Two widely used methods for food preservation—especially candy—that come to mind are freeze-dried candy and dehydrated candy. Both techniques remove moisture to extend shelf life and allow portability, even if they do it in different ways that generates different textures, flavors, and nutritional profiles. Let's look at the core features of these two preservation methods and take off into into the details.
Understanding Freeze-Drying
Freeze drying, sometimes referred to as lyophilization, is a preservation technique in which the candy is frozen and subsequently the surrounding pressure is reduced to let the frozen water in the candy to sublimate straight from a solid to a vapor state. This method preserves the candy's nutrients and structure rather remarkably.
Freeze Drying Process
- Freezing: the candy is rapidly frozen at extremely low temperatures.
- Primary Drying: Under a vacuum, the pressure is lowered and heat is applied to cause sublimation—that is, where ice straight turns into water vapor.
- Secondary Drying: Reducing the pressure and somewhat raising the temperature helps to eliminate any last moisture.
Freeze Dried Candy Features:
- Freeze-dried candy has a light, crispy, airy texture.
- Flavor: Strong since water increases the concentration of natural tastes.
- Nutritional value: Mostly retains the original nutrients.
- Shelf Life: Proper storage results in a shelf life of upto several years.
- Appearance: Maintains the candy's original shape and color.
Popular Freeze Dried Candy Examples:
There are many favorites when it comes to freeze dried candy, but some steal the show more than others, like these bad boys below:
- Freeze-dried Skittles
- Freeze-dried Marshmallows
- Freeze-dried Starblasters
- Freeze-dried Ice Cream Sandwiches
To learn more about the most popular freeze dried candies, check out our blog. 👇
8 Most Popular Freeze Dried CandiesUnderstanding Dehydration
Dehydration is a more traditional method to remove moisture from candy by means of heat and airflow. Though it's simpler, this method can alter the candy's texture, taste, and nutritional value.
Dehydration Process:
- Preparation: Candy is cut or sliced into smaller pieces to allow equal drying.
- Drying: Low heat and airflow over a long period then evaporate the water content.
- Cooling and Packaging: Once the candy dries enough, it cools and is packed to stop moisture reabsorbing.
Dehydrated Candy Features:
- Texture: may be chewy or leathery, the degree of dehydration will determine the texture of dehydrated candy.
- Flavor: The flavor can be changed somewhat, as the heat can mute some flavors,.
- Nutritional Value: There is some nutrient loss, especially with relation to vitamins sensitive to heat like vitamin C.
- Shelf Life: Usually up to a year, if stored in cool and dry storage conditions.
- Appearance: Heat exposure and water loss cause shrinkage and cosmetic darkening.
Examples of Dehydrated Candy:
Below is a list of contenders from the dehydrated candy world that are pretty popular:
- Dehydrated fruit slices (like apple or mango)
- Dehydrated gummy candies
- Dehydrated fruit leather
Main Differences between Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Candy
The main differences between freeze dried candy and dehydrated candy are in terms of method, texture and flavor. Let’s compare the two!
Processing Method
- Freeze Dried Candy: uses sublimation and freezing under a vacuum
- Dehydrated Candy: evaporates water using airflow and heat.
Texture
- Freeze-dried candy has a light and crispy texture.
- Dehydrated Candy has a chewy or leathery texture.
Flavor
- Freeze dried candy has strong original flavors since water removal intensifies them.
- Dehydrated Candy has a slightly altered flavor, sometimes even muted due to heat.
Nutritional Value
- Freeze dried candy retains most of the originial nutrients.
- Dehydrated Candy faces some nutrient loss, particularly for heat sensitive ingredients.
Shelf Life
- Freeze dried candy has a longer shelf life, often upto several years.
- Dehydrated candy has a shelf life of usually one year.
Appearance:
- Freeze-dried candy preserves the original colour and shape.
- Dehydrated Candy often causes shinkage and darkening.
When To Choose Freeze Dried Candy?
- If you prefer a light crispy and crunchy texture.
- If you prefer to enjoy all of the original flavors and nutrients.
- If you plan to store candy for a long period of time.
When To Choose Dehydrated Candy?
- If you prefer a chewy or leathery texture.
- If you prefer a deviation from the original flavor.
- If you plan to consume candy quickly and don’t plan on storing it for long.
Freeze Dried Candy Or Dehydrated Candy - Which Is Better?
Whether freeze-dried candy or dehydrated candy is best will depend on how you plan to use them, your desired texture, and nutritional needs. Below is a deeper dive into the freeze-dried vs dehydrated debate.
