How to Freeze Dry Peaches? - 3 Best Ways

Who doesn’t love fresh peaches? Perfectly ripe, juicy, aromatic and packed with essential nutrients. However, the big drawback is that, like all fresh products, they are perishable and start to spoil after a while.

Depending on the level of maturity of the peach and how well it has been stored, fresh peaches can last anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks.

But what if you want to extend its lifespan? There are several ways to keep peaches fresh so that they last for a considerably long time.

These methods can be useful when you have a surplus of fresh produce or want to preserve it for the off-season months.

One of the most popular methods of preserving peaches fresh is freeze-drying, which refers to a process in which moisture is removed from the fruit after it is frozen and placed under vacuum.

The result is a very light and dry peach, with a crunchy texture and a concentrated peach flavor.

So how do you freeze-dry peaches?

The best way to freeze-dry peaches is using a home freeze-drying machine, but it can be quite expensive. Luckily, you can get the same results by using a freezer or a couple of blocks of dry ice.

What are freeze dried peaches?

Freeze drying is a process used to preserve fresh fruit such as peaches, strawberries, pineapples, bananas, grapes, apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and dragon fruit.

The objective of this process is not only to prolong the useful life of the fruit, but also to preserve its nutritional profile.

It preserves the fruit as it is and simply removes its water content, while keeping most of its sugars so that the fruit tastes just like its original form.

Unopened freeze-dried peaches can last up to 25-30 years if stored under ideal conditions, and can be used in many of the same ways that sun-dried and dehydrated peaches would be used.

Commercial freeze-drying of fruit involves the use of a below-freezing vacuum chamber, where the solid water molecules in the fruit are turned to gas, leaving the fruit and much of its nutrition intact.

You can also freeze-dry peaches, and plenty of other fresh fruits, at home using the right equipment, namely a freeze-dryer, although the machine and its accessories can cost you thousands of dollars.

Luckily, there are much cheaper ways to freeze-dry peaches at home using your freezer or a few blocks of dry ice.

How to freeze-dry peaches

Before you freeze-dry your peaches, you need to prepare them and make sure you choose the freshest option. A perfectly ripe, sweet-tasting peach will give you the best results compared to one that is underripe or overripe.

Thoroughly wash the peaches to remove any dust, dirt, and contaminants, and be sure to dry them thoroughly, as starting with wet fruit will increase the amount of moisture that has to be evaporated, making the freeze-drying process last longer.

Next, cut the peaches into small slices to remove any moisture. You can cut them into large pie slices or even dice them if you like. Regardless of which way you slice the peaches, make sure they are cut into evenly sized portions.

Once the peaches are ready, you can start the freeze-drying process using one of the more popular methods below:

1. Use the freezer

• Wash the peaches well, doing your best to remove as much dirt, debris, and contaminants as you can.
• Dry them with folded paper towels or a clean, dry cloth to remove excess moisture.
• Cut them into slices and place them on a large cookie sheet, making sure to leave a little space between each piece. It’s okay if the edges of the peach slices touch, but avoid getting too crowded as they can stick together. Spacing out the peach slices equals better air circulation, and better air circulation equals a faster freeze-drying process.
• Place the fruit tray in the freezer for a few days , where the water in the peaches will turn to steam and dissipate.
• You can check if the peaches are completely dehydrated or not by taking a piece and letting it thaw. If it starts to turn black as it warms up, it indicates the presence of moisture and requires that it be left in the freezer for a while longer.
• Avoid checking the peaches and opening the freezer door unnecessarily for the first few days, as this can cause temperature swings and increase the overall processing time.
• When the peaches are done, remove them from the cookie sheet and, using a spoon or spatula, transfer them to resealable plastic bags or an airtight container.
• Store them in the fridge or freezer, or store them in your pantry, where, if kept in ideal conditions, they can last for decades.
• Avoid putting freeze-dried peaches on the kitchen counter, as fluctuating kitchen temperatures and high humidity could cause them to spoil much faster.

2. Use dry ice

• Start by weighing the total amount of peaches you want to freeze dry , as this will tell you how much dry ice you will need.
• Transfer the peaches to a light container and use a digital kitchen scale or standard bathroom scale to weigh and record.
• Don’t forget to wash them properly, dry them, and cut them into even slices before you freeze-dry them.
• Next, get an amount of dry ice equal to the amount of your peaches . For example, if you have 2 pounds of peaches to freeze dry, you will need exactly 2 pounds of dry ice.
• Arrange cut peaches into resealable freezer-safe bags, removing as much air as possible before sealing, as too much oxygen will increase the chances of peaches spoiling early.
• Place the freezer-safe bags in the bottom of an insulated cooler, spreading them out so they lie flat on the surface. If there is more than one bag, stack them on top of each other to make better use of the available space.
• You can also use a Styrofoam cooler instead of a more expensive insulated cooler, as it will do the job just as well.
• Once the bags of fruit are securely packed in the fridge, cover them with dry ice, doing your best to distribute it in an even layer with the fruit just barely visible underneath.  Be sure to wear gloves when working with dry ice, and place it in a well-ventilated space.
• Lower the lid of the refrigerator but do not close it, as the gases released by the dry ice could collect in a sealed box and cause it to explode.
• Dry ice evaporates moisture from food at a much faster rate than a regular freezer, which means 1 to 3 pounds of peaches should be ready in a day . Larger batches, around 1.5 kilos, can take 36-48 hours to fully dehydrate.
• An easy way to check if the peaches are done or not is to see if all the dry ice has disappeared.  If you have, you’re done.
• Once done, carefully take the bags out of the fridge and store them on a shelf in your pantry. You can also store them in the fridge or freezer, making sure they stay below 68-70°F, which is the optimum temperature for storing freeze-dried foods.

