Q. This is going to seem like a really weird question, but nobody I know seems to be able to answer it for me. They either look at me like I’m crazy for even wanting to try, or just shrug their shoulders and tell me they have no idea. I want to know if it’s possible to freeze dried fruit. I’m an avid runner, and I like to snack on dried fruit as a healthy snack after my workouts. The cheapest place I’ve found to buy dried fruit is a bulk foods store about 30 minutes from my house. I don’t want to have to drive there every week, and I’ve found that if I buy too much, the dried fruit has a tendency to go stale before I eat it. I would like to shop once a month and buy a big batch, then freeze it in individual serving portions. Can you freeze dried fruit?
A. Dried fruit is an excellent healthy snack for after a workout, and if you’ve found a place that sells it at a good price, I don’t blame you for stocking up. Still, stale dried fruit isn’t very pleasant to eat. Luckily for you, you can freeze dried fruit. In fact, because dried fruit has such a low moisture content and has already been partially preserved through the drying process it is a great candidate for freezing. The important thing is to start with freshly dried fruit that is still soft and not too tough.
How do you freeze dried fruit?
Freezing dried fruit couldn’t be easier. In fact, it doesn’t have to be flash frozen to avoid clumping, and it doesn’t require any other special treatment. To freeze, make sure that the dried fruit is completely cool and not sticky. Portion out your dried fruit into individual serving sizes. Then, place each serving into its own small freezer bag. Squeeze out the excess air, then seal each freezer bag. Label and date the bags, then place all the sealed bags into one large freezer bag to keep them from getting lost in the freezer. Seal the large bag and place it in the freezer.
To use frozen dried fruit, simply remove the single serving size freezer bag from the freezer and allow it to thaw on the counter before eating. Store any leftovers in the freezer and consume within a few days. Frozen dried fruit should keep in the freezer for up to a year.
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