An Introduction to Freeze Dried Foods

         Most of the time when I think of this particular blog, I think that we have just begun and that I have a lot of ground to cover quickly and many subjects to tell you about, or to which to alert you.  Today, I realize that we have reached post number fifty !
          When I first began in preparedness I stocked lots of canned food, food in jars and I prepared to grow the rest of my own. Later I froze quite a bit of food in order to stay ahead.  I did not pursue freeze dried food until fairly recently because I did not truly understand it, thinking that it might have more preservatives than I wanted my family to have.  With extra research and education I have found that there are times where stocking industrial sized freeze dried foods may be very intelligent.

           There are a number of brands of freeze dried foods marketed. I tend to buy much of the Augason Farms line in part because it is sold through Sam's Club here in the US, and this keeps it more accessible to me, but there are many others. The beauty of freeze dried food in Industrially sized #10 cans is that larger amounts of food can be stored in smaller spaces, and can be stacked fairly well, and that many of these foods will remain nutritionally stable, edible and delicious FOR 25-30 years depending upon the product, the item, and whether you can store it in a moderated heated and cooled space.

Costco, in the US even sells a brand of emergency freeze dried food called Shelf Reliance, as seen above.

  
  These cans come in metal sealed cans, and a plastic lid either comes with them, or can be purchased for about 25 US cents per lid.  The unopened cans will last 20 plus years, and an opened one should be consumed within one year.
    The food does take a considerable amount of water to reconstitute, and depending upon brand, it can take some time. Some items reconstitute best using heat as well.  I hesitate to tell you which products and brands I like because among preppers there are many opinions.   I am not a big fan of the freeze dried lasagna, but I like the chili.   Others don't like the chili much unless things are added to it after being reconstituted, but they love the lasagna !
     These cans will last best if not allowed to become wet.  Sealed, they are also resistant to insects, including pantry moths.  A very wide brands of products, companies and foods are available.

   
      One can buy 20-25 servings of an entree, as we have above, or anything from freeze dried mozzarella cheese, freeze dried cottage cheese, blueberries, muffin mixes, pancake mixes, bread mixes, vegetables, fruits, chopped green peppers, chopped onions, etc.

This seafood chowder, for example, has a 25 year lifespan unopened.   There are many different types of soups, and brands.  Many of them are quite good.

 This particular item can be mixed up and used, or may be added to cakes, cookies, entrees and other foods during cooking to impact flavor and texture.


 It takes a little practice to rehydrate foods and then add them to meals, but it's well worth the practice and the effort.

     Augason Farms has recipes one can download from their site.

     www.augasonfarms.com



      Augason Farms also sells an entire line of gluten free foods, which is very important to any prepper, or any other person who has celiac disease, or celiac-sprue as we used to call it.  Please look at their gluten free line of foods.  This can make purchasing it, and having it available for families so much easier than navigating elsewhere.

A broad selection of gluten free foods are available from Utah, USA based Augason Farms, a family owned business.   www.augasonfarms.com