A home freeze dryer turns fresh fruit, leftovers, desserts and even full meals into light, crunchy, shelf-stable food that can last for years. If you’ve been dreaming about one (I’m right there with you), this guide covers 35 of the best freeze dryer recipes for beginners, from freeze dried strawberries and candy to keto snacks and high protein meals in a jar, plus the supplies you’ll need and everything to know before you buy.
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What you can make in a freeze dryer
- Fruit and snacks: strawberries, bananas, apples, yogurt melts and crunchy veggie chips.
- Treats: freeze dried candy, ice cream bites, marshmallows and cheesecake bites.
- Meals: soups, chili, casseroles and breakfast scrambles, ready to add hot water.
- Low carb and keto: cheese bites, chicken, eggs, berries and high protein snacks.
- Pantry staples: herbs, milk, sour cream, shredded cheese and fruit powders.
How Does a Home Freeze Dryer Work?
A freeze dryer freezes food to very cold temperatures, then pulls a vacuum and gently warms it so the ice turns straight into vapour without melting. That removes almost all of the water while keeping the food’s shape, colour, flavour and most of its nutrients. Unlike a dehydrator, which makes food chewy, freeze dried food is light and crisp, and most of it rehydrates almost like fresh when you add water.
What’s the difference?
- Texture: freeze dried food is light and crunchy. Dehydrated food is chewy and leathery.
- Shelf life: properly packaged freeze dried food lasts years. Dehydrated food usually lasts months to a year or two.
- What you can make: a freeze dryer handles full meals, dairy, eggs and desserts. A dehydrator is best for fruit, jerky and herbs.
- Cost: a dehydrator costs far less, while a freeze dryer is a bigger investment that can replace a lot of store-bought freeze dried food.
Freeze Drying Basics for Beginners
How to freeze dry food at home
- Prep the food. Slice fruit and vegetables evenly, about 1 cm thick. Cook meats, eggs and meals fully before freeze drying.
- Spread it out. Line the trays with parchment or silicone mats and spread food in a single layer, no more than about 2 cm deep.
- Pre-freeze if you can. Freezing filled trays in your freezer first can shorten the batch time.
- Run the cycle. Load the trays and start the machine. Most foods take about 13 to 35 hours, depending on water content. Candy takes only a couple of hours.
- Check for dryness. Break a thick piece in half. It should be crisp and dry all the way through, with no cold or soft spots.
- Package it right away. Seal food in Mylar bags or jars with an oxygen absorber as soon as the batch finishes, before it can absorb moisture from the air.
- Label everything. Write the food, date and how much water to add to rehydrate.
Freeze drying doesn’t cook food or kill bacteria. Anything that’s meant to be eaten cooked, like meat, eggs and casseroles, should be fully cooked before it goes in the freeze dryer. Freeze dried raw ingredients should be treated as raw once rehydrated.
Freeze Drying Supplies List
Your freeze dryer does the hard work, but the right supplies make prepping easier and keep your food fresh for years. The Harvest Right Countertop 360 comes with a starter kit of 25 Mylar bags, 25 oxygen absorbers and a bag sealer, so you can get started right away and stock up as you go.
Keep it fresh for the long haul
- Mylar bags: the gold standard for long-term storage. Get a mix of sizes, from small snack bags to large bags for meals and bulk fruit.
- Oxygen absorbers: drop one into every bag or jar to remove leftover oxygen. Keep unused absorbers sealed in an airtight jar so they stay fresh.
- Impulse or heat sealer: seals Mylar bags airtight. A wide sealer bar makes quick work of big bags.
- Mason jars: perfect for snacks and ingredients you’ll use often. Add an oxygen absorber to each jar.
- Jar vacuum sealer attachment: pulls the air out of mason jars for extra freshness.
- Food-grade buckets with lids: protect filled Mylar bags from light, pests and damage in long-term storage.
Make prepping faster and easier
- Silicone tray liners or parchment paper: keep food from sticking and make trays easy to empty and clean.
- Tray dividers: portion soups, meals and yogurt into neat squares that are easy to package.
