Freeze Drying Candies: A Gummy Adventure

Have you ever seen gummy bears puff up after freeze drying? The satisfying transformation and the curiosity about their taste make freeze-drying gummies an intriguing endeavor. Freeze-dried gummies are not only delightful to eat, but the process is also relatively quick and simple compared to other food items like fruits. This is because they contain less water. However, controlling the process can be tricky—temperature adjustments and timing are critical, and not all gummies respond well to freeze drying; some may not expand at all, leading to disappointing results.

Today, we’re testing four different types of candies in our Stay Fresh Standard Freeze Dryer to see how they fare:

The Candy Lineup

• Torn & Glasser Gummy Worms
• Haribo Goldbears
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
• Jolly Rancher Gummies

Process with the Stay Fresh Standard Freeze Dryer:

1. Preparation:

   • Arrange the candies on the tray, ensuring they are spaced out to allow for expansion.
   • Check that there's no moisture in the chamber or in the drain line.

2. Setting Up:

   • Close the vacuum valve, drain valve, and the acrylic door.
   • Navigate to the main screen, select 'Freeze Drying', then 'Candy'.
   • We increased the max shelf temperature to 150°F from the default 140°F to ensure all candies had the chance to expand fully—150°F is the maximum allowed temperature setting for this model. Feel free to conduct your own tests to find the optimal settings for different types of candies.

   

3. Starting the Freeze Drying Process:

   • Hit 'Start'. The Candy mode differs from normal freeze drying cycles as candies do not need to be pre-frozen below 0°F. Thus, the freezing stage lasts only about 15 minutes before the main drying begins.
   • An interesting tip from other Stay Fresh users: pre-heat candies like sugar canes has helped in better expansion during freeze drying.

   

4. Post-Process Storage:

   • Once the freeze drying is complete, promptly seal the candies in mylar bags or airtight mason jars to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air, which happens rapidly with freeze-dried candies.

The Results

The outcome of our freeze-drying experiment offered some surprising insights into how different candies react in the process:

• Torn & Glasser Gummy Worms and Haribo Goldbears: Both of these gummies expanded as expected, showcasing the characteristic puffiness that makes freeze-dried gummies so appealing. Their successful expansion aligns with typical results for high-moisture gummies in freeze drying.
• Jolly Rancher Gummies: Contrary to expectations for gummies, these did not expand at all. This demonstrates that not all gummies are suitable for freeze drying, and their composition can significantly influence the outcome.
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy: Interestingly, despite being a hard candy—a category typically unsuitable for freeze drying—these candies expanded quite well. This exception to the rule highlights the variability among hard candies and suggests that some compositions may still yield positive results.

This variability underscores the importance of experimenting with different types of candies to understand how they react to the freeze-drying process. While most gummies are likely to expand and become delightfully crunchy, there are exceptions, just as some hard candies might unexpectedly succeed in transforming into a new, enjoyable texture. Therefore, testing different candies in your Stay Fresh freeze dryer is crucial to discovering which types yield the best results and which might not be ideal candidates for freeze drying.

Why Choose Stay Fresh?

Stay Fresh freeze dryers stand out for their ease of use and minimal adjustment needs, offering a perfect blend of convenience and flexibility. Whether you are a novice or an expert, Stay Fresh machines make it simple to achieve great results. The Stay Fresh Standard model offers options of 4 or 7 shelf units. For candy enthusiasts, the 4-tier shelf unit is recommended due to the greater space between shelves allowing for ample expansion. The 7-tier unit is best suited for items that are flatter and less prone to expanding.

Stay Fresh is dedicated to enhancing home and small business preservation with machines that effortlessly marry function with affordability. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction ensures that users have access to the best in freeze-drying technology, making Stay Fresh a preferred choice among those looking to explore the possibilities of freeze-dried treats.

By harnessing the capabilities of a Stay Fresh freeze dryer, candy lovers can enjoy a new dimension of their favorite treats, making every batch a fun and flavorful experiment.