Did you receive a home freezer drier for Christmas and are looking for recipes? Or perhaps you have a sweet tooth and are looking for new things to test out.
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Well, whatever your reasons, freeze-drying candy can be an exciting experience.
If this is a new world for you, undoubtedly, you may have a lot of questions surrounding the topic. For instance, what does free-dried candy taste like and what exactly is it?
Well, to help you understand, freeze-dried candies are simply candies that have been preserved in a freeze-drying machine.
Here, any excess moisture or water in the candy has been removed which results in a sweeter treat. Popular candies include taffy, skittles, gummies, and marshmallows.
These candies are typically packed with flavor and have a unique texture that is almost sponge-like.
Now that you have an understanding of what these sweet treats are, we will now explore everything you need to know about freeze-dried candy, including whether or not it tastes good.
Let’s get straight into it!
What Is Freeze-Dried Candy?
As its name suggests, freeze-dried candy is simply candy that has been freeze-dried.
Regardless of the type of candy, this process preserves the flavor, aromas, and color compounds of the food – achieving something that tastes good as new.
When it comes to preservation, some other methods, including dehydrating and canning, typically involve high temperatures. This has the tendency to destroy some of the food’s potential.
However, this isn’t the case with freeze-drying.
Even though freeze-drying is typically used to add a crunch or enhance the flavor of a particular candy, it can be used for food preservation, too.
When frozen, these candies can last up to 25 years, dramatically extending the typically few month’s shelf life.
How Is Freeze-Dried Candy Made?
When it comes to freeze-drying, these candies are achieved by lowering the pressure and removing any ice through sublimation.
Hare, you are transforming a matter from solid to a gas without the product ever becoming a liquid – creating something that is freeze-dried and moisture-free.
One misconception about frozen treats is that they can’t be achieved at home.
This isn’t further from the truth! With the help of your very own freeze dryer and a trip to the supermarket, you’ll be making freeze-dried candy in no time.
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What Candies Can You Freeze-Dry?
Below, we have outlined some of the best candies to freeze-dry.
These include:
Saltwater Taffy
Skittles
Milk duds
Marshmallows
Hard candy such as Jolly Ranchers
Gummy candies such as sour worms or peach rings
Fruits (while this isn’t technically candy, it is as sweet as candy once freeze-dried!).
Once freeze-dried, these candies have the tendency to expand double, or even triple, their original size. Therefore, when playing with them in the machine, make sure to evenly spread them out.
When it comes to larger candies, such as saltwater taffies and jolly ranchers, you could even consider chopping them up into smaller pieces.
Some people simply opt to cut them in half, but you could get away with cutting them into thirds, or even quarters.
Likewise, once you have finished freeze-drying your candies, you’ll want to store them in an appropriate container, too. Here, your best option is an airtight container.
This prevents any moisture from getting into your candies and potentially ruining them.
This list only contains a few candies that would be great to freeze-dry. That doesn’t mean there aren’t better options to choose from.
Here, the best thing to do is test out some of your favorite candies and see which ones you like best. Don’t be scared to experiment with different flavors and textures, who knows, you might uncover something fantastic.
What Does Freeze-Dried Candy Taste Like?
When it comes to determining the taste of different freeze-dried candies, this is dependent on the types of candy you’re using.
Although, generally speaking, the result is something that is sweeter and richer than the original flavor.
Once freeze-dried, the loss of water creates a candy that is much more concentrated in sweetness, plus, it loses its original shape, too.
The main benefit that comes with free-drying your candy is that it enhances the flavors, making it much more flavorful and an enjoyable experience.
Since the sugar content is enhanced, the result is a much sweeter candy. Although, for some people, this can be overpowering.
A great example would be the humble skittle. Before freeze-drying, these are small and contain a chewy texture. However, once freeze-dried, you’ll have something that is much bigger, sugary, and crunchy.
You don’t even have to stop at candy, either. You can experiment with freeze-drying homemade yogurt or ice cream, too. Here, your limit is your imagination!
Moreover, if you have children, these candies make the perfect addition to your birthday parties or picnics. They are fun, and delicious, and are sure to impress your friends and family.
Nutritional Content Of Freeze-Dried Candy
Once you have freeze-dried your food, typically all the nutritional content is lost through preparation and storage.
That said, it is nutrient efficient since all the moisture is removed, providing a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals.
Although, compared to regular candies, freeze-dried candy tends to contain more calories – with high quantities of sugar and additives, too.
Why Freeze-Dry Candy?
Once you have freeze-dried your candy, it is said that your candy can be dramatically enhanced, tasting even better than the original thing!
When compared to dehydrating, baking, and boiling foods, freeze-dying is by far the most effective preservation method. Not only does it extend the shelf life, but it also improves the texture and flavor, too.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about your candy becoming tough or shrinking. Instead, you’re provided with something that is easy to chew and enjoy. This is the result of the preservation process.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a creative way to cater to your sweet tooth, then freeze-drying your candy is a good idea to make the most out of your favorite candy.
How Long Does Freeze-Dried Candy Last?
As previously mentioned, once you freeze-dry candy, you are dramatically extending its shelf life – regardless of the type of food you’re using. Typically, as long as you store it straight away, freeze-dried candy has the ability to last up to 25 years.
To ensure you receive the maximum shelf life, it is a good idea to purchase an oxygen absorber which you can add to your package of freeze-dried candies to help preserve the flavors and textures.
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02/18/2024 01:22 am GMT
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never tried freeze-dried candy, then it is certainly something to add to your plate. Not only are you provided with a unique experience, but, more times than not, it will even taste better than the original thing, too.
There is a range of candies you can experiment with to test with freeze drying.
However, a few of the most popular options include skittles, saltwater taffies, and marshmallows – even providing a different tasting experience.
Hopefully, this guide has informed you on everything you need to know about freeze-fried candy.
When it comes to determining the taste of different freeze-dried candies, this is dependent on the types of candy you’re using. Although, generally speaking, the result is something that is sweeter and richer than the original flavor.
Once freeze-dried, the loss of water creates a candy that is much more concentrated in sweetness, plus, it loses its original shape, too. The main benefit that comes with free-drying your candy is that it enhances the flavors, making it much more flavorful and an enjoyable experience.
Since the sugar content is enhanced, the result is a much sweeter candy. Although, for some people, this can be overpowering.
A great example would be the humble skittle. Before freeze-drying, these are small and contain a chewy texture. However, once freeze-dried, you’ll have something that is much bigger, sugary, and crunchy.
You don’t even have to stop at candy, either. You can experiment with freeze-drying homemade yogurt or ice cream, too. Here, your limit is your imagination!
Moreover, if you have children, these candies make the perfect addition to your birthday parties or picnics. They are fun, and delicious, and are sure to impress your friends and family.
Hi, I’m Aubrey, and I have been a chef for close to 8 years. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, as long as I can remember. I loved my play kitchen when I was a kid, and would offer my parents my own (albeit gross) cookie recipes to taste!
Here at ButterandSaltGatherings, I want to offer a wide range of ingredients, flavors, meals and recipes so that you can start living each day to the fullest, and enjoy only the best food.
