Freeze Drying Candies: Chewy Caramel and Milk Duds

Freeze-dried candies are a delightful treat, offering a unique texture and intensified flavor that many find irresistible. The process of freeze drying removes moisture from candies without compromising their taste, resulting in a crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth experience. This preservation method not only extends the shelf life of candies but also enhances their inherent sweetness, making them popular among both children and adults.

Freeze drying candies is generally simpler and quicker than processing more water-dense foods like fruits. This is because candies typically contain less water and do not require extremely low temperatures before drying. However, the process can vary significantly between different types of candies, sometimes requiring a bit of experimentation to optimize conditions for each kind.

Today, we experimented with three types of candies using the Stay Fresh Standard Freeze Dryer: Chewy Caramel, Creamy Caramel Filled Hard Candies, and Milk Duds.

Process Overview:

• Setup: We neatly arranged the candies on the tray and placed them in the freeze dryer. We then secured the chamber by closing the vacuum pump valve, drain valve, and door.
• Settings: From the main screen, we selected the 'FreezeDrying' option, followed by 'Candy' mode. We adjusted the maximum shelf temperature from the default 140°F to 150°F and started the process.

• Duration: Remarkably, all three candy types completed drying in less than 4 hours (with 2 hours of final drying time).
• Seal and Preservation: Remember to promptly seal your freeze-dried candies in mylar bags or airtight mason jars to prevent them from reabsorbing moisture from the air, which can happen quickly with freeze-dried products.

Observations and Results:

• Chewy Caramel: This was a standout success and possibly the tastiest freeze-dried candy we've experienced. It expanded impressively well, though we noted that the high temperature wasn't necessary for this expansion. A lesson learned here was to either reduce the candy size or use parchment paper above the candies to prevent sticking to the shelf above, as they expanded to touch and stick to it.
• Creamy Caramel Filled Hard Candies: The creamy caramel inside expanded nicely, but the hard outer shell did not, leading to an uneven expansion which we considered a failure. This type demonstrates that not all candies are suitable for freeze drying.
• Milk Duds: These candies expanded well and did not stick to the upper shelf, indicating that their expansion was more controlled compared to the Chewy Caramel. The end result was excellent.
  

Key Takeaways:

• Vertical Space vs. Shelf Area: It's important to understand the relationship between vertical space between shelves and overall shelf area. More vertical space allows items like candies to expand upwards without adhering to the shelf above. However, increasing vertical space means reducing the number of shelves, which decreases the total shelf area available.

  Despite this, the reduction in shelf area does not necessarily affect the overall food capacity of the freeze dryer. The actual capacity is determined by the ice capacity of the machine—how much water it can convert into ice during a cycle—not just the physical space available on the shelves.

• Customizable Shelf Options: Stay Fresh Freeze Dryers stand out for their adaptability. The Standard model offers options of 4-tier-shelf and 7-tier-shelf, which accommodates various freeze-drying needs and preferences. This adaptability is perfect for adjusting to different types of food items that may require more vertical space for expansion(e.g. candies) or more shelf area for larger volumes(e.g. herbs).

The Stay Fresh Advantage: Stay Fresh Freeze Dryers demonstrate top-tier freeze-drying technology with customizable settings and robust performance. They are ideal for users at all levels—from beginners to professionals—providing a user-friendly, efficient way to preserve a wide range of foods accurately. The machines’ durable construction and thoughtful design ensure long-term usability and ease of maintenance, making them a preferred choice for anyone looking to invest in a superior quality freeze dryer.

This experiment with various candies illustrates the importance of understanding how different types of candies react within the freeze dryer and highlights the necessity to tailor the freeze-drying process for optimal results based on the specific characteristics of each candy type.