Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated

Freeze-dried foods retain the vast majority of the vitamins and minerals found in their original state. Freeze-dried food retains its nutrition because of the “cold, vacuum” process that is used to extract the water. Whereas, the nutritional value of dehydrated food is generally around 60% of equivalent fresh food. This loss is largely due to the heat used during dehydration which breaks down the food’s vitamins and minerals.

Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated: Texture

Because freeze drying removes nearly all of the moisture or water content (98%) from the raw material, it has a much crispier, crunchier texture than food that is simply dehydrated. Dried fruit, for example, tends to be chewy and sweet because it is still holds at least a tenth of its original water content. On the other hand, fruit that is freeze dried contains little to no moisture content at all. This allows foods that are freeze dried to have a crispy, crunchy texture.

Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated: Shelf-Life

Because dehydrated foods contain at least a tenth of their moisture, they have a much shorter shelf-life than freeze dried foods. The water that is still trapped inside dehydrated foods can easily be spoiled by different molds and bacteria. On the flipside, freeze dried foods can last for years in the proper packaging at room temperature and maintain its original flavor and crispiness!

Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated: Additives

One of the major differences between freeze dried vs. dehydrated snacks is in the use of additives. Because freeze drying removes most of the moisture in each snack, there is no need to add in additives to preserve the food for long periods of time. Dried snacks, on the other hand, usually do require a fair amount of preservatives to keep them fresh.

Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated: Nutrition

Freeze dried foods retain all or nearly all of their original nutrients after undergoing the freeze dried process. This is because for the most part, the freeze drying process only removes the water content in food. Dehydrated foods lose about 50% of their nutritional value because they’re subject to heating during the drying process

Freeze Dried vs. Dehydrated: Taste and Smell

Of course, many consumers wonder what the difference is in terms of taste when it comes to freeze dried and dehydrated snacks. Dehydrated foods can lose much of their flavor, mainly due to the heat drying processes used to remove the moisture. Freeze dried foods (including fruits!) keep most of their original flavor until they are ready to be enjoyed.