Freeze Drying Candies: A Sweet Transformation

Freeze-drying candies not only enhances their crunchiness but also intensifies their flavors, making them an irresistible treat. This process is generally quicker than drying fruits due to the lower water content in candies. However, achieving the perfect texture requires precise adjustments of temperature and drying times because different candies react uniquely to the freeze-drying process.

Today, we're using the Stay Fresh Standard Freeze Dryer to experiment with various candies and explore the optimal settings for each.

Process with the Stay Fresh Standard Freeze Dryer:

1. Preparation:
   • Arrange the candies on the tray, spacing them out to allow for expansion.
   • Ensure there's no moisture in the chamber or the drain line, and load the trays on the shelf.
2. Setting Up:
   • Close the vacuum valve, drain valve, and the acrylic door.
   • On the main screen, select 'Freeze Drying', then 'Candy'.
   • Increase the max shelf temperature to 150°F from the default 140°F. This ensures all candies have the opportunity to expand fully—150°F is the maximum temperature allowed for this model. Adjust according to your observations for different candies.
3. Starting the Freeze Drying Process:
   • Press 'Start'. Unlike typical freeze-drying cycles, Candy mode does not require the candies to be pre-frozen below 0°F, reducing the freezing stage to about 15 minutes before the main drying begins.
4. Post-Process Storage:
   • Immediately seal the candies in mylar bags or airtight mason jars after freeze drying to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air.

Results and Temperature Discussion:

Our testing revealed that 150°F allows for the full expansion of candies that are capable of doing so. Here's how each type of candy responded to freeze drying:

• Junior Mints: These candies began to expand early in the process (around 50°F). This indicates that lower temperatures are sufficient for successful freeze drying. For Junior Mints, which expand significantly at higher temperatures, a lower setting is advisable to prevent over-expansion and preserve their delicate chocolate coating.
• Salt Water Taffies: Unlike Junior Mints, Salt Water Taffies also began to expand at around 50°F but proved tolerant to higher temperatures. This makes them versatile in temperature handling during freeze drying. Higher temperatures are acceptable as they do not over-expand, maintaining a good texture and shape.
• Rolo Creamy Caramels: Expansion started at around 140°F. However, the chocolate coating began to melt at these temperatures. It is crucial to balance the right temperature that allows for expansion without melting the chocolate excessively.
• LifeSavers Gummies: Required the highest setting of 150°F to fully expand. However, these candies are not fully dried in this batch with 3 hrs of final dry time; thus, an extension in the final dry hours is recommended to ensure complete dehydration.

Why Choose Stay Fresh?

Stay Fresh freeze dryers are celebrated for their user-friendly operation with minimal adjustments required, making them ideal for beginners. Additionally, these machines provide experienced users the flexibility to fine-tune settings, thus optimizing the drying process for a variety of foods. Whether you're a novice experimenting with new recipes or an expert in food preservation, Stay Fresh offers reliable and efficient solutions for all.

By understanding and leveraging the capabilities of a Stay Fresh freeze dryer, users can consistently achieve excellent results, reinforcing Stay Fresh's reputation as a top choice in the freeze-drying community.