Freeze Drying MREs (Meals Ready to Eat )

Freeze drying Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) is an excellent strategy for creating long-lasting survival or camping food. MREs are convenient because they only require the addition of water—preferably hot—to reconstitute, making them ready to consume almost instantly. They offer an extended shelf life, save space, and are lightweight, making them perfect for storage and transport. Additionally, freeze-dried MREs retain much of their original flavor and nutrition, providing a satisfying and nutritious meal in situations where cooking options are limited.

Today, we are using the Stay Fresh Standard Freeze Dryer to freeze dry various ready-to-eat meals. For this demonstration, we're using commercially available canned foods, but you can also freeze dry your homemade meals. We're utilizing the temperature probe to monitor the food temperature and engaging the 'Probe in Use' mode to adjust the freeze drying process based on the actual food temperature automatically.

Meals Processed:

• Campbell's Chunky Creamy Chicken Bacon Carbonara
• Campbell's Chunky Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
• Campbell's Chunky Chili Mac Beans, Macaroni Pasta & Meat
• Campbell's Chunky Chicken Corn Chowder
  

Process Steps:

1. Preparation:
   • Spread the food evenly on the tray.
   • Ensure the freeze dryer chamber and drain line are free from moisture.
2. Setup:
   • Connect the temperature probe to the freeze dryer, plugging it into the wire port inside the main chamber.
   • Load the trays and insert the temperature probe into the deepest, thickest part of the food, ensuring the metal end is fully immersed and stable.
     
3. Starting the Freeze Drying Cycle:
   • Close the vacuum valve, drain valve, and the acrylic door securely.
   • On the main screen, press ‘FreezeDrying’, activate the ‘Probe in Use’ button to light it up, and then press ‘Start’ to begin the automatic cycle.
     
     
4. Post-Process Handling:
   • Once the cycle is complete, ensure the tray is warm before opening the acrylic door.
   • Quickly pack the food into mylar bags or airtight mason jars to maintain freshness.

Why Stay Fresh is the Ideal Choice for Freeze Drying MREs

Stay Fresh freeze dryers are known for their reliability and ease of use, making them an excellent choice for both novices and professionals looking to preserve food through freeze drying. With the capability to finely tune settings such as temperature and pressure, Stay Fresh machines ensure that even the most sensitive foods are dried perfectly. This precision, combined with the robust construction of the machines, ensures that users can produce high-quality, ready-to-eat meals that are ideal for any emergency food supply or outdoor adventure meal plan.

By utilizing a Stay Fresh freeze dryer, you can take control of your food preparation, ensuring you have ready access to nutritious and enjoyable meals no matter where your adventures may take you.