Freeze drying is the method of completely freezing and drying a portion of food within a vacuum. It works on the principle of a lyophilization process that directly changes ice into a vapor state without changing into a liquid state by applying minimum heat to the frozen food. 

This process of preserving food opens up many doors for opportunities that otherwise would not be possible. One of these opportunities, that is also being utilized in the pharmaceutical industry, is now being utilized in the culinary industry to provide unique food products. These products are full of probiotics; beneficial microorganisms that aid in gut health and more. It is very difficult to process probiotics using more typical methods for food items due to the fact that they are delicate, becoming easily damaged. Fortunately, the freeze drying process preserves the probiotics in the food without killing them!

If you are looking for an innovative approach to food products you can provide your consumers that will really shake up the food industry, then you have started on the right path with freeze dried foods. We will explain more about the nature of probiotics and how freeze dried foods can serve as a delicious and effective way to consume them as part of your everyday diet.

Just What Are Probiotics?

To narrow it down, we will start with the Lactobacillus. This is the name of the good bacteria our digestive tract needs to function well, or probiotics. Fortunately for us, they are highly tolerant to salt, whereas the bad bacteria that our stomachs do not get along with are not. This means there are many fruits and vegetables that can be closed up in containers with an adequately salted brine that can continue to grow the healthy bacteria in an environment hostile to the bad ones.

When it comes to processing foods that have been growing or contain probiotics, it goes without saying that many methods are off limits. This is because variables like increased heat and pressure kill them rather easily. Freeze drying takes the spotlight for preserving the beneficial characteristics of certain foods due to its noninvasive nature. 

The Noninvasive Nature Of Freeze Drying

There are many effective personal, commercial, and laboratory applications that utilize the freeze drying process. Being that the steps of the process do very little to alter the structure, nutrition, and taste of the materials, it is the method of choice for many manufacturing companies.

Pre-Freezing

One of the most important as well as initial stages of freeze drying is known as pre-freezing. In this phase, the temperature of the material or food ingredient is cooled to its melting point to completely undergo the sublimation process. The rate at which the material freeze dries depends upon the size of the ice crystals that form. Because water molecules can move easily out of the sample during sublimation, larger ice crystals allow for a faster and more efficient lyophilization.

Primary Drying

The next phase of the freeze drying process is called primary drying, which starts after the onset of the freezing and vacuum pumping. During this process, pressure in the chamber is reduced, and heat is applied to the material in order for the water to sublimate. In the low-pressure environment, energy in the form of heat evaporates the moisture from the material. Approximately, 93% of the water contained in the taken sample material is sublimated out during this step. 

Secondary Drying

Desorption of water from the material takes place after primary freeze drying is finished and most of the ice has sublimated. The next step, known as secondary drying, is up next. Additional heat is applied to continue driving out excess moisture, leaving behind a water content of about 2% when done effectively. This final step is primarily used in the preparation of samples or food products that are required to perform for long term preservation and storage.

How Is All Of This Relevant To My Business?

As a food product manufacturing or distribution business, your services might offer something fresh and new to your consumers from a freeze drying approach. Probiotics is a niche of food products that can be processed using the freeze drying process and claimed as an additional benefit to whatever food product you are offering. Healthy, nutritious, and delicious, it’s hard to go wrong!

Shepherd Foods Can Help

Shepherd Foods is an excellent freeze dried food manufacturer that can work to keep your food items preserved for a long term timeframe. From original food ingredients, to fully prepared meals, to probiotics blends and baked goods, our professional team offers the solutions your business needs to succeed. Give us a call at (800) 497-8321 for more information about our co-packing and co-manufacturing services for giving your business a productivity or quality assurance boost it needs to stand out from the competition. 

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