At first glance, the debate between freeze-dried food vs dehydrated doesn’t seem too complicated. They’re pretty much the same thing, right? Well, not exactly. There are a few key differences between the processes that result in different outcomes of the food. In this article, I’ll be comparing freeze-dried and dehydrated foods!
1. The Drying Process and Shelf Life
The first difference between freeze drying and dehydrating is the process in which both machines go about removing water from fresh foods.
Both processes do remove water, however, dehydrators work to remove water with heat over a period of time, while freeze driers remove water with temperatures below freezing (down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit).
The percentage of water that is removed by each process also differs. Dehydrating removes about 90% of the water from fruits, meats, or vegetables, giving it anywhere between 5 and 10 years of shelf life, and varies. Freeze drying removes 99% of the water from all appropriate foods, giving it 15 or more years of shelf life. The longer shelf life of freeze-dried foods makes this option more appealing for those in to emergency preparedness or doomsday preppers.
2. Texture and Taste
Probably one of the most notable differences between freeze-dried food vs dehydrated is the taste and texture that results from the water removal process.
Freeze-dried foods, once re-hydrated, have the same texture, smell, appearance, and taste as it did when it was fresh. Freeze-dried food is also fluffy and soft to the touch and foods such as freeze-dried fruits will “melt” in your mouth and rehydrate from your saliva, making them more appealing to eat than the crunchy, odd texture of dehydrated foods.
Dehydrated foods will still have an appealing taste, especially jerky, but it will differ from the original taste and the texture is rough and can even be tough to chew. And while dehydrated foods can be re-hydrated, the taste and appearance don’t go back to normal as freeze-dried foods do.
3. Nutritional Content
Whether you’re freeze-drying or dehydrating to have an emergency food stash or you’re just wanting snacks on the go, the nutritional content of your dried food is of the utmost importance. Both freeze-dried and dehydrated foods maintain a decent amount of the food’s original vitamins and nutrients, however, freeze-dried food holds significantly more than dehydrated.
Compared to dehydrated foods, freeze-dried foods contain over 90% (often 97%) of the original nutrients! Dehydration only retains approximately 60%. That difference is pretty drastic, especially of optimal nutrient content is a major concern for you and your family.
4. The Variety of Foods
Another important consideration is the variety of foods that can either be dehydrated or freeze-dried.
Dehydration is limited to primarily:
- Fruits, and things of the like
Freeze drying is practically limitless in the variety of foods that can be dried:
- Ice cream
- Other Dairy Options
- Fish and Other Seafood
- Whole leftover meals — the options are endless!
As you can see, there’s quite a difference in the number of food items that you can freeze dry or dehydrate. If having a wide variety of foods to choose from in storage is important to you, freeze-drying is the way to go. However, if you just need a few snacks for hiking or long trips, dehydrated foods may be suitable enough.
5. Drying Equipment
The last difference between freeze-dried foods and dehydrated is the equipment. For freeze-drying you’ll need, of course, a freeze drier; and for dehydrating, you’ll need a dehydrator.
Harvest Right freeze driers are the first freeze driers made for home use. They go for around a couple thousand dollars and are available for purchase in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
- The small option can create between 1 and 1.5 gallons of freeze-dried food per batch or 195 gallons per year.
- The medium option can create 1.5 to 2.5 gallons of freeze-dried food per batch or 312 gallons each year.
- The large option can create 2 to 3.5 gallons of freeze-dried food per batch or 546 gallons annually.
Each of the above freeze driers also comes with three pump options to choose from (two for an additional charge) including a regular oil pump, a premier pump, or an oil-free pump.
Dehydrators are significantly less expensive than home freeze-drying units, coming in at about a couple hundred dollars on average (here they’re less than $100).
My favorite is the COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine.
This machine comes with 6 stainless steel trays to fit rows of food on, is fairly easy to use with 30-minute time increments, up to 48 hours of dehydrating. The unit comes with 50 recipes for beginners and a helpful manual to get you on the right track. It’s safe to use, BPA-free and features an auto-shutoff system whenever the timer goes off, along with being easy to clean. Each rack is dishwasher safe. Lastly, it’s extremely quiet so that you won’t have any distractions in your home as your food dehydrates.
What I Like:
- The affordable price
- Included recipes
- Easy to use
- Quiet operation
- Racks are dishwasher safe
- BPA free
- Designed in California. Comes with 6...
- STAINLESS STEEL - Made with food-grade...
- EASY TO USE - Use the digital control...
- QUIET TO USE - Simply press the start...
