Freeze-dried strawberries
Crisp, scarlet and intensely fruity. How to use freeze-dried strawberries, what is in them and how to choose a good pack.
Freeze-dried fruit and berries
Crisp, colourful and nothing but fruit. Pick a favourite to see how it tastes, how to use it and what is inside.
Berries
Freeze-dried raspberries
Sharp, crimson and the baker's favourite. How to use freeze-dried raspberries whole, crumbled or powdered, and how to pick a good...
Why people love freeze-dried fruit
Fresh berries are fleeting. Freeze-dried fruit gives you the colour and flavour of ripe fruit in a form that sits happily in the cupboard and weighs almost nothing. It is crisp straight from the pack, and it softens in minutes with a splash of water.
Because the water has gone, the flavour is concentrated, and so are the fruit's natural sugars. A little goes a long way: a 10g handful of freeze-dried strawberries started life as about 100g of fresh fruit.
Berries first
Berries are where freeze-drying really shows off. Their delicate structure, bright pigments and sharp-sweet flavour all survive the process. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants and cherries are the ones you will meet most often, and they are the most useful in the kitchen.
Not sure where to start?
Read what freeze-drying is, then try strawberries on your porridge. Most people are converts by the second bowl.
Good questions, short answers
What is freeze-dried fruit?
It is fresh fruit that has been frozen and then dried under vacuum, so the ice turns straight to vapour. Almost all the water is removed while the shape, colour and flavour stay. Nothing needs to be added.
Does freeze-dried fruit count towards your 5 A Day?
The NHS says a 30g portion of dried fruit counts as one of your 5 A Day, and that it is best eaten with meals rather than as a between-meal snack, to look after your teeth.
Which freeze-dried fruit is best for baking?
Raspberries and strawberries are the favourites because their sharpness survives sugar and butter. Use pieces in bakes and powder in icings, meringues and macarons.
How should I store freeze-dried fruit?
Sealed, cool, dark and dry. Moisture is what softens it, so reseal the pack tightly or decant into an airtight jar once opened.