When it comes to storing food long term, the age-old question keeps coming up: freeze-dried or dehydrated?
Both can work as part of your emergency food storage, but there are key differences between the two that could make one better than the other for your particular circumstances. Check out these differences and then choose the option that’s best for you.
Shelf Life
Moisture content plays a huge impact on shelf life. The more moisture, the less amount of time it will last. With that in mind, it’s time to compare the moisture content of dehydrated and freeze-dried food.
Dehydrated food can lose quite a bit of moisture–up to 95 percent! However, do-it-yourself home dehydrators may only remove 70% or a food’s water, leaving it with a shelf life of
only one year on average. However, most top end dehydrated food will still maintain a shelf life of even longer, up to 15 years or more.
Freeze-dried food, on the other hand, is much more suitable for long-term storage. Getting rid of 98-99 percent of moisture gives freeze-dried food a much lengthier shelf life. Our freeze-dried food has a shelf life of 25 years or more.
While both dehydrated and freeze-dried foods can have long shelf lives, freeze-dried food is definitely superior when it comes to long-term storage. In both cases, however, cooler temperatures will help lengthen their shelf life. We recommend storing your food in temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Preparation
Freeze-dried meals prepare easily. Since everything is pre-cooked, all you need to do is add water, wait a few minutes, and your food is ready for eating! Best of all, it tastes just like it did the day it was created (which might very well have been 25 years ago).
Dehydrated food is a touch different in the way it’s prepared. Instead of letting your food soak for a few minutes, it needs to be cook—boiled, even—in order to rehydrate enough to become the food it used to be. This can take upwards to 20 minutes, depending on the food. While it’s not a huge issue, it can make a big difference if you’re in a hurry.
Nutrition
According to a food science professor at UC-Davis, freeze-dried food maintains most of its nutrients throughout the process, and once rehydrated, is very similar in nutritional value to its fresh counterpart. This is
in contrast to dehydrated food which, although much of the nutrients remain, only around 50% - 60% of the original nutrients are left over. In freeze-dried food, there is about 97% of retained nutrients. In this area, freeze-dried food comes out on top.
Taste
[caption id="attachment_18729" align="alignright" width="300"]
Lasagna with Meat Sauce, previously freeze-dried[/caption]
Flavor is important in your food. If it doesn’t taste good, why would you even want to eat it? Fortunately, both freeze-dried and dehydrated foods taste great, but there is a difference in the way it’s prepared that makes one taste better than the other.
According to the Wild Backpacker, the taste of freeze-dried food is essentially held in the food, as the process involves very little heat. This keeps in the flavor, retains original texture, and secures the natural scents. This is why many believe freeze-dried food tastes better than dehydrated food, which uses heat to lose moisture, thus forfeiting flavor, original texture, and smell.
Weight
If your food intends to stay in your pantry or with your emergency food storage until used, then weight won’t really be an issue. However, dehydrated and freeze-dried food are delicious treats and meals to take on camping trips, hikes, and even in your bug-out bag, which in turn makes weight play a crucial role.
Dehydrated food is heavier than freeze-dried food, so if you are planning on taking one of these types of foods with you on a hike, freeze-dried food is your best option in terms of being lightweight. If you’re planning on getting a meal out of your food, you’ll want to make sure you either bring enough water or have access to it so you can rehydrate your meals. Many freeze-dried foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and even meats, can be snacked on without rehydrating them, making them a nice, lightweight option for snacking.
There are pros and cons to both dehydrated and freeze-dried food, so in the end it all boils down to what you’re looking for in a food, and how you intend to use it. When it comes to long-term storage and nutrients, however, freeze-dried food reigns supreme. So when you’re looking to invest in an emergency food storage, freeze-dried may very well be the way to go.
Check out our freeze-dried food here!
48 comments
C Morris
Two things you did not consider where Dehydrated wins out: Space (more dehydrated product fits into a given space than freeze dried). Also the cost of dehydrated is generally cheaper for the same amount of product. The same amount of product meaning if for example you dehydrated 5 apples and freeze dried 5 apples.
Melissa Thomas
Great stuff!
Mariah
Freeze dried foods are great for meal prep and snacking. The shelf life is amazing and emergency essentials has the best prices and products.
Tina Pittman
I feel that having this in my stockpile will really help my family, we never know what is going to happen. Thank you
Ginny
We enjoy the fresh taste and high quality!
Jones Foxx Jr.
The nutritional value of freeze dried food is what does it for me. When an emergency happens things are obviously out of whack and you need the max. energy you can get
Karen Dearing
I love freeze dried food because it is a convenient way for me to prepare a healthy meal for just myself or for the entire family.
