What is freeze-dried food? Discover its benefits!

What is the Freeze-Drying Process?

Freeze-drying is widely used in the food industry. Almost any fresh fruit, vegetable, or ready meal can undergo the freeze-drying process. Freeze-drying is a food preservation method that became popular during World War II when it was used to create lightweight military rations. The process involves rapidly freezing food and then slowly heating it under reduced pressure (about 10 hPa), causing the water to sublimate—meaning it is removed through direct evaporation without going through the liquid phase. The entire process takes about two days. After the sublimation of water, the food undergoes secondary drying at a higher temperature, which ensures its proper shelf life. By removing moisture from the products, the growth of microorganisms is inhibited, and the processes leading to mold and food decay are significantly slowed.

Benefits of Freeze-Dried Food

Thanks to freeze-drying, food retains its freshness and nutritional and biological values after rehydration, which are similar to those it had at the time of freezing. Unlike drying or canning, which require heating food to high temperatures, freeze-drying does not cause the loss of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, or niacin. High temperatures used in traditional preservation methods can affect nutrients, taste, and texture, leading to protein denaturation and changes in fiber structure. Some freeze-dried products, such as fruits and vegetables, can be eaten without prior soaking.

Freeze-dried food is an excellent solution for travelers, tourists, and athletes. Freeze-dried products are lightweight and compact, making them easy to transport and store. Freeze-drying removes around 98% of the water from food, resulting in a significant reduction in weight. This is a major advantage for people who need to carry food for several days or months, such as during mountain expeditions. Freeze-dried food is much lighter than dehydrated food, which is crucial for participants in long-distance endurance events, where the weight of food and packaging size are key considerations, and every gram of luggage matters.

Freeze-dried food has an exceptionally long shelf life—up to several years—allowing for long-term storage without the worry of spoilage. Additionally, freeze-dried products can be stored in a wide temperature range without the risk of quality loss or packaging changes—remaining fresh for many years.

How to Prepare Our Meals?

Preparing our meals takes just a few minutes! Simply add hot water to the appropriate fill line on the packaging, mix well, and in 10 minutes, the meal will be ready to eat—hot, tasty, and nutritious—wherever you are. It’s also worth mentioning that the meal can be rehydrated with cold water, but in this case, the rehydration time will be longer.

Expedition Foods Brand

Get to know the Expedition Foods brand! We’ve been producing freeze-dried food since 1995, supporting top polar explorers, mountaineers, rowers, and sailors, as well as everyone who enjoys spending long days outdoors. As one of our satisfied users says:

Expedition Foods have supplied meals for every expedition I’ve done so far. In the name of research, I’ve tried other brands but always come back to Expedition Foods. They make genuinely great-tasting food that is so welcome after a long day.— Wendy Searle (Skied solo from the coastline of Antarctica to the South Pole in 42 days)

Check out our offer, which includes ready-to-eat freeze-dried meals. They are divided into three calorie variants—450 kcal, 800 kcal, and 1000 kcal—so you can tailor the meals to your individual needs. We also offer meals suitable for vegans, vegetarians, as well as gluten-free and lactose-free products.

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