- SAFE TO USE - Tray liners are 100%...
The Best Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods
If you’re in to emergency preparedness or want to have a large stash of long-lasting food stored underground somewhere in the event of an economic collapse or natural disaster, then you’ll need the best freeze dried foods vs dehydrated. In this section, I’ll be briefly reviewing my 5 favorite dehydrated and freeze-dried food supplies.
1. Augason Farms Lunch and Dinner Variety Pail (Freeze Dried)
This 4-gallon bucket of emergency, freeze-dried food contains 92 servings of 11 delicious varieties of lunch and dinner entrees and soups. These include yummy Mac and Cheese, Creamy Potato Soup, Corn Chowder Soup, Hearty Vegetable Chicken and Chicken Noodle Soup, and Smooth Fettucini Alfredo. The total calories of this pail are 21, 170 calories, and 557 grams of protein.
The shelf life ranges between a decade and three decades, depending on the conditions of the storage unit. This pail should be stored in a place that is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with about 15% humidity (ideally) for optimal shelf life.
What I Like:
- A variety of delicious soups and dinner and lunch options
- Surprisingly affordable
- Pail is watertight
- Shelf life ranges from 10 to 30 years (depending on if the pail is opened, storage conditions, etc)
- Great for families
2. Wise Company 124-Serving Ultimate Preparedness Pack (Freeze Dried)
With 124 servings, the Wise Company Ultimate Preparedness Pack is a wonderful option for families or couples preparing for the long haul. One pouch is enough for a family of 4 and includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, fruits, desserts, and drinks. Simply add water to the pouch and the food will be ready to eat in as little as 12 minutes — no cooking necessary! This preparedness pack has a 25-year shelf life so that you and your family will be covered for decades.
What I Like:
- Pretty affordable
- Great for a family of 4
- A large variety of foods ranging from breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees — including dessert and drinks
- Food is ready in as little as 12 minutes, without cooking required
3. Augason Farms Breakfast Emergency Food Supply (Freeze Dried)
For the breakfast lovers out there, this freeze-dried Augason Farms Emergency Food Supply may be just the thing you’ve been searching for. With 162 servings, this is another great option for a regular family of 4. It includes 6 breakfast varieties (6-Grain Cereal With Bananas, Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal, Banana Chips, Buttermilk Pancakes, Morning Moo’s Low Fat Milk Alternative, and Strawberry Flavored Creamy Wheat) with a total of 20,360 calories throughout the supply. It has a shelf life of up to 20 years and is in a watertight container.
What I Like:
- Good for a family of 4
- Has 6 breakfast options to choose from
- 162 servings and 17 packets
- 20,360 calories per pail
- Delicious tasting
- Quickly prepared
4. Premium Vegetable Soup Mix (Dehydrated)
The first dehydrated meal option is this Premium Vegetable Soup Mix. It’s very fairly priced, contains all Non-GMO ingredients (and no additives or preservatives) such as carrots, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, green beans, peas, celery, and parsley, and makes over 24 cups of delicious soup per container. To prepare, you simply add 1 cup of mix to 6 cups of water, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, and voila! You’ve got soup.
What I Like:
- Non-GMO ingredients
- No additives or preservatives
- Makes 24 cups of soup
- Nutritious and farm-sourced
- Takes only 10-15 minutes to cook
5. The Backpacking Kit – 18Ct Premium Lightweight Meals (Dehydrated)
Another great option for dehydrated foods is this 18-count Backpacking Kit. All of the vegetables and legumes in this pack are Non-GMO, with no added preservatives, and nutrient-rich. Each kit contains 70+ servings of veggies, beans, and lentils and only weighs a little over 4 pounds. To cook, simply add water and wait until the food is re-hydrated approximately 10-15 minutes.
In this kit, you’ll receive packs of bell peppers, lentils, red beans, pinto beans, black beans, diced carrots, diced tomatoes, green peas, green beans, sliced celery, green cabbage, white onions, sweet corn, diced potatoes, and northern beans.
What I Like:
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Takes 10 to 15 minutes to cook
- Contains individual packs of ingredients that you can mix and match
- Comes with a recipe guide
- No added preservatives
- Weighs a little over 4 pounds
- Contains 70+ servings of soup
Freeze-dried food vs dehydrated, is one better than the other? In my opinion, freeze-drying is much more versatile and freeze-dried food taste feels, and looks better than their dehydrated counterparts. With freeze-dried foods, you get a longer shelf life, more nutritional content, and a greater variety of foods to choose from.