Freeze-Drying Tips from the Foodnerd Lab ✨

Ever wondered how Foodnerd gets those vibrant, melt-in-your-mouth fruit snacks so perfectly crunchy? It's all thanks to freeze-drying — a process that sounds scientific, but really just involves time, patience, and a little nerdy magic 🍓✨

Are you're curious about how it works , here are a few pro tips from the Foodnerd kitchen.

🔬 1. Start with Top-Quality Ingredients Freeze-drying doesn’t hide flaws — it preserves everything, from flavour to colour. That’s why we always start with ripe, fresh fruit at its peak. The better the fruit going in, the better the result coming out!

❄️ 2. Pre-Freeze for Best Results Before freeze-drying begins, fruits are frozen solid. At Foodnerd, we use blast freezing to lock in structure and nutrients fast. For DIY-ers at home, use a deep freeze overnight to get an even result.

💨 3. Low & Slow Wins the Race Freeze-drying takes time. The process gently removes moisture under a vacuum at very low temperatures. It can take 24 to 36 hours — but the result? Light, crisp fruit that keeps its shape, flavour, and 97% of its nutrients.

🧴 4. Store It Right, Seal It Tight Freeze-dried fruit loves dry air and hates moisture. We always use resealable, food-safe pouches to keep it fresh. If you’re freeze-drying at home, store your treats in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags.

🎯 5. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment Freeze-drying isn’t just for berries! Try bananas, mangoes, pineapple, even mint or marshmallows (yep — our Popmallows started as an experiment!). The texture surprises and flavour bursts are endless.

🍓 Final Thoughts At Foodnerd, we’re obsessed with finding fun, natural ways to enjoy real food. Freeze-drying helps us preserve the best of each ingredient — and deliver something a little magical in every bite.

Got questions or want to see more behind-the-scenes? Message us anytime on Instagram @foodnerd.nz — we love to nerd out about food!

🛋️ Shop Freeze-Dried Goodies →