How To Freeze-Dry Big Hunk

Freeze Dried Candy

Big Hunk can be a super hard candy that’s difficult to bite and chew. It may be a touch easier to eat if you live in warm areas. But enjoying the candy can be challenging if you live in a colder region. But freeze-drying it can turn this chunk of solid candy into a light, airy, crunchy sugary treat that’s easier to eat!

How Do I Prepare The Big Hunk?

Big Hunk is a nougat candy made using dried egg whites, honey, sugar, Peanuts, corn syrup, coconut oil, lecithin, salt, and artificial flavoring. You can process the high sugar content and egg white base with your Harvest Right freeze dryer.

You need to note, though, that because of the ingredients, they can expand. With the proper settings, Big Hunk can grow to twice or thrice its original size.

You can break the candy into small chunks using a knife, scissors, a meat tenderizer, or your hands. It can get soft when exposed to heat, so 5-10 seconds in the microwave should be enough. Remember, you want to soften it so you can cut them into small pieces, not melt it.

Once you’re done, place them on your freeze-dryer trays lined with parchment paper. The paper will help make it easier to remove the candies and store them later. Give ample space between them so that they have room to expand.

Do I Pre-Freeze?

When you work with candies like this, pre-freezing is not necessary. Instead, you want them to be soft and pliable so that there’s room for water to move. Also, if you have the newest software version, you’ll notice it will skip the initial freeze.

I Have The New Software. How Should I Set My Freeze Dryer?

The Candy Mode is what we love about the latest version of the Harvest Right freeze dryer. This can come in handy for candies like the Big Hunk, which is a challenge to freeze-dry. To turn on the Candy Mode:

1. Turn on your Harvest Right freeze dryer and choose “CUSTOMIZE” on the home screen.
2. Leave the initial freeze and extra freeze time. On Candy Mode, your freeze dryer skips this process.
3. Increase the temperature to 150 °F (65.5 °C).
4. Set the Extra Dry Time to 5:00. This will be the ONLY dry time in the cycle.
5. Choose “NORMAL” on the Dry Mode.
6. Press “SAVE.”

The process may be a bit tedious initially, but it will be okay once you get the hang of it.

I Haven’t Updated It Yet. So, How Do I Make It Work?

If you can’t update your software yet, then use the following settings:

• Choose “CUSTOMIZE” on the home screen.
• Set the Initial Freeze to zero.
• Set the Extra Freeze Time to zero.
• Turn up the dry temperature all the way up to 145 °F (65.5 °C).

Note: Remember to check the drying temperature on your next batch of food.

How To Freeze-Dry Big Hunk

Once you have ready your trays and freeze dryer, it’s time to start processing your Big Hunk.

New Software

1. After setting up, press “CONTINUE”.
2. When the freeze dryer tells you to, close the drain valve.
3. Switch the “CANDY PROCESS” to “ON”
4. Load the trays and close the chamber door, securing the seal around the ring.
5. Press “START”.
6. Choose “WARM TRAYS” and put in 5 minutes.
7. Press CONTINUE”
8. When the freeze-drying’s done, it will tell you to warm the trays and open the drain valve to vent.

Old Version

Remember to increase the drying temperature to help the freeze-dryer do its work.

1. Turn on the freeze dryer and press “START > NON-LIQUID”.
2. Select “NOT FROZEN”.
3. The machine will tell you when to close the drain valve and load the trays.
4. After loading, close the chamber door and secure the seal around the ring.
5. Press “CONTINUE” and let the machine do its work.

How Do I Know That They’re Done?

You got your freeze-dried Big Hunk ready when they’re light, airy, dry, and crunchy. Random test the big pieces and check for the texture and dryness. If any of the candy pieces are still hard and didn’t puff up, put the trays back for 2-3 hours of extra dry time.

How Do I Store Freeze-Dried Big Hunk?

You have two ways to store your freeze-dried Big Hunk. One is using Mason jars, which are great when you can’t get enough candy. If you want long-term storage or like to bring them on travels, use Mylar bags. They’re lightweight, designed for trips, and to store your freeze-dried candy for years.

Before sealing, make sure to add 1-2 packets of 300cc oxygen absorbers. These will help remove any residual oxygen inside your containers and extend shelf-life.

Where Can I Buy Freeze-Dried Big Hunk?

If you want to get a taste of freeze-dried Big Hunk, have a look at the following stores:

Candy Jan

Candy Jan offers freeze-dried Big Hunk in two sizes. The 0.8 oz costs $4.00, and the 1.2 oz costs $6.50. You get them in resealable bags and can pay using Shop Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay.

Those who tried it loved the candy. One customer said she hadn’t tasted the candy for several years because she couldn’t chew them. With the freeze-dried version, getting her sweet buzz was easier.

Freeze Dried Bites Big Hunk

Freeze Dried Bites has a wide offering of freeze-dried food and candies. One is the Big Hunk, which is transformed into a crunchy, fun, light, crispy treat.

It must be popular because, as of posting this blog, the freeze-dried Big Hunk is out of stock. Check back again on their homepage to see when they’re available again.

Freeze Dried Candy Shop

Freeze Dried Candy Shop wants you to have the best experience. So, when you visit their website, you’ll see a popup saying every order is Made-To-Order. That includes their freeze-dried Big Hunk.

A bag will cost you $6.00, which you can pay via Google Pay. Which is different compared to other candy stores that offer multiple channels for payment. There are also no reviews available on the website about their candy.

Conclusion

Thanks to the updated software, freeze-drying Big Hunk is no longer that big of a challenge. Just turn on the Candy Mode, and your Harvest Right freeze dryer will get ready to work.

If you don’t have the updated version, it’s okay. Just increase the dry temperature to the max, and then put the initial freeze temp and time to zero.

In case you want to know if it’s worth trying, then you can buy freeze-dried Big Hunk candies online. You can get them shipped to your place and have fun with your family and friends.

Would you prefer to make your own freeze-dried Big Hunk or buy it online? Let us know in the comment section.

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