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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Signal312 18 Aug \ on: Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Ownership (2 Years In) food_and_drinks
Why do candies expand so much in a freezer dryer?
Also, about freeze-drying meat - what specifically are you able to successfully freeze dry?
Good question. I never really thought about it before. ChatGPT gave a pretty good explanation:
Candy expands in a freeze dryer because of pressure and trapped gases:
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Air + moisture trapped inside: Candy often has microscopic air pockets and dissolved gases.
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Vacuum effect: When the freeze dryer pulls a deep vacuum, the external pressure drops dramatically. Any trapped gases expand (like a balloon in space).
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Moisture turning to vapor: Even small amounts of water or sugar syrups in the candy sublimate/flash into vapor under vacuum, pushing outward from inside.
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Structure softening: Sugar matrices (taffy, Skittles, marshmallows) soften slightly as ice or bound water leaves, so they puff up instead of collapsing.
That’s why candies like Skittles or marshmallows “puff” dramatically in a freeze dryer.
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