How To Freeze Dry Apple Pie Filling
Jul 6, 2023
Gummy Bears are really fun to eat with their gummy, chewy texture. But there’s a way to make eating this candy even more exciting! Here’s how to freeze-dry Gummy Bears and have a crunchy treat you and your kids would love munching!
There’s no need for special preparation when freeze-drying Gummy Bears. You only need to put the candies on the trays lined with parchment paper. Give them at least 1-2 inches of space in between. This will give them room to expand as they form bubbles when water vapor escapes.
Pre-freezing is an option, especially if you have new software. But if you have an old machine made before 2017, pre-freezing can help. Harvest Right recommends that pre-freezing should be at least 48 hours for best results. But only if you choose to pre-freeze your candies.
The exciting new thing about Harvest Right is they now have Candy Mode! You’ll know you can turn this on if your software is v5.x.19 or higher. If you haven’t upgraded yet, you can get the software at the Harvest Right website on their support page. What’s great about the Candy Mode is that it makes the candies soft and easier for your freeze-dryer to work with. There’s an extra process of heating up the trays before freeze-drying. The gummy candies become softer and release their water content better.
However, if you bought your machine before 2017, the upgrade will not work. Or if your software is v3.6.11 or older, the upgrade won’t work for you as well. You’ll know the version of your software by looking at the upper right corner of your screen. But don’t worry, you can still freeze-dry your gummies, only the method is different.
Here’s what you need to do to activate the Candy Mode on the new software.
Some say they don’t have much success with freeze-drying Gummy Bears on the old software. Here’s what you can do to help increase your success rate.
With the Candy Mode, freeze-drying Gummy Bears will be as long as you set your dry time. For older software, it can take 16-20 hours.
You’ll know the candies are ready when they’re puffy and twice or more than their original size. They should be light, airy, and crunchy, with no hint of gumminess. If any of the candy feels cold, soft, or gummy, put the trays back for 2-3 hours of extra dry time.
If you love freeze-dried Gummy Bears and can’t keep your hands off them, Mason jars are best. They’re easy to open and re-seal and keep the fragile candies intact.
If you’re traveling or wish to store the candies long-term, go for Mylar bags. They’re designed to keep heat, light, and moisture from the food for extended shelf-life. They’re also easy to carry so you can bring the freeze-dried candies with you anywhere. They won’t give that much protection, though, so expect some powdering when the bags are squished.
Remember to place 1-2 of the 300cc oxygen absorbers before sealing. This will help remove any residual oxygen left inside the containers that cause food spoilage.
Freeze-dried Gummy Bears can last for 25 years or more when stored properly. Keep them in a cool, dry, dark place that has a temperature lower than 72°F (22 °C). Maintain the relative humidity at 15% or less to prevent moisture from building up.
Freeze-drying Gummy Bears is one of the most satisfying things you can do with your freeze-dryer. If you can make a timelapse video, you’ll see how they transform as they puff and bubble up in the process. After that, you get this crunchy, airy, twice-as-flavorful candy you can’t get enough of.
The Candy Mode has made freeze-drying the candy easier and faster. But if you can’t upgrade, no sweat. Increase the drying temperature, which will help soften the candy’s surface to help remove the moisture better.
What do you want to do with your freeze-dried Gummy Bears? Let us know in the comment section.
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Jul 6, 2023
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Jul 3, 2023
We tried to the gummy bears with a big fail. We followed your directions to a tee and still they failed. Do certain brands work better than others? We are doing this for a entrepreneural project with my granddaughter. I need a response ASAP. Thanks!
Hi, Janet. So sorry to hear about that experience. Have you tried increasing the temperature to 145-150?