- Tray lids or stacking covers: let you pre-freeze full trays in your freezer without spills.
- Mandoline slicer: cuts fruit and vegetables into even slices so everything dries at the same rate.
- Digital kitchen scale: weigh food before and after to track your batches and portion meals.
- Labels and a permanent marker: note the food, date and how much water to add.
- Extra vacuum pump oil and filters: keep your pump running smoothly between oil changes.
Freeze Dried Fruit Recipes
Fruit is the easiest place to start. It’s quick to prep, the results are stunning, and freeze dried fruit is one of the most expensive things to buy at the store.
1. Freeze Dried Strawberries
The most popular freeze dryer recipe of all. Hull and slice strawberries about 1 cm thick and spread them in a single layer. They come out bright red, crunchy and naturally sweet. Eat them as a snack, crush them over yogurt, or grind them into powder for frosting and smoothies. Need ideas? My healthy strawberry desserts are a perfect match.
2. Freeze Dried Raspberries
Leave raspberries whole and spread them out so they don’t touch. They’re tart, crisp and beautiful sprinkled over oatmeal, cheesecake or a chocolate bark.
3. Freeze Dried Bananas
Slice ripe bananas about 1 cm thick. They turn into light, crunchy coins that taste like banana candy. A squeeze of lemon juice keeps them from browning.
4. Freeze Dried Apple Slices
Core and thinly slice apples, then dust them with cinnamon before freeze drying. They taste like crispy apple pie and make a great lunch box snack.
5. Freeze Dried Blueberries
Blueberries have a waxy skin that traps moisture, so pierce each one with a toothpick or blanch them for a few seconds first. The extra step is worth it for crunchy, sweet berries you can toss into trail mix.
6. Freeze Dried Pineapple and Mango
Cut into 1 to 2 cm chunks. Tropical fruit becomes intensely sweet and crunchy, almost like candy, and makes a great swap for chips.
7. Freeze Dried Watermelon
Cut seedless watermelon into cubes. It takes a long cycle because of all the water, but you’re left with airy, melt-in-your-mouth bites that taste like summer.
8. Freeze Dried Fruit Powder
Blend any freeze dried fruit into a fine powder and store it in a small jar. Use it to naturally colour and flavour frosting, smoothies, yogurt and baked goods with no artificial dyes.
Freeze Dried Candy and Treats
Freeze dried candy is one of the most searched freeze dryer ideas, and for good reason. Candy puffs up, gets crunchy and takes only a couple of hours. It’s also a popular product to sell at craft fairs and Christmas markets.
9. Freeze Dried Skittles
The candy that started the trend. Spread Skittles out with space between each one, because they puff up and crack open into crunchy, airy bites with an intense fruity flavour.
10. Freeze Dried Taffy and Saltwater Taffy
Cut taffy pieces in half and give them lots of space. They expand into big, light, crunchy puffs that melt in your mouth.
11. Freeze Dried Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms
Gummies turn crispy and puffy. Sour gummies work especially well because the flavour gets even stronger.
12. Freeze Dried Ice Cream Bites
Scoop small balls of ice cream onto a lined tray and freeze them solid before loading. You get crunchy “astronaut ice cream” bites that don’t melt in your hand. Ice cream sandwiches cut into squares work too.
13. Freeze Dried Marshmallows
Homemade or store-bought marshmallows puff up and turn crunchy, just like the ones in breakfast cereal. Try my gourmet marshmallow recipes for flavours you won’t find anywhere else.
14. Freeze Dried Cheesecake Bites
Cut a chilled cheesecake into bite-size squares. They turn into crisp, creamy-tasting bites that are perfect for snacking or crumbling over desserts.
15. Freeze Dried Yogurt Melts
Mix yogurt with a little fruit purée, pipe small dots onto a lined tray and freeze them. They become light, crunchy bites that dissolve on your tongue. Kids love them, and they’re a great high protein snack when you use Greek yogurt.
Low Carb and Keto Freeze Dryer Recipes
Most freeze dryer recipe lists are full of candy and fruit. If you eat low carb or keto like I do, a freeze dryer is just as useful for high protein snacks and grab-and-go meals.
