Freeze-dried food isn’t just good. It’s wicked good.
kAmyFDE 2D< 6?EC6AC6?6FC zJ=66 $49@6?[ @H?6C @7 (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D @FE @7 q62EC:46[ }63C2D<2]k^Am
kAm%96 A9C2D6 “H:4<65 8@@5” 56C:G6D 7C@> E96 62DE 4@2DE[ >62?:?8 “2H6D@>6]” %96 7C66K6\5C:65 AC@5F46[ 42?5J 2?5 ?@G6=EJ 4@?764E:@?2CJ :E6>D >256 2E (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D =:G6 FA E@ E96:C ?2>6 :? DFA6C:@C BF2=:EJ 2?5 E2DE6]k^Am
kAm$:?46 368:??:?8 E@ 7C66K6\5CJ 42?5J :? 96C 9@>6 E9C66 J62CD 28@[ $49@6? 92D 8C@H? 96C :?G6?E@CJ E@ :?4=F56 7CF:ED[ G686E23=6D[ 4966D6D 2?5 4@?764E:@?2CJ :E6>D] w6C 3FD:?6DD ?@H :?4=F56D 2 DE@C67C@?E :? 5@H?E@H? q62EC:46[ 2?5 96C H9@=6D2=6 AC@5F4ED 42? 36 7@F?5 :? ac wJ\'66 DE@C6D 2?5 3@FE:BF6D :? %6I2D[ |:DD:DD:AA:[ {@F:D:2?2 2?5 }63C2D<2] $96 2=D@ DFAA=:6D #FD9>@C6 r2?5J r@][ 2?5 :ED D:DE6C 4@>A2?J[ r2?5J=2?5[ 3@E9 :? $@FE9 s2<@E2]k^Am
Kylee Schoen has grown her business from freeze drying in one machine at home to owning a storefront and running 28 machines at once. She has plans for expansion as demand is still growing.
Submitted photo
kAm“(6 2C6 E96 @?=J 4@>A2?J C:89E ?@H :? E96 DE2E6 @7 }63C2D<2 2FE9@C:K65 E@ 7C66K6\5CJ 2?5 D6== 7CF:ED[ 42?5J 2?5 G686E23=6D[” $49@6? D2:5]k^Am
kAms6>2?5 7@C E96 H9@=6D2=6 AC@5F4ED 92D :?4C62D65 D@ >F49 E92E $49@6? C646?E=J BF:E 96C `f\J62C 42C66C 2D 2 h`` 5:DA2E496C E@ 565:42E6 E:>6 D@=6=J E@ 96C 3FD:?6DD G6?EFC6] %96 6?E:C6 $49@6? 72>:=J :D :?G@=G65[ :?4=F5:?8 96C 9FD32?5 p2C@? 2?5 EH@ 52F89E6CD[ 286D h 2?5 ``] x? 255:E:@?[ (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D 6>A=@JD 23@FE `_ A6@A=6]k^Am
kAm$49@6? 92D 24E:G6=J 366? 25G6CE:D:?8 96C 7C66K6\5C:65 AC@5F4ED 3J DA6?5:?8 96C H66<6?5D 2E 6G6?ED] {2DE J62C 2=@?6[ (:4<65 u@@5 u@@5D >256 :ED 2AA62C2?46 2E hd D9@HD] xED @?=:?6 AC6D6?46 :D 6IA2?5:?8[ 2D H6==] %@ >2C<6E 96C 8@@5D @? p>2K@?[ $49@6? AFC492D65 32C4@56D DA64:7:4 E@ 6249 AC@5F4E]k^Am
kAmp7E6C D9@H42D:?8 (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D 2E E96 a_aa }63C2D<2 $E2E6 u2:C[ $49@6? D@=5 2? 6DE:>2E65 afd[___ 328D @7 7C66K6\5C:65 7@@5D] $2=6D 92G6 >@C6 E92? EC:A=65 D:?46]k^Am
kAm#6249:?8 E9:D A@:?E 92D C6BF:C65 C6D62C49[ EC:2=D 2?5 A2E:6?46]k^Am
kAm$49@6? DA6?E D:I >@?E9D E6DE:?8 AC@5F4ED E@ 6?DFC6 AC@A6C E6>A6C2EFC6 H2D 249:6G65 2?5 7@@5D H6C6 36:?8 AC@46DD65 =@?8 6?@F89] (@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 7@@5 =23 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=?[ $49@6? 925 6249 :?8C65:6?E 2?2=JK65 H:E9 2 H2E6C E6DE 2E Sbd A6C :E6>]k^Am
These Jolly Rancher candies are cut into fourths before being put into the freeze dryer, otherwise they would expand so much they would hit the tray above them.
