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Freeze dried vegetables: light, crunchy and ready for the pantry

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

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Quick answer

Freeze dried vegetables are single-ingredient foods with the water removed, so they are light, can be eaten crunchy from the bag, and rehydrate in soups and casseroles. Calories are low: Mother Earth Products lists 1 oz of freeze dried peas at 110 calories and a half ounce of green beans at 50, so vegetables round out a food supply rather than carry it. Keep them sealed from oxygen, light and moisture; the maker says sealed Mylar pouches keep for many years unopened.

Label data for four common vegetables

Vegetable	Serving	Calories	Protein	Fiber	Servings per quart Mylar
Peas	1 oz (28 g)	110	7 g	7 g	7
Sweet corn	1 oz (28 g)	100	4 g	2 g	7
Broccoli	1 oz (28 g)	80	9 g	9 g	3
Green beans	0.5 oz (14 g)	50	2 g	4 g	6

Figures are from Mother Earth Products' nutrition panels, checked October 2026. Each lists no additives or preservatives.

Calories: why vegetables are a side, not the base

• A quart of peas: 7 servings x 110 calories is 770 calories.
• A quart of corn: 7 x 100 is 700 calories.
• A quart of green beans: 6 x 50 is 300 calories.
• The plan: pair vegetables with calorie-dense staples such as freeze dried meals, canned meats and beans; see our freeze dried food and canned food guides.
• Variety matters: Ready.gov advises choosing foods your family will eat and keeping special diets in mind, and vegetables add color and fiber to a long stretch of stored meals.

Packaging: Mylar, jars, cans and buckets

• Mylar pouches: Mother Earth Products calls its quart Mylar pouch the best packaging for freshness because it is sealed from light and oxygen, packed with moisture absorbers, and good for many years unopened or up to 5 years after opening.
• Clear jars: the same maker says its jars cannot keep oxygen and light out the way Mylar does, so use jars for the pantry you are eating from.
• Bulk bags: the maker says it usually adds oxygen absorbers to bulk bags.
• Kits: Augason Farms lists a seven-vegetable kit with 125 servings and up to a 30 year shelf life.
• Repacking: if you buy bulk, see our Mylar bags guide for sealing smaller portions.

Storing them so they last

1. Cool and dark: Mother Earth Products says to store in a cool, dark place.
2. Keep moisture out: the maker calls moisture one of the greatest enemies of dried and freeze dried vegetables; reseal pouches right after use.
3. Leave desiccants in: the packs inside Mylar bags absorb moisture that gets in as you open and use the product.
4. Date everything: write the opening date on each pouch so you use the oldest first.
5. Rotate: eat from the supply in ordinary meals and replace what you use.

Rehydrating and cooking

• Volume: Mother Earth Products says half a cup of freeze dried product usually rehydrates to less than one full cup, while half a cup of dehydrated product usually makes a full cup.
• Water planning: add rehydration and cooking water to your stored water plan; see our emergency water storage guide.
• No-cook option: the maker says its freeze dried vegetables can be eaten right out of the bag as a crunchy snack, useful when cooking is not possible.
• Label directions: each package gives its own rehydration instructions.
• Freeze dried or dehydrated? see our freeze dried vs dehydrated guide for weight, texture and water differences.

Buying checklist

• Single ingredient: check the ingredient line lists only the vegetable.
• Serving size: compare calories per ounce, not per serving, since serving sizes differ (green beans use 0.5 oz).
• Packaging fits use: Mylar for storage, jars for daily use.
• Sodium: labels vary, from 0 mg for the corn to 80 mg for the broccoli per serving.
• Allergies: Mother Earth Products says its makers generally do not process peanuts, tree nuts or shellfish on the same lines, but check every label if allergies matter.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

How long do freeze dried vegetables last?

Mother Earth Products says sealed Mylar pouches keep many years unopened and up to 5 years after opening; Augason Farms lists up to 30 years for its kit.

Can you eat freeze dried vegetables without rehydrating?

Yes; the maker says they can be eaten right from the bag as a crunchy snack.

How much water do freeze dried vegetables need?

Follow the label; as a rule of thumb the maker says half a cup rehydrates to less than one cup.

Are freeze dried vegetables enough for an emergency food supply?

No; they are low in calories, so pair them with meals, beans and canned proteins.

Sources

• Freeze Dried Peas, Mother Earth Products
• Freeze Dried Green Beans, Mother Earth Products
• Freeze Dried Corn (Super Sweet), Mother Earth Products
• Freeze Dried Broccoli, Mother Earth Products
• FAQs, Mother Earth Products
• Freeze Dried and Dehydrated Vegetable Variety Kit, Augason Farms
• Food, Ready.gov

Sources checked 2026-10-15.