16. Freeze Dried Cheese Bites
Cut cheddar or mozzarella into small cubes. They puff slightly and become crunchy, savoury bites that taste like a cheese cracker with almost zero carbs. Because cheese is high in fat, store these in a cool, dark place and use them within a year for the best flavour.
17. Freeze Dried Shredded Cheese
Spread shredded cheddar or mozzarella across a tray. It rehydrates with a quick spritz of water, so you always have cheese on hand for omelettes, casseroles and soups.
18. Freeze Dried Cooked Chicken
Dice or shred fully cooked chicken breast. It rehydrates in a few minutes in warm broth and is perfect for quick salads, soups and wraps. Buying chicken on sale and freeze drying it is a great way to stock up on protein.
19. Freeze Dried Ground Beef
Brown lean ground beef, drain and blot off as much fat as possible, then freeze dry. Lean meat stores best. Rehydrate it with hot water for tacos, chili or a low carb skillet meal.
20. Freeze Dried Scrambled Eggs
Scramble eggs fully, then spread them out on the trays. Add a little hot water and you have a fast, high protein breakfast. Some people also freeze dry raw eggs into powder for baking, but treat that powder as raw egg and always cook it fully.
21. Freeze Dried Keto Berries and Cream
Mix sliced strawberries and raspberries with a little sugar-free sweetened Greek yogurt, spread it out in small dollops and freeze dry. It’s a crunchy, low carb treat that tastes like dessert.
Freeze Dried Meals in a Jar
Freeze dried meals are one of the biggest reasons people buy a freeze dryer. Cook a big batch, freeze dry the leftovers, and you have homemade “just add hot water” meals for busy nights, camping or emergency storage.
22. Freeze Dried Chili
Make your favourite chili with lean meat, spread it thin on the trays and freeze dry. It rehydrates beautifully with hot water and tastes like it just came off the stove.
23. Freeze Dried Soup
Thicker soups like broccoli soup, chicken vegetable and stew work best. Pour them onto trays with raised edges, freeze them solid, then freeze dry. Break the slabs into pieces and store them in jars.
24. Freeze Dried Chicken and Rice
A classic comfort meal that rehydrates well. For low carb, swap the rice for cauliflower rice.
25. Freeze Dried Breakfast Scramble
Cook eggs with diced ham, peppers, onions and shredded cheese, then freeze dry. Store single servings in small jars for a high protein breakfast in minutes.
26. Freeze Dried Casseroles
Leftover casseroles freeze dry well when they’re not too greasy. Cut them into portions before freeze drying. My low carb casserole recipes are a great place to start.
27. Freeze Dried Pasta Meals
Spaghetti with meat sauce, lasagna and mac and cheese all rehydrate surprisingly well. They make great camping and road trip meals.
Freeze Dried Vegetables and Pantry Staples
28. Freeze Dried Corn and Peas
Frozen corn and peas go straight from the bag onto the trays with no prep at all. They’re sweet and crunchy as a snack and rehydrate quickly for soups.
29. Freeze Dried Green Beans and Broccoli
Blanch them for a minute or two first to keep their colour. They rehydrate nicely for side dishes and casseroles.
30. Freeze Dried Zucchini Chips
Slice zucchini thinly and season with salt and garlic powder. They turn into crispy, low carb chips, and they’re a great way to use up a garden full of zucchini.
31. Freeze Dried Potatoes
Cook diced potatoes or mashed potatoes first. Diced potatoes are great for hash browns and soups, and mashed potatoes become instant mashed potatoes, just add hot water.
32. Freeze Dried Herbs
Basil, parsley, chives and dill keep their bright colour and fresh flavour far better than air-dried herbs. Freeze dry a whole harvest at the end of summer.
33. Freeze Dried Milk
Pour milk onto trays with raised edges, freeze it, then freeze dry. Blend it into a powder for baking, coffee and emergency storage.
34. Freeze Dried Sour Cream and Yogurt
Spread sour cream or plain yogurt thinly. Grind it into powder for dips, ranch seasoning and sauces. It’s a great pantry staple for low carb cooking.
35. Freeze Dried Tomatoes and Tomato Powder
Slice tomatoes or spread tomato sauce on the trays. Use the slices in soups, or grind them into powder to make tomato paste on demand with just a little water.
Foods That Don’t Freeze Dry Well
What not to put in a freeze dryer
- Pure fats: butter, oil, mayonnaise and lard don’t freeze dry and can go rancid.
- Very sugary syrups: honey, jam, syrup and pure chocolate stay sticky or melt.
- Very fatty meats: bacon and fatty sausage store poorly. Choose lean meats instead.
- Large amounts of nut butter: high fat means a short shelf life.
- Bread and baked goods: they work, but the texture doesn’t improve much, so save your tray space for better options.
Which Freeze Dryer Should You Get?
Harvest Right is the best-known brand of home freeze dryers, and its newest model, the Countertop 360, is the first one designed to sit right on your kitchen counter. Here’s what makes it a good fit for most beginners and smaller households.
Harvest Right Countertop 360
- Fits on your counter: about 66 cm wide, 47 cm deep and 45 cm tall.
- Plugs into a regular outlet: runs on standard 110V power.
- Built-in pump and drain pan: no separate pump or drain hose taking up space.
- Batch size: 4 stainless steel trays holding about 2.3 to 4 kg of fresh food per batch.
- Comes with a starter kit: Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and a bag sealer.
- Colours: black, sage green, pale blue and stainless steel.
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty.
If the price is what’s holding you back, you’re not alone. Harvest Right offers a layaway plan: put down a minimum of $250 to lock in the sale price, then pay as much as you want, whenever you want, with 0% interest. Your freeze dryer ships as soon as it’s paid off. Canadian readers can order too. Contact Harvest Right for international pricing, and keep in mind that duties and brokerage fees may apply.
Harvest Right Countertop 360
The first home freeze dryer that fits on your counter, with flexible layaway payments at 0% interest.
SEE THE COUNTERTOP 360Need more capacity? Harvest Right’s larger models handle much bigger batches, which is ideal for big families, homesteaders or anyone planning to sell freeze dried candy. Compare all the sizes on their site before you choose.
Freeze Dryer Recipes FAQ
QWhat is the best thing to freeze dry first?
Strawberries, bananas or candy. They’re easy to prep, finish relatively quickly and show you exactly what freeze drying can do.
QHow long does freeze dried food last?
Harvest Right says properly freeze dried food sealed in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers can last up to 25 years. In practice, foods higher in fat, like cheese and meat, are best used sooner, and food in jars you open often should be used within months.
QWhat supplies do I need to start freeze drying?
At minimum, you need Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and a sealer, plus parchment or silicone mats for the trays. The Harvest Right Countertop 360 includes a starter kit of bags, absorbers and a sealer, so you can start right away.
QHow long does a batch take?
Most foods take about 13 to 35 hours, depending on how much water they contain and how thick they are. Candy can finish in about 2 hours.
QDo you need to cook food before freeze drying?
Fruit, most vegetables, cheese and candy can go in as is. Meat, eggs and full meals should be cooked first, because freeze drying doesn’t cook food or kill bacteria.
QHow do you rehydrate freeze dried food?
Add hot or cold water a little at a time and let it sit for a few minutes. Meals and meat do best with hot water. Fruit is usually eaten dry as a crunchy snack.
QIs a home freeze dryer worth it?
If you buy a lot of freeze dried fruit, snacks or emergency food, or you want to preserve garden harvests and leftovers, a freeze dryer can pay for itself over time. A payment plan makes it easier to start.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re dreaming of crunchy freeze dried strawberries, a pantry full of meals in a jar, or a booth full of freeze dried candy at your next craft fair, a home freeze dryer opens up a whole new way to preserve food. Save these freeze dryer recipes so they’re ready when your machine arrives.
Save this for later. Pin it to your food preservation board so all 35 freeze dryer recipes and the supplies list are ready when you need them.
Jennifer Dawn