Submitted photo
kAm“x A2:5 E96 766 7@C 2 H2E6C E6DE @? 6249 :E6> E@ >2<6 DFC6 H6 H6C6 8@:?8 23@G6 2?5 36J@?5 E@ 36 :? 4@>A=:2?46[” $49@6? D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD 56>2?5 7@C $49@6?’D 7C66K6\5C:65 42?5J :?4C62D65[ D96 @FE8C6H 96C @?6 7C66K6 5CJ6C >249:?6]k^Am
kAm“(6 BF:4<=J 7@F?5 @FE E96C6 H2D 2 ?665 7@C 7CF:ED 2?5 G686E23=6D[ D@ H6 DE2CE65 3C2?49:?8 @FE 2?5 3FJ:?8 >@C6 >249:?6D[” $49@6? D2:5]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 $49@6? H2?E65 E@ D6== >@C6 E92? ;FDE 7C66K6\5C:65 42?5J[ D96 ?66565 2 4@>>6C4:2= <:E496?] x? }63C2D<2[ 2?J 7@@5 AC@5F4E ?@E 4@?D:56C65 D96=7\DE23=65 W:]6] D=:465 7CF:E[ 4966D6X >FDE 36 AC6A2C65 :? 2 4@>>6C4:2= <:E496?]k^Am
kAm%96 $49@6?’D AFC492D65 2 3F:=5:?8 :? q62EC:46 2?5 3682? C6?@G2E:@?D] %96J :?DE2==65 D:?<D 2?5 @E96C <:E496? 6BF:A>6?E[ AFE :? 2 =2C86 H2=<\:? 7C66K6C 2?5 C6H:C65 E96 C@@>D E@ 244@>>@52E6 E96 7C66K6 5CJ6CD] t249 >249:?6 92D :ED @H? 4:C4F:E E@ 2G@:5 EC:AA:?8 3C62<6CD]k^Am
These are the same Jolly Rancher candies after being freeze dried.
Submitted photo
kAm$49@6? 3682? H:E9 D6G6? 7C66K6 5CJ:?8 >249:?6D 2?5 ?@H 92D ag] $96 :D =@@<:?8 E@ AFC492D6 2 =2C86C 7C66K6 5CJ6C H:E9 E96 42A24:EJ 7@C ad_ A@F?5D @7 7C6D9 7@@5]k^Am
kAm(:4<5 v@@5 u@@5D AC@5F4ED 368:? H:E9 E96 7C6D96DE AC@5F46] $49@6? D2:5 D96 :D G6CJ A2CE:4F=2C 23@FE H92E 7@@5 :D 7C66K6\5C:65 2?5 92D C6;64E65 7CF:ED @C G686E23=6D H:E9 3=6>:D96D] $96 5@6D ?@E 255 2?J AC6D6CG2E:G6D @C DH66E6?6CD E@ E96 7@@5D 367@C6 AC@46DD:?8] %96 @?=J 6I46AE:@? :D 4:??2>@? 2?5 DF82C @? E96 2AA=6 D=:46D]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 3:8 @? <66A:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 2D ?2EFC2= 2D A@DD:3=6[” D2:5 $49@6?]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 96C 4FDE@>6CD 42??@E 4@?DF>6 2?J DF82C @C @E96C 255:E:G6D[ D96 D2:5[ D@ D96 H2?ED E96> E@ ECFDE E96J 2C6 86EE:?8 ;FDE E96 7CF:E @C G686E23=6 H:E9@FE 2?J “6IEC2D” 7C@> (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D]k^Am
kAmpD 2 AC642FE:@? 282:?DE 4C@DD\4@?E2>:?2E:@? 7@C 7@@5 2==6C8:6D[ 7@@5D 2C6 <6AE D6A2C2E6 5FC:?8 E96 6?E:C6 7C66K6\5CJ:?8 AC@46DD[ 7C@> E96 AC6A2C2E:@? DE286 E@ 7C66K6 5CJ:?8 E@ A24<28:?8] %C2JD 2C6 4=62?65 2?5 E96? D2?:E:K65 36EH66? 6249 32E49]k^Am
kAm%96 7C66K6CD CF? ac 9@FCD 2 52J[ @C 2D =@?8 2D 2 4J4=6 E2<6D E@ AC@46DD E96 7@@5] p EH@\9@FC 567C@DE :D C6BF:C65 :? 36EH66? E96 4J4=6D] u@@5D H:E9@FE >F49 >@:DEFC6[ DF49 2D 4@?76EE: 3C@H?:6D[ E2<6 2? 2G6C286 @7 ac\ag 9@FCD] !62496D @C A:?62AA=6 4J4=6 :? c_\g_ 9@FCD]k^Am
kAm“(6’== CF? 6G6CJE9:?8 2? 6IEC2 ac 9@FCD E@ 6?DFC6 :E :D 5CJ[” $49@6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm%@ 4FE 5@H? @? E96 7C66K6\5CJ:?8 E:>6[ 2== 7@@5D 6I46AE 42?5J 2C6 AC6\7C@K6? 2E =62DE ac 9@FCD] $49@6? D2:5 E9:D 6IEC2 DE6A 6=:>:?2E6D 23@FE `a 9@FCD :? E96 >249:?6]k^Am
kAm“!C6\7C66K:?8 96=AD E96 AF>A 2 =@E 3642FD6 E96 >249:?6 92D E@ 86E 5@H? E@ d E@ a_ 568C66D 36=@H K6C@[” D2:5 $49@6?]k^Am
Pre-freezing foods can help cut down freeze-drying time by about 12 hours.
