Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you click a link and make a purchase. Thanks for supporting PriorityPrepper.com!
Don’t you just hate when food goes to waste? You open your fridge hoping to find leftovers to eat but are greeted by mold instead…Ugh!
Such a bummer when that happens, right? And what a waste as well!
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1.4 billion tons of food is tossed in the trash every year globally! It’s quite sad.
One of the main reasons why people end up throwing away food is confusion over expiration dates. There are so many different labels — sell by, use by, best by, best before, expires on, etc. And even if you buy fresh fruits and vegetables, there’s no guarantee how long they will last because most don’t have an expiration label and there is no way of knowing how long ago they were picked.
Do you see the problem?
Preserve Your Food to Prevent Waste
More people need to learn how to preserve food!
Canning, pickling, freezing, and dehydrating have been around for centuries. These are all good ways to make your food last longer. However, most of these methods will only preserve your food for 1-3 years, 5 at best.
But, we have something to share with you…
Would you believe there is a way to make the food you buy today still edible next month, next year, and even next decade?!?!
We’re not kidding!
We want to show you a new food preservation method that is better than canning and dehydrating… It really is the solution to our ever-growing food waste problem.
Who wouldn’t want that?
While there are various ways to preserve food, not every method produces the same results.
For example…
- Preservation by canning creates a vacuum seal inside a jar through the application of heat, but the heating or cooking process itself destroys your food’s nutrients. Canning is also a time-consuming process and requires a lot of work and knowledge — poor techniques can lead to contamination.
- Another popular preservation method is dehydration. It’s an easy process that dries out your food to prevent bacteria growth. Some nutrients are retained with dehydration and no preservatives or chemicals are needed. The cons, however… Dehydrating takes time (sometimes months) for your food to completely dry. Some people also don’t like the taste.
Nevertheless, canning and dehydrating have their own place and purpose. They are still useful food preservation techniques to learn.
A New Food Preservation Method
But with modern technology, why settle for harder, time-consuming, and more complicated food preservation methods when there’s a better, easier, and more effective alternative?
We’re talking about freeze-drying (or lyophilization)!
Freeze drying is the process by which water is removed from food after it is frozen and placed under a vacuum. The process eliminates virtually all water from your food (98%+).
And the best part? Freeze-dried foods can last 25 to 35 years! Dried foods only last about 15 to 20 years (given the right conditions) because food dehydration only removes around 89% of the moisture.
Do you see the benefit to freeze drying your food?
Moisture is the main culprit of food going bad. Removing all the moisture through freeze drying increases your food’s lifespan. It’s the best way to preserve your food — whether that be your finger-licking tenderloin steak or your mouth-watering almond honey cake with strawberry frosting.
Benefits of Freeze Drying
Freeze-dried food boasts all sorts of benefits over other preservation methods. Here are just a few:
1. Unbeaten Shelf Life
As mentioned earlier, freeze-drying is the most effective way of removing water content without compromising your food’s taste or nutrients. And, no water means no life source for molds and nasty pathogens.
Pro Tip: seal freeze-dried food in an air-tight, food-safe container away from sunlight and your future grandkids will be thankful for the food you prepare today.
2. Nutrition Retention
Unlike other preservation methods, freeze-drying locks in nutrients even in the absence of water content. Studies show that the antioxidant phytochemicals in fruits’ fresh state are retained at levels almost as high even after freeze-drying.
And you know what… researchers like Gary Stoner, Ph.D. from The American Institute for Cancer Research use whole, freeze-dried berries instead of extracts for the health benefits.
3. Same or Better Taste and Texture
Freeze-drying can also preserve the color, texture, shape, and taste of your food. Most food doesn’t shrink or harden. Thus, you can be assured that you’re getting real fruits, real vegetables, real meat, and basically real food out of your freeze-drying machine.
4. Effective Preservation Without Any Preservatives
The freeze-drying process doesn’t require any preservatives or additives. Hence, no unhealthy chemicals to worry about — just fresh, healthy whole foods for the entire family (and pets, if you have any… yup, you can freeze-dry pet food, too!).
5. Portable and Easy to Store
Since the water content in food contributes to the majority of its weight, freeze-drying makes your food weigh almost nothing.
On top of that, freeze-dried foods are easy to store (compressible) and no refrigeration is needed. And such are the qualities perfect for both backpackers and preppers alike.
How to Freeze Dry Food at Home
Now that you know that freeze-drying your food is a no-brainer, it’s time we discuss how you can do it in the comfort of your home effortlessly.
For this, you need a home freeze dryer…
As of 2021, there is only one trustworthy company offering top-of-the-line home freeze dryers — Harvest Right.
The company offers three sizes, but we’ve noticed that most people choose the medium one.
Harvest Right takes all the guesswork out of freeze-drying process. The machine does most of the work for you…
Here’s all you have to do:
- Slice or prep your food and place it on trays.
- Put the trays in your freeze dryer, close the door, and turn the handle completely to the right.
- Adjust a few settings on your freeze dryer and then sit back and relax while your freeze dryer works. It takes several hours…
- Remove your food and package it in air-tight containers with oxygen absorbers.
- Perform some simple maintenance on the hose and pump.
It’s not too difficult; just a bit of a learning curve at first.
Whenever you’re hungry, you can enjoy your freeze-dried food in its new crunchy form or rehydrate it by adding water..
Spoiled and wasted food no more!
Whether you’re someone who wants to preserve food for everyday use or a prepper who’s tired of the expensive price of food storage items and the constant reports of food shortages… freeze-dried foods are your best bet.
Some people even start freeze-drying businesses to help others prep…
With a Harvest Right home freeze-dyer, you’ll be ready for anything with a food supply that will last and be there when you need it most. Just imagine enjoying your favorite food years from now!
We have other articles to help you get started with freeze-drying, too…
Read: 14 Mistakes to Avoid If You’re New to Freeze Drying
Share this post with like-minded preppers!
