Foods That Don't Freeze Dry Well & Substitutions

Food That Doesn’t Freeze Dry

Why It Doesn’t Work

Best Substitutes

Butter & High-Fat Dairy

Fat doesn’t sublimate properly, leading to spoilage.

Freeze-dry buttermilk powder, ghee, or use powdered butter substitutes.

Cream-Based Soups & Sauces

High fat causes separation and poor rehydration.

Make sauces with milk substitutes or thicken after rehydration.

Cheese (High-Fat Varieties)

Soft cheeses like cream cheese don’t dry well due to fat content.

Shredded hard cheeses (cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan) work well.

Raw Eggs

Risk of bacteria and doesn’t rehydrate well.

Scramble eggs first, then freeze-dry. You can also buy powdered egg substitutes.

Mayonnaise & Dressings

Emulsified oils separate during freeze-drying.

Use powdered versions of ranch, cheese sauce, or mustard and rehydrate with water.

High-Sugar Fruits

Very sugary fruits like honeydew, watermelon, and grapes don’t dry well.

Try cantaloupe, pineapple, or cut larger fruits into smaller pieces.

Jellies & Jams

High sugar content prevents proper drying.

Make a fruit puree, spread it thin on trays, and turn it into a fruit powder.

Chocolate & Candy Bars

Pure chocolate has too much fat.

Use cocoa powder or freeze-dry chocolate-containing treats (e.g., chocolate milk, pudding).

Avocados

High fat content makes them go rancid.

Use freeze-dried guacamole powder with lime juice for better shelf stability.

Bread with High Fat or Sugar

Croissants and pastries don’t dry well due to butter content.

Use plain bread, biscuits, or crackers, and add fats after rehydration.

Peanut Butter & Nut Butters

Too much oil prevents proper drying.

Use peanut butter powder, which can be rehydrated later.

Honey & Syrups

Pure honey doