How to freeze dry 47 common foods
Prep, tray loading, cycle time, storage and shelf life for each food in the FreezeLog guide. Every page lists the extension guides it was checked against.
General guidance only. Follow your freeze dryer manufacturer's instructions and current food-safety guidance. These are rough figures, not a promise that any food is safe to store or eat. Actual results depend on your machine, load, packing and storage.
Hours are a typical main cycle in a home freeze dryer, before any extra dry time. Months are a typical shelf life for food that is fully dry and sealed with an oxygen absorber. To compare every food in one table, see the shelf life chart.
Fruit
- Apples28 h cycle, 12 mo
- Bananas30 h cycle, 12 mo
- Blueberries32 h cycle, 12 mo
- Cherries34 h cycle, 12 mo
- Grapes34 h cycle, 12 mo
- Mango32 h cycle, 12 mo
- Orange segments32 h cycle, 12 mo
- Peaches30 h cycle, 12 mo
- Pears30 h cycle, 12 mo
- Pineapple48 h cycle, 12 mo
- Raspberries28 h cycle, 12 mo
- Strawberries28 h cycle, 12 mo
- Watermelon36 h cycle, 12 mo
Vegetables
- Bell peppers28 h cycle, 12 mo
- Broccoli30 h cycle, 12 mo
- Carrots28 h cycle, 12 mo
- Green beans28 h cycle, 12 mo
- Green peas26 h cycle, 12 mo
- Mushrooms30 h cycle, 12 mo
- Potatoes32 h cycle, 12 mo
- Spinach24 h cycle, 12 mo
- Sweet corn26 h cycle, 12 mo
- Sweet potatoes34 h cycle, 12 mo
- Zucchini30 h cycle, 12 mo
Herbs
Meals
- Chili36 h cycle, 6 mo
- Cooked pasta30 h cycle, 6 mo
- Cooked rice28 h cycle, 6 mo
- Macaroni and cheese34 h cycle, 4 mo
- Scrambled eggs30 h cycle, 4 mo
- Soup36 h cycle, 6 mo
Meat
- Cooked bacon30 h cycle, 1 mo
- Cooked chicken32 h cycle, 6 mo
- Cooked ground beef32 h cycle, 6 mo
- Cooked ham32 h cycle, 6 mo
- Cooked shrimp32 h cycle, 6 mo
Dairy
- Cheese30 h cycle, 3 mo
- Cottage cheese32 h cycle, 6 mo
- Milk34 h cycle, 6 mo
- Yogurt drops28 h cycle, 6 mo
Desserts
- Cake30 h cycle, 6 mo
- Cheesecake36 h cycle, 4 mo
- Hard fruit candy4 h cycle, 12 mo
- Ice cream36 h cycle, 4 mo
- Marshmallows4 h cycle, 12 mo