Freeze Dried Meals

To make food survive longer at normal temperatures, freeze drying involves turning ice into vapor through a process called sublimation. Backpackers like freeze-dried meals because of their portability and lightweight. Foods that have been freeze-dried are excellent as a source of emergency nutrition or for use in locations without refrigeration. They don't need to be preserved in order to be stored.

Food that has been freeze-dried typically has a shelf life of 25 to 30 years while food that has been dehydrated can last 15 to 20. Use the freeze-dried food within a month of opening it and exposing it to oxygen. Any opened freeze-dried food should be stored in a cold, dark area and treated as canned products. If you have a package of freeze-dried food that is not yet opened, be sure to protect the contents from moisture and oxygen with an airtight seal or storage bag before storing them for long periods. Many businesses produce tasty, freeze-dried meals that are not only nutritious but also work with particular dietary patterns, such as Wild Zora and AlpineAire.