I was into freeze dried food before it was cool. A kid with an eclectic collection of hobbies, clearly! I was super into space and astronauts and was always trying to learn more about life in space.
You’re probably thinking… that isn’t that unique, lots of kids are into space.
That’s true. But how many kids become fascinated with ‘space bacon’?
After I first discovered ‘space bacon,’ I needed to try it. Space bacon is freeze dried bacon squares that have been an astronaut favorite for decades.
Although I asked for freeze dried bacon cubes for my birthday, I never got it. I did, however, get my hands on some astronaut ice cream. This is understandably the more mainstream space snack. I received a big box of it for my birthday—individual servings of freeze dried Neapolitan ice cream.
To this day, I still love Neapolitan freeze dried ice cream, but my freeze dried food supply is much more diverse.
What is freeze dried food?
Freeze dried foods are often lumped in with MRE’s and dehydrated foods. Although there are some similarities, there are key differences. Freeze dried foods provide the highest quality goods, when compared to other drying techniques as it maintains the structural integrity. These foods are flash-frozen when low-level heat is applied inside a vacuum chamber. This process freezes water out of the food, while allowing food to retain more flavor and nutritional value. Due to the technical processes involved, freeze dried foods must be purchased commercially.
Freeze dried foods are easy to prepare – just add boiling water to the product. Within 5 minutes, your food is rehydrated and ready to eat. They have a long shelf-life, making them a great choice for preppers. Instant coffee and freeze dried strawberries are some of the most popular freeze dried foods consumed regularly.
Advantages and disadvantages of freeze dried foods
There are more pros than cons when it comes to freeze dried foods. Firstly, they are
very compact and lightweight, making them easy to pack in a bugout bag or as an emergency ration. The weight per volume of prepared food has made freeze dried foods a preferred choice for astronauts and military rations. There is a wide variety of freeze dried foods to choose from, including meats, milk, cheese, and fruit. Further, freeze dried foods require less water to prepare than dehydrated foods, and they contain more flavor and nutritional value than MRE or canned foods. They also have the longest shelf-life, lasting on average between 10 and 15 years; however, they can last up to 25 years!
One of the disadvantages of freeze dried foods is their taste – it’s not always the greatest. They also require cookware, a heat source, and water to prepare. Lastly, they are also one of the more expensive items in a preppers food supply, costing roughly 5 times as much as conventionally dried goods.
Buying freeze dried foods
If you are looking to add freeze dried foods to your stockpile, you want to make sure you are buying from the best freeze dried food companies. If not done correctly, spoilage organisms and pathogens can remain in the product. Additionally, if the food isn’t packaged properly, it can absorb moisture causing microbial growth.
A few well-known freeze dried food brands include Mountain House freeze dried food, Legacy Food Storage, and Ready Wise. They are all well-established, trusted brands. Mountain House is known for its superior flavor, while Legacy offers non-GMO products.
If you have a limited amount of cash in your food supply budget for freeze dried foods, you should prioritize certain items like cheese powder, milk, scrambled eggs, and butter. There are also freeze dried meals that come in a pouch. These meals are usually small and rationed by calories. Although initially it will cost more, it’s better to invest in items that have a longer shelf life. Also, it’s best to try the food before investing in a large quantity. Sampler packages are a great way to taste-test and check out the quality before committing to a bulk purchase.
Freeze dried meats will add a great deal of protein and nutrition to your diet if you have to rely on your emergency food supply. It will come in a can or pouch, and is easy to prepare. Ground or chopped beef, diced chicken, and of course, bacon, is also available.
The pre-cooked freeze dried meals often taste the best. The added flavors make a BIG difference. You can buy dishes like mac & cheese, sticky rice, or alfredo pasta. Many freeze dried food retailers have gluten-free and non-GMO options as well.
If you’re a prepper and interested in buying freeze dried foods, order some samples and add them to your stockpile – you won’t regret it.