Freeze Dried Candy
Freeze dried candy has a few advantages, take a look!
Benefits
Below is a list of reasons why freeze dried candy is a unique crunchy twist to candy!
- Unique Texture: freeze-dried candy has a unique light and crispy texture. This makes the candy eating experience out of this world.
- Flavor Intensity: The process intensifies the natural flavors, thereby improving the candy's taste.
- Nutrient Retention: Retains most of the original nutrients, making it a healthier choice.
- Long Shelf Life: Shelf life of upto years makes it excellent as disaster supplies
Drawbacks:
There are certain drawback as well when it comes to freeze dried candy, take note of them!
- Cost: More complex and expensive freeze-dried processes translate into freeze-dried candy costing more.
- Equipment: Not usually found in typical homes, requires specialist machinery including a freeze dryer.
Dehydrated Candy
Dehydrated candy has a few advantages compared to freeze dried candy, take a look!
Benefits:
- Low Cost: The simpler and more reasonably priced dehydration method makes home use readily accessible.
- Chewy Texture: Preferable for those who like their candy chewy or leathery in texture.
- Ease Of Use: One can do this with a basic dehydrator or even an oven.
Drawbacks:
If you’re in it for the taste, you may want to check out some negatives of dehydrated candy!
- Nutrient Loss: Vitamins or other heat sensitive nutrients may be lost due to heat.
- Changed Flavor: sometimes the heat applied nullifies the original tastes of the candy.
- Short Shelf Life: Generally speaking, a shorter shelf life than that of freeze dried candy.
How To Make Freeze-Dried Candy At Home?
Making freeze-dried candy at home can be a profitable and fascinating hobby even though it requires particular equipment. Below is a thorough walk-through on how to make freeze-dried candy at home.
- Choose the candies: Among the most often used choices are gummy worms, Starblasters, Skittles, and marshmallows.
- Prepare the candies: Cut larger candy into smaller bits to ensure even freeze-drying.
- Place in the Freeze dryer: Arrange the candies on a tray evenly and add the tray into the freeze dryer.
- Start Freeze Drying: Make sure to follow the instructions for your freeze-dryer. Usually, this relates to setting the ideal temperature and vacuum levels.
- Monitor the process: The process can take upto twenty hours or several days depending on the candy and freeze-dryer. Watch the candy as well as the machine.
- Pack the freeze-dried candy: use vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers to stop moisture from re-entering once the process is complete.
To learn more about why a freeze dryer is a good piece of equipment, read our blog.👇
Should You Buy A Freeze Dryer for Making Candy?How To Dehydrate Candy At Home?
A question often asked is can you dehydrate candy at home? Candy can be indeed dehydrated at home. Here is how you can do it:
- Choose the candies: Among the treats fit for dehydration are fruit slices, gummy bears, or fruit leather.
- Prepare the candies: Cut bigger candies thin to ensure even drying.
- Place in the dehydrator (or oven): Set the candy bits on the dehydrator trays such that they don't cross over.
- Set the temperature: For most candies, a temperature of 135°F (57°C) works well.
- Allow them to dry: The drying period could run six to twelve hours. Check often to be sure the candy dries uniformly.
- Cool it down & package it: Once dried, let the candy cool before packing it in airtight containers.
Freeze Dryer Or Dehydrator?
While choosing between a freeze dryer and a dehydrator, you need to take multiple factors into account, below are a few that might help you make the right decision.
Freeze Dryer:
- Best for: long-term storage, preservation of nutritional value, and a light, crispy texture.
- Cost: costlier in terms of running costs as well as initial investment.
- Complex: demands more specialized knowledge to operate.
Dehydrator:
- Best for: Affordable preservation, daily consumption, chewy candy making
- Cost: more fairly priced and readily available for home use.
- Simple: can be used with basic kitchen equipment.
Conclusion
Between freeze-dried vs dehydrated, both methods have particular advantages and applications in the debate. Freeze-dried candy is perfect for long-term storage and health-conscious customers since it offers a light, crispy texture with enhanced taste, retained nutrional value and a longer shelf life.
On the other hand, dehydrated candy presents a chewy texture that many people find appealing together with the benefits of being more reasonably priced and easier to make at home.
Understanding the differences between these two approaches will help you decide whether you want to enjoy the unique crunchy of freeze dried candy, or the chewy texture of dehydrated candy.
So the next time you wonder if dehydrating and freeze drying are the same, remember the difference in techniques and outcomes between freeze-dried candy and dehydrated candy.
