Home / Emergency food

Freeze dried fruit: crisp, light and long-lasting if you keep it dry

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

We research products from makers' specs, manuals and safety agencies; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

Quick answer

Freeze drying freezes fruit and then turns the ice straight to vapor. University of Minnesota Extension says this makes a shelf-stable food that keeps its taste, smell and nutritional profile. Makers list long shelf lives: Augason Farms gives up to 30 years for its sliced strawberry can, and ReadyWise up to 25 years for its fruit bucket. Those figures are for sealed packages. Freeze dried fruit pulls in moisture quickly once opened, so pack it in moisture-proof containers and use opened packages promptly.

How freeze drying works

UMN Extension describes three stages:

1. Freezing: the food is frozen rapidly at a very low temperature.
2. Sublimation: under vacuum, mild heat turns ice straight to vapor. This removes up to 90 percent of the water.
3. Desorption: removes another 1 to 2 percent from the surface.

Raw foods start at 80 to 95 percent water, UMN says. Properly freeze-dried foods end with a water activity of about 0.08 to 0.33, which is what makes them shelf-stable. There is no heat treatment step, though, so freeze drying does not kill bacteria or viruses. It preserves them until water returns.

Three ways to buy it for storage

Format	Example	What the maker lists
Single-fruit can	Augason Farms Sliced Strawberries	18 servings; no preservatives or added sweeteners; up to 30-year shelf life; certified gluten-free
Single-fruit can	Augason Farms Whole Raspberries	23 servings; 100% raspberries, no preservatives or added sugar; long shelf life
Mixed bucket of pouches	ReadyWise 120 Serving Fruit Bucket	15 pouches of bananas, blueberries, strawberries and apples, 8 servings each; 3,040 calories total; up to 25-year shelf life

Smaller pouches fit NCHFP's advice to open only what you will use, since less is exposed each time. ReadyWise describes the bucket as freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, so not every fruit in it is freeze-dried.

Reading the label

• Ingredients: both Augason Farms products list only fruit, with no preservatives and no added sugar or sweeteners. Check the ingredient list on any other product you buy.
• Servings vs calories: serving counts vary by brand. The ReadyWise bucket's 3,040 calories over 120 servings works out to about 25 calories per serving, so fruit is a side, not a meal base. Plan main calories from other foods.
• Shelf life: stated as up to a number of years. Augason Farms notes on its variety pouch that shelf life is based on the manufacturing date printed on the package, so check the date when it arrives.
• Freeze-dried vs dehydrated: mixed products may contain both, which changes texture and storage life. Our freeze dried vs dehydrated guide compares the two.

Keeping it crisp after opening

UMN Extension says freeze-dried foods absorb moisture easily, and even kitchen humidity can affect them. To keep opened fruit usable:

• Reseal fast: UMN says USDA treats properly freeze-dried foods as shelf-stable only in moisture-proof, hermetically sealed containers.
• Open small amounts: NCHFP advises packing dried foods in amounts used all at once, because every reopening exposes food to air and moisture.
• Use glass when you can: NCHFP says glass shows any moisture that collects inside.
• Add a desiccant: UMN lists food-grade moisture absorbers and oxygen absorbers for repackaging.
• Watch for change: NCHFP says to use foods affected by moisture right away and to throw out anything moldy.

Storing and eating it

• Cool, dry and dark: UMN and NCHFP both point to a cool, dry place, and NCHFP notes that higher temperatures shorten storage.
• Eat dry or rehydrate: ReadyWise says to cover its strawberries with water, let them stand until soft, then drain.
• Rehydrate only what you need: UMN warns that germs present before drying can grow again once water is added, so treat rehydrated fruit like fresh.
• Label repacked fruit: UMN suggests noting the food and the date on any container you fill yourself.

Making it at home

UMN says home freeze dryers work well for fruits but not for foods high in sugar or fat. Its tips: cut fruit into even pieces, pre-treat fruit that darkens with an ascorbic acid dip of 1 teaspoon per gallon of cool water, and spread pieces in a single layer. To check doneness, cut a piece from each tray in half; a dark spot in the middle means moisture remains. UMN also notes that home shelf-life data is limited, while commercially prepared freeze-dried foods can last up to 25 years. See our small freeze dryer guide before buying a machine.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

How long does freeze dried fruit last?

Sealed, makers list up to 25 or 30 years; UMN says commercially prepared freeze-dried foods can last up to 25 years. Once opened it absorbs moisture quickly.

Is freeze dried fruit healthy?

UMN says freeze drying keeps a food's nutritional profile; check the ingredient list; the Augason Farms fruits here list no added sugar.

Does freeze dried fruit need to be refrigerated?

Not while dry and sealed; keep it cool and dry. Rehydrated fruit should be handled like fresh, since UMN says germs can grow once water returns.

How do you rehydrate freeze dried fruit?

ReadyWise says to cover it with water, let it stand until soft and drain; or eat it dry, as Augason Farms suggests for its strawberries straight from the can.

Sources

• Freeze-drying, University of Minnesota Extension
• Packaging and Storing Dried Foods, National Center for Home Food Preservation
• Freeze Dried Sliced Strawberries Can, 18 Servings, Augason Farms
• Freeze Dried Whole Raspberries Can, 23 Servings, Augason Farms
• Dehydrated & Freeze Dried Fruit Variety Pouch, Augason Farms
• 120 Serving Freeze-Dried Fruit Bucket, ReadyWise
• Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries, 18 Serving Can, ReadyWise

Sources checked 2026-10-15.