3. Use a freeze-drying machine

• • Wash, dry, and slice the peaches before distributing them on the freezer trays that come with the machine. Make sure the slices are even in size and none are taller than the side of the pans.
  • Load the freezer trays into the machine and press the start button.  Depending on the model you use, there may be a few preliminary tasks before starting the machine, such as attaching a removable insulation pad and closing the built-in drain valve.
  • When the peaches are ready to go, unlock and open the freeze-dryer and remove the freezer trays.
  • Transfer the peaches to resealable plastic bags or airtight containers . You might also consider spending a few more bucks on a vacuum sealer to keep your freeze-dried peaches good for longer.

• Store the bags or containers on a shelf in your pantry or store them in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to use the peaches.

How to use freeze dried peaches

Due to their concentrated flavor, freeze-dried peaches are a great way to add intense peach flavor to a recipe.

Because they are incredibly crunchy, they can be used whole, crumbled, or powdered as a garnish to enhance the flavor, texture, and appearance of a dish.

Freeze-dried peaches are a stable food and can be used in various ways, both in confectionery and as an additive to sweet and savory dishes.

For baking, you can add freeze-dried peaches just like any other fruit, although you’ll need to add more water for the dried peaches to fill up.

You can add them to the batter when making pancakes, waffles, muffins, cookies and delicious bread.

An incredibly easy and popular way to use freeze-dried peaches is as a topping for foods such as cereals, yogurt, mousse, panna cotta, and other dishes. They’re also a great addition to granola and trail mix.

When used to cover dishes, there is no need to add more moisture. In fact, it’s the airy, crunchy quality of freeze-dried peaches that works so well in certain cases.

They also taste great in shakes and smoothies. Just add them along with the rest of the ingredients before mixing.

For certain applications, freeze-dried peaches can also be pulverized into a fine powder using a blender or food processor. They can also be crushed by hand in a pestle or with a rolling pin to obtain a coarser crumble.

The resulting freeze-dried peach can be added to icings, fillings and whipped cream for a delicious hint of fruity flavour.

Related questions

Now that you know how to freeze freeze-dried peaches and how to use them, here are some additional questions we thought you might have!

What is the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated fruit?

Both freeze drying and dehydration are methods of preserving food for later use that work by removing moisture from the fruit to make it more stable and resistant to mold and rot.

The difference lies both in the process and in the final product.

Freeze drying removes all moisture from the fruit through sub-zero temperatures and helps preserve the flavor and nutrients of the fruit. 

Freeze-dried fruit can keep for quite a long time and still taste great thanks to its concentrated flavor. It is also light, airy and crunchy, while dried fruit is chewy and has a thick consistency.

Dried fruit is chewy because, compared to freeze-dried fruit, which removes all moisture, it retains about 1/3 of its water content.

Since dried fruit has some moisture in it, it often needs preservatives to help keep it stable for longer. Sometimes, even with additives, dried fruit doesn’t last as long as freeze-dried.

Another difference between the two is that because dried fruit has moisture, it tends to be sweeter than freeze-dried, which brings out the natural flavors of the fruit.

What foods can be freeze-dried?

You can freeze dry many foods.

This includes fruits and vegetables, raw and cooked meats, dairy products (including milk, cheese, and buttermilk), raw and cooked eggs, and even whole meals like casseroles, lasagna, mashed potatoes, and pizza.

What foods do not freeze dry well?

Foods that do not freeze-dry well are those that are high in fat and leave a lot of oil, such as butter, jam, mayonnaise, peanut butter, plain chocolate, and syrup.

Because freeze-drying works by extracting moisture from food by dehydrating at a low temperature and removing ice by a process called sublimation, it doesn’t work on oil-based foods.

However, some fatty foods can be freeze-dried as an ingredient in other foods.

How is raw meat freeze dried?

To freeze-dry raw meat, cut it into large pieces, making sure to remove as much fat as possible. Next, place the meat pieces on trays and put them in the freeze-drying machine.

When the meat has freeze-dried, take a large piece of meat and cut it in half to check for any ice crystals. If there are ice crystals, add more drying time until they disappear.

You can also use your freezer or some blocks of dry ice to achieve the same results. When it’s done, store it in an airtight bag or container where, if kept in tip-top condition, it should last a good 10-15 years.

How is freeze-dried meat rehydrated?

When you want to use your freeze-dried meat, place it in a bowl of cold water and leave it overnight in the fridge or until rehydrated.

Don’t worry about overhydrating the meat, as it will only take up as much water as it needs. You can use a paper towel to remove excess water and cook as usual.