Freeze Dried Strawberries
Freeze dried strawberries make a perfect healthy snack. They are great as snacks for toddlers or anyone. You can use them in pies, ice creams, cakes, or anything! They are easy to carry and take with you anywhere because they are super light. They are definitely one of my favorite go to snacks.
Equipment
- Canning jars or mylar bags
- Canning lids
- Freeze dryer
- Freezer
- Parchment paper
- Vacuum sealer
- Vacuum sealer jar attachment kit
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Oxygen absorbers
- Food safe silica Gel packets
Ingredients
- Strawberries
Instructions
- Always follow the manufacturer's guide for any machine you are trying to operate. These instructions are only here to make the process a bit easier to follow and understand. If the manufacturer of the product recommends a different method, please follow whatever method they recommend as they know their products best.
- Remove the stems off the strawberries, cut them in half or into 1/4 inch circular pieces.
- Place the strawberries onto the freeze dryer's trays in one layer, place into the freezer and flash freeze overnight. (You can also start from frozen strawberry bags)
- Once the strawberries are fully frozen, turn on the machine, and press the start from frozen button. Make sure the door is closed, and the pressure release valve is open. The freeze drier will then freeze the food chamber to -40F.
- Once the freeze drier indicates that the freezing cycle, or preparing the chamber, is over, you can open the door, and place your frozen trays and strawberries into the freeze drier.
- Close the food chamber door and lock it tight. Close the pressure release valve. And press the continue, start, or whatever button the freeze drier displays that will begin the freeze drying process.
- The freeze drying process should take about a day, or a day and a half. Once done, release the pressure by opening the pressure release valve. Once all the pressure is released, open the food chamber door, and now you are ready to store or eat your freeze dried goods.
- Make sure to check if your food is fully dry before you store it. The food should brake off easily, and should not have any bit of moisture in it. You can always add time to the freeze drying process by clicking the add time button and choosing how much time you want to add. Close the door, and the pressure release valve, and press the start or more dry time button.
- Take the trays one at a time, and close the door after you remove a tray to keep the food fresh. Store the food either in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers and food safe silica gel packets, while sealing the bag with a heat sealer, or in canning jars. To store the food in canning jars, Place as many oxygen absorbers, and silica gels as recommended by the manufacturer at the bottom of the jar. Add in the freeze dried strawberries. Place the lid over the jar leaving the ring off. Use a vacuum sealer jar attachment kit. Place it directly over the lid, and press down to make sure it will have a good contact. Press whatever button your vacuum sealer has to vacuum seal attachments. Store in a cool, dark, and dry place.
Notes
You do not need to start with frozen strawberries; However, starting from frozen strawberries will make the freeze drying process go a bit quicker.