Discover Healthy Freeze-dried Fruit

Freeze-drying fruit causes some nutrient loss, but the overall method produces a high-quality, nutrient dense treat that is almost equal to that of fresh fruit. In fact, research has shown that freeze-dried fruit holds up to 90% of its original nutritional content and is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals — chemicals produced by plants.

Benefits of freeze-dried fruit

Freeze-dried fruit undergoes sublimation to remove water, allowing for maximum retention of nutrients and other benefits:

Nutrients

Freeze-drying is the most effective food preservation method — maintaining the fruit’s structure, taste and nutritional value. The process allows for better retention of certain vitamins, such as thiamin and vitamin C. In addition, freeze-dried fruit is rarely produced with added sugar, whereas some forms of dried fruit often have sugar added to them.

Longer shelf life

Freeze-drying increases the shelf life of fruit beyond 25 years. Since freeze-dried fruit does not require refrigeration, it is a great emergency and camping food option. Freeze-dried fruit can also save you space because of its smaller size in comparison to fresh fruit. Most importantly, the fruit can be rehydrated and restored to its original structure while retaining almost all its nutrients.

Convenience

Freeze-dried fruit is convenient because it’s lightweight, portable and lasts a long time. Almost all freeze-dried fruit is ready to eat and can be enjoyed as a healthy snack.

Fresh vs. frozen vs. dried fruit

While choosing fresh or frozen fruit without added sugar over dried fruit is your best option, if convenience, cold storage and portability are concerns, freeze-dried fruit is a good alternative. A downside to consuming dried fruit is it may not be as filling as whole fruit because of the lack of water. In addition, because it is dry, dried fruit is more concentrated and calorie dense than equal amounts of its fresh counterpart.

Are freeze-dried fruits good for weight loss?

When eaten in moderation, freeze-dried fruits are an excellent snack that can aid weight loss. There are some freeze-dried fruits that contain just about 80 calories in a 20-gram serving, such as strawberries . If you have a sweet tooth, then freeze-dried fruits can be low-calorie options.

Is freeze-dried fruit high in sugar?

Yes, the process of freeze drying tends to increase the fruit’s sugar content since the removal of moisture concentrates the sugar in fruit. Additionally, these sugars are not added, they are the original sugars in the fruit.

Can you eat too much freeze-dried fruit?

As with anything, moderation is key. It is possible to eat too much freeze-dried fruit, so practice controlling your intake.

Summary

Are freeze-dried fruits healthy? They certainly are, given that they retain nutrition. Eating them in moderation and in combination with a well-rounded diet makes it a healthy option.

They’re convenient and taste great! Anyone who loves fruit won’t have to worry about over-softening and spoilage.