light, airy, and quite crunchy. Perfect for nibbles, they accompany hot cocoa and even act as a top dessert garnish.
Freeze drying method: A marshmallow layer should be placed on the freeze dryer’s tray. Usually in 24 hours, they freeze-dry quickly and come out absolutely crispy.
Popular choices: flavored marshmallows with seasonal shapes and little marshmallows.
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Skittles:
Reasons They Work: One of the freeze-dried sweets that people enjoy most are skittles. The freeze-dried process causes them to puff up and crack open, producing a crunchy shell with a softer inside. Already an irresistible treat, freeze drying adds to the value since their strong taste is intensified.
Freeze drying method: Make sure there are no overlapping Skittles on the freeze dryer trays. Usually lasting 30 to 36 hours, Skittles freeze dry a little more slowly, but the final product is well worth the wait.
Popular choices: original, sour, and tropical skittles.
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Taffy:
Reasons They Work: Though it sounds strange, Taffy turns out to be among the best candies to freeze dry. The method makes the chewy taffy a melt-in-your-mouth light, crunchy treat. Every mouthful tastes more since the flavors get more concentrated.
Cut the chew into smaller pieces and arrange them on the trays if required. Depending on thickness, taffy can freeze dry totally in 24 to 30 hours.
Popular choice: flavored saltwater taffy.
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Fruit Candies:
Reasons They Work: Fruit roll-ups are excellent freeze drying candidates that create a beautiful combo of fruity and crunchy. The method accentuates their sweet tastes and provides a novel, interesting texture.
Freeze Drying Method: Think about halfing larger candies like Starburst before freeze drying. Once on the trays, freeze dry for 24 to 36 hours.
Popular choices: Starblasters, Jolly Ranchers, and Fruit Roll-Ups.
To learn more about how freeze drying interacts with different types of freeze dried candy, check out our blog. Most Popular Freeze Dried Candies
Worst Candy to Freeze Dry: Things Not to Eat
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Chocolate Treats:
Why They Fail: Chocolate's high fat content causes it to not freeze dry very successfully. Lack of water in chocolate causes little removal during the freeze drying process; hence, the texture remains mostly unaltered. Apart from that, the fat content may cause the chocolate to waxy or greasy.
Among a few examples are milk chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, and chocolate-covered nuts.
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High Oil Content Candy:
Why They Fail: Candies heavy in oil, such as peanut butter cups, toffees, or caramels, poor candidates for freeze drying are also candidates. The chewy, sometimes greasy texture that results from the oil not freezing dry well is far from appealing.
Among the examples are peanut butter cups, caramel chews, and toffees.
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Gum:
Why They Fail: Gum does not freeze dry very nicely since it lacks any water. The gum maintains its chewy consistency, making the freeze drying process useless for this kind of candy.
Among a few examples are chewing gum, bubble gum, and gumdrops.
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Candies With Liquid Centers:
Why They Fail: Candy with liquid or semi-liquid centers causes problems, similarly to chocolate filled candies or gum. The liquid inside does not freeze dry properly, usually producing a mess inside the freeze dryer and a poor final output.
Among the examples are chocolates loaded with caramel, liquid-centered gummies, and cream-filled candies.
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Licorice:
Why They Fail: Like chocolate, licorice has low water content, therefore, it does not freeze dry, especially well. The texture remains mostly unaltered, and sometimes the taste may get overly strong.
Among some examples are black licorice, red licorice, and licorice twists.
How To Freeze Dry Candy
Freeze drying candy requires some patience and the right equipment, even if the process is a piece of cake. Candy can be freeze dried in a few simple steps, as mentioned below:
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Choose The Right Candy:
Start with selecting treats known to freeze dry perfectly. We’ve shared a list of the "Best Freeze Dried Candy" above for ideas.
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Prepare The Candy:
Depending on the size, you may have to cut the candy into smaller pieces. Bigger candies, such as Starblasters or Taffy, should be cut in half or into bite-sized bits.
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Load The Candy Into The Freeze Dryer:
One layer of candy should be laid on the tray for the freeze dryer. Make sure the candy pieces do not overlap for even results.
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Program The Freeze Dryer:
Use the recommended settings mentioned on your freeze dryer. Although most freeze dryers have pre-programmed settings for popular types of candy, you may have to play around with different times and temperatures for the crunchiest results.
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Wait For The Krunch:
The kind and weight of the candy will decide how long freeze drying takes—between 24 and 36 hours. Once complete, remove the trays and let the candy cool before packaging.
Choosing A Suitable Freeze Dryer
When it comes to freeze-drying candy, your choice of a freeze dryer is quite important. These tips guide you in selecting the perfect freeze dryer for freeze drying candy:
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Size:
Select a freeze dryer fitting for your needs. If you are freeze drying candy in volume, choose a larger machine with more tray capacity.
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Simplicity Of Use:
Search for simple devices with unambiguous instructions and pre-programmed settings for several types of sweets.
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Durability:
Choose a durable, premium freeze-dryer purchase meant for lifetime. Freeze drying candy can take a lot of time; hence, you want a machine you can run often.
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Expenses:
Even though they can be slightly expensive, freeze dryers are a good investment if you want to regularly freeze dry candy. Compare the cost of the machine to your frequency of usage.
To learn more about whether you should buy a freeze dryer, check out our blog. Buy A Freeze Dryer for Making Candy
Conclusion
Freeze drying candy is a creative way to enjoy your favourite treats with a crunchy twist. Some candies create better results after going through the process; others just don't work. Knowing the best and worst candies for freeze drying and using the right techniques will help you to enjoy a great range of deliciously crunchy freeze-dried treats, whenever you want, wherever you want.
Now that you're all set to start your freeze-drying journey, consider Rocket Krunch’s wide range of quality freeze-dried candies mentioned above and experiment with them. Happy freeze drying!
