Is Freeze-Dried Food Healthier Than Fresh?

In a world where everyone seeks convenience and prioritises healthy eating, freeze-dried foods have significantly impacted the food industry. The current debates compare freeze-dried meals with fresh ones and contemplate which is more nutritious. Have you ever considered this and wondered which one you should rely on? Don’t worry; now we’ll dive into the world of freeze-dried meals and ponder many questions you never thought about. Shall we start?

 

What is Freeze-Dried Foods?

 

Freeze-dried meals are foods that have gone through the process of lyophilisation and have little to no moisture. The freeze-drying technology extracts all water from the foods, which adds to their shelf life without reducing their nutrients. The process starts with freezing the products in a freezer to sustain their texture. 

 

After freezing them, the foods go through sublimation. Here, the ice crystals within the foods are transformed from solid to ice without turning into water. In the last stage, desorption, the remaining water molecules are removed to hinder the growth of mould and yeast.

 

Is freeze-dried food raw food?

 

Yes, usually, freeze-dried food is raw food. This is because freeze-drying is a technology that removes the moisture from the food while keeping its nutrients. No heat is added to cook the food, only to achieve the freeze-drying goals. 

 

But the case isn’t the same with all types of freeze-dried. Foods like eggs or beef are cooked before freeze-drying. The reason is to kill all the harmful bacteria and make the food safe to eat.

 

What foods cannot be freeze-dried?

 

Yes, all foods cannot be freeze-dried. You must be wondering the reason. Because when foods with high-fat content are freeze-dried, they become stale and unsafe to eat. These foods may include avocado, butter, and bacon, but cannot freeze-dry. But it doesn’t end here!

 

Foods with high water content, like lettuce and watermelon, cannot be freeze-dried. It is because when these foods are freeze-dried, they likely lose their texture. Foods that contain preservatives and are processed cannot also be freeze-dried for respective reasons.  

 

Is freeze-dried food worth it?

 

Whether or not freeze-drying food is worth depends on your taste and preference. Freeze-drying food might be a good option if you prioritise convenience and cost-effective options. Freeze-dried products are best for travelling, picnics, hiking and camping.

 

But if you prefer the fresh taste and texture of the foods and even have access to fresh food, you may stick to fresh goods. Fresh foods have a fresh texture and are more pocket-friendly than freeze-dried products.

 

What is the benefit of freeze-dried foods?

 

When it comes to the benefits of freeze-drying foods, there are so many ways of adding to your life. The benefits of freeze-dried meals include:

 

Full of Nutrients

 

The most unbelievable fact about freeze-drying is that it preserves all the essential nutrients of the foods. Even if these undergo food preservation, they preserve the food’s essential anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. This process preserves the integrity of the food and without causing any loss of the nutrients. Therefore, freeze-drying foods maintain the nutritional value of the food, which makes them the best choice for people.

 

Convenience

 

Freeze-dried represents convenience. Being hassle-free, preparing them is easy and demands little effort. All you need to consume freeze-dried products is add a little water to them, and voila, it’s ready! Whether you’re looking for a healthy breakfast, a nutritious snack or a delicious main course, your life will be easy with freeze-dried products!

 

Less Waste

 

When compared with fresh foods, freeze-drying foods cause less wastage. Fresh foods have shorter life spans, so you must consume them quickly to save them. On the other hand, freeze-dried meals have a 20-30-year lifespan, so you can store them for as long as you want without them rotting away. 

 

So, Is freeze-dried food healthier than fresh?

 

It’s time for the main question, and the answer is honestly subjective. Okay, let’s be practical- when do you think the fresh foods you consume are harvested? These are harvested much before they are ripe; as we all know, foods stop getting nutrition when plucked. It means the fresh foods you consume aren’t that fresh. They become ripe on their way to you.

 

However, when it comes to freeze-drying foods, these are harvested only when fully ripe. This means they get complete nutrition while growing and are far more nutritious than fresh foods. After being harvested, these are freeze-dried, adding to their shelf life and convenience.

 

Conclusion

 

The choice is yours: what do you find healthier, freeze-dried or fresh meals? Your choice may depend on your taste, preference, geographical location, etc. But we recommend consuming both and not relying only on one type of food. A balance between the both is essential to ensure you get complete nutrition. If you want to add freeze-dried meals to your diet, try Mak Biotek freeze-dried products to live a healthy life!