Freeze dried meat offers a convenient, long-lasting meal that you may use for a range of purposes, including (but not limited to) camping and disaster preparedness. 

Believe it or not, you may preserve a fresh piece of meat for decades by freeze drying it! It is typically cooked before processing, although raw meat is also perfectly acceptable. Best of all, when it is rehydrated, it will taste just as good as the day it was packed if done so appropriately.

With benefits like these, freeze dried meat pieces are excellent for achieving many versatile outcomes in the kitchen. So, now comes the question:

Why Is Meat Freeze Dried?

Freeze dried meat is meat that has been flash-frozen and subsequently dried out using a process known as lyophilization. A vacuum pump extracts the moisture after freezing food to extremely low temperatures and then subjecting it to light heat, sublimating the ice directly into vapor.

During the freeze drying process, ice in the frozen food serves as a trellis that allows the food to maintain its shape and texture during preservation. These results are in great contrast to dehydration, which utilizes high heat and essentially shrinks the food. When water is added back to the food, it seeps into all the empty spaces that had been previously filled with water, giving the product a taste and texture nearly unchanged from before it had been processed.

What Are Some Common Types Of Freeze Dried Meat?

Any kind of meat may be freeze dried, and many retailers offer a variety of professionally processed freeze dried meats. Some of the most common to purchase are as follows:

• Freeze dried beef crumbles

• Freeze dried chicken crumbles

• Freeze dried sausage crumbles

• Even freeze dried meat pieces for pets!

Rehydration Of Freeze Dried Meat Is Simple

The military and astronaut fields have chosen to utilize freeze dried meat because it is quite easy to rehydrate even in difficult environments. These findings come as some of the overall research that has been conducted to find the best method for rehydrating freeze dried meats with the highest quality outcomes.

Whether you rehydrate with hot boiling water or room-temperature water, the end result is the same. Either way, the meal will absorb the same quantity of water, with the only difference being the temperature of the rehydrated product. That being said, use hot water for a nice hot meal!

The volume of water you use matters, though if you do not have recommended measurements, you can rest assured you most likely won’t ruin your dish. Take into consideration that if there is an insufficient amount of water, the meal will not fully rehydrate and will still be dry in the center. If too much water has been, the meal will only absorb what it had previously contained prior to processing. A possible drawback of using too much water, however, is that some taste may transfer to the soaking water. 

What Recipes Are Possible Using Freeze Dried Meat?

Now that you know how to rehydrate it, you may be wondering, “What can I make with your freshly hydrated products?” The good news is, just about anything you want!

For instance:

• Beef and vegetable soups and stews made using other freeze dried ingredients (like potatoes and carrots).

• Sausage and eggs made using freeze dried whole eggs and crumbled sausage

• Beef fajitas made using beef cubes and freeze dried onions and peppers

• Homemade sausage pizza with crumbled sausage on top

• Chicken curry using freeze dried chicken pieces with vibrant flavors for your otherwise unseasoned meat

What This Means For Your Business

Have you found this information on the delicious and dynamic benefits of freeze dried meat exciting? So will your consumers! By offering high-quality freeze dried meat pieces to your consumers, you can capture your share of a rapidly growing and profitable industry.

Shepherd Foods has been supplying businesses with freeze dried food for generations. You can rely on our industry-grade equipment and professional expertise for your business directly from our facility. With our co-manufacturing and co-packing services, you too can provide the freeze dried ingredients and meal options that are currently in high demand.

For more information, give us a call today at (800) 497-8321. 

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