Kids love candies more than simply because they have strong tastes, bright colors, and funny textures. While parents are more worried about what their children eat, they need to constantly make an effort for the kids to eat healthy. When it comes to candies, parents are not confident enough to give sweets to their kids. But what about freeze-dried ones? Are they healthy? Let’s find out.
Freeze-Drying Impact on Candy
After the sweets are freeze dry candies, the pressure around them is lessened, and they are processed until the frozen water inside can escape. This process changes the candy's texture and stiffness, but it mostly keeps its original size and shape.
Fruits and vegetables retain more nutrients when freeze-dried. Remember that most candies include sugar and artificial flavors, which lack nutrition. Freeze-drying candy doesn't modify its sugar or chemical content; it just intensifies it.
Comparing Freeze-Dried Candy to Traditional Candy
The amount of sugar and calories in a candy may give you a decent idea of its quality. If your kids eat too many freeze-dried candies, they could get harmfully impacted. Particularly worth mentioning is the consistency in sugar content. This suggests that consuming a substantial amount of freeze-dried candy may lead to an increase in caloric intake.
The use of freeze-dried candy has a big advantage as it does not need any additional preservatives. Because it does not have to deal with moisture, the candy has a longer shelf life since bacteria can't grow. You can do better for yourself if you choose freeze-dried variants instead of ordinary sweets that use preservatives since they contain fewer chemicals.
Process Of Making Freeze-Dried Candy
Collecting Items
The process of freeze-drying candy requires specialized machinery. Despite the expense, freeze-drying is an essential process. The process starts by collecting the candy material. Now, it can be either the regular candy material or something more healthy like fruits or custom-made candy liquid without preservatives and chemicals.
When going for ready to make candy material, it is crucial to choose the appropriate candy. Use candy that is not expired and moderate in taste. Use only the most recent-bought candy for better results and not the one bought a month or so before.
Sour Patch Kid Preparation
Before you freeze-dry your candy, be sure to wash and arrange it. Although it comes pre-packaged, you may still give it a short wash to eliminate dirt or dust. After cleaning the candies, you might take a more systematic approach by sorting them by color or taste. Though not required, this adds a touch of elegance and makes things easier. Sorting candies is another method that immediately piques children's attention.
After washing and sorting the candy, it can be placed on plates that are safe to eat. Separate it evenly into one layer, and don't let it overlap. This guarantees uniform drying of all candies. Uneven drying and overcrowding in trays might compromise the texture and quality of the final product. To get the perfect crunch from your freeze-dried candy, arrange the candies correctly.
Freeze-Drying
Make sure your freeze dryer is ready to go. Check that the equipment is free of debris and operating as it should. When putting candy trays into the freezer, be careful not to crowd them. You should lock the door and double-check the machine settings. The model tells you whether to change the drying temperature or time. See the handbook that came with your freeze-dryer for further instructions.
- Initial Freezing: Place the tray in the freezer at a low temperature. This key phase, which takes many hours, is required for the freeze-drying process.
- Vacuum and Drying: After freezing, dry candies with a vacuum and slow temperature increase. This converts candy's frozen water into mist.
- Secondary Drying: After the first drying, the machine removes any remaining water. It may take hours, but quality requires it.
- Cooling Down: When cold, remove the freeze-dried candies from the machine. Carefully remove the trays and check the sweets. They should be flavorful, airy, and crispy.
Storing freeze-dried Candy
Proper storage is essential for maintaining the quality of freeze-dried candy. To keep them dry, put them in tight packaging or bags. Because of their consistency in structure and flavor, you can store them for a long time. This makes them ideal for long-term snacking or emergency supplies.
Final Verdict
Indeed, freeze-dried candy is safe for kids to consume. If anything, it is a healthier alternative to regular store-bought candies. The freeze-drying process intensifies the flavor and fluffs it up, so kids will enjoy the candies more. Moreover, they are not as harmful to their teeth either!