Submitted photo
kAmp=>@DE 2?J 7@@5 42? 36 7C66K6\5C:65] $@>6 @7 E96 ?@G6=EJ :E6>D 2E (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D 2C6 7C66K6 5C:65 4966D6 42<6 3:E6D 2?5 7C66K6 5C:65 r2AC6D6 D2=25[ H9:49 :D 2? xE2=:2? 6?ECé6 H:E9 E@>2E@ 2?5 4966D6] $96 :D 2=D@ A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 2 =@42= s2:CJ "F66? E@ 7C66K6 5CJ :46 4C62> 42<6] (@C<:?8 H:E9 2?@E96C =@42= 4@>A2?J[ D96 H:== D@@? 36 @776C:?8 7C66K6\5C:65 D2=D2]k^Am
kAm$96 92D ?@E 925 DF446DD 7C66K6 5CJ:?8 |:<6 2?5 x<6’D[ #65 w@ED @C r:??2>@? q62CD] $49@6? H@?56CD :7 2? :?8C65:6?E DF49 2D 4@C?DE2C49 AC6G6?ED E96D6 42?5:6D 7C@> 492?8:?8 H96? 7C66K6\5C:65] $25=J[ #66D6’D !62?FE qFEE6C rFAD[ @C 2?J 7@@5 H:E9 A62?FE 3FEE6C[ 5@6D ?@E 72C6 H6== :? E96 7C66K6 5CJ:?8 >249:?6[ 6:E96C]k^Am
kAm“%96 A62?FE 3FEE6C ;FDE >6=ED :?E@ 2 AF55=6[” D2:5 $49@6?] %96J 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 A62?FE 3FEE6C 2=E6C?2E:G6]k^Am
kAm$49@6?’D ?6IE AC@;64E :D 7C66K6 5CJ:?8 9@>6>256 >62=D] $6==:?8 D@FAD[ DE6HD 2?5 AC6A2C65 >62=D C6BF:C6D 2 76H 6IEC2 DE6AD[ 3FE $49@6? 92D 2=C625J 366? E2<:?8 4@FCD6 23@FE 7@@5 92?5=:?8 2?5 7@@5 4@?E2>:?2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“p?J 4=2DD6D x 42? E2<6 E@ 36EE6C >J <?@H=6586 E@ >2<6 DFC6 H6 2C6 @776C:?8 2 BF2=:EJ 2?5 D276 AC@5F4E[” D2:5 $49@6?]k^Am
kAmw6C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 96C 4FDE@>6CD :D A2CE @7 H92E >2<6D (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D DF446DD7F=] $49@6? D2:5 E92E D96 92D 925 @G6CH96=>:?8 DFAA@CE 2?5 :D 8C2E67F= 7@C E9@D6 :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 4@>A2?:6D H9@ 92G6 366? H:==:?8 E@ 8:G6 96C 2 492?46]k^Am
kAmu:?5 @FE 9@H “H:4<65 8@@5” 7C66K6\5C:65 7@@5 42? 36 3J ECJ:?8 2?J @7 E96 AC@5F4ED @776C65 3J (:4<65 v@@5 u@@5D] r964< @FE E96:C ?6H=J\FA52E65 H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:4<658@@57@@5D?6]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]H:4<658@@57@@5D?6]4@>^k^2m]k^Am
Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com .
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