Judy Peterson
I love your products and have used them and shared them for 5 years. We have frequent power outages and having these foods available year around is the greatest asset I have found.
Robin Stephens
Love your prices, variety and thanks for a chance to win!
Cheryl Hendricks
Love Emergency Essentials. About broke my heart when I lost my place and had to find a home for all my superpails. But I made sure I kept my #10 cans of freeze dried food, as it was lightweight enough to go in the RV.
laura mccubbin
Having freeze dried food, would be an asset for a long term event. thanks for the chance to win some!
Chris Harris
I love the long shelf life
Michael Huggins
Thanks for the info!
Mary Campbell
I love the idea of being able to have freeze-dried fruits and veggies. Having a better nutritional source in emergencies- esp off season can keep the family healthy.
My dehydrator is not the top of the line- not even close- it’s good for herbs and spices and that’s about it.
Chairle Bass
I love freeze-dried food for the taste and shelf life. Can’t beat either !
Beth N
Would love to win this, great food storage options here.
Marilyn Snow
I love freeze dried food because there is so much available and it is so easy to use for many meals.
Roger Morris
I like that they are so lightweight. The further I hike in the more I appreciate it. Makes carrying in more water an easier option.
Mary Toleson
I LOVE the shelf life. Easy to buy and store , they give me great peace of mind knowing they are always ready for use when bad times come knocking.
Connie Merritt
It gives me some much needed peace of mind. I know if something happens I am prepared.
Karen Beckett
I love freeze-dried food because of the shelf life & it’s healthy food. Tastes good too!
Karen Beckett
I love freeze-dried food because of the long shelf life & it tastes good. Plus it’s a healthy food!
Erica stewart
Would love to to try but haven’t had the extra money to get anything yet. Hope to buy something by the end of next month.
Lori Crook
I have learned a lot about the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated foods.
Tammy Iler
I like it because it’s healthier for you
TStout
I really like freeze dried as it is light and can be used for camping or home. Freeze dried tastes good and you don’t have to wait a long time to get it fixed. Great for storage also especially when you have emergencies!
Linda Bragg
I love freezes dried food because it’s healthy and has a long shelf life.
Valerie Pederson
I.like.that.you.can.use.as.much.as.you.need.and.wit.won’t.spoil.
sheila perry
I would love to win ! would love to add this to my emergency food storage.
Morgan
I love the taste of freeze dried food. Especially fruits! Glad I’m slowly adding stuff to my pantry.
Ed Serr
All freeze dried food is dehydrated, but not all dehydrated food is freeze dried. Surely removing most of the water by sublimation exposing frozen food to a very low atmospheric pressure is better for most foods, but it is also more expensive than evaporating the water which is entirely sufficient for some foods.
Josiah Tank
Great info. Thanks.
Sharon
Having a wide variety of foods that keep a long time reassures me that we can feed the family if times get rough.
Martha Fletcher
I am always looking for easy to pack tasty food for camping.
Donna Kozar
Very good idea to have both to be prepared.
Wendy Lynch
I love freeze dried fruit as a snack. No worries about refrigeration or getting your banana smushed!
jeani b
i love freeze dried food because it’s portable and lasts a long time.
Rich Zore
It’s the best way to go for storage, traveling or just plain enjoying foods out of season.
Shawna
I love freeze dried food to use in my emergency food storage because it’s shelf life is very long and it is easy to prepare, tastes good and is nutritious!
Sonya Morris
I love that freeze-dried food maintains most of its nutrients throughout the process! I was not aware of that and is great to know!
Jamie Vanderpool
Love that you can eat freeze dried food right out of the can!
South Point Sentry
One of the greatest benefits for freeze dried food is that it retains most of its natural nutrients, This is especially important when a product has a 25 year shelf life. On top of that, the freeze drying process pulls all of the water weight out of the product making it easy to move and carry on a trip. One thing most people also fail to mention is this, what will this same pack cost you 25 years from now? Production cost are always increasing so a $10 meal today could be a $20 meal 25 years from now. Buying now could save you money if you’re invested in this long term.
Janet
I love freeze dried food. It’s a huge part of my food storage but it’s also great to snack on and I love having freeze dried fruits and veggies on hand when I’m cooking and don’t have fresh ones on hand. It’s great not to have to go to the grocery store.
Diane
I’ve made several purchases from Emergency Essentials. I have had nothing but a Positive Experience! The food is great, as are the supplies, and the prices are competitive. I recommend all of my friends shop here! Ty EE!
christi
Having long term food stored is the best insurance EVER !
jerry peters
Tried to share on Facebook and it did not work. Everything we have tried has been great.
Nick Silva
good stuff.
Dee M
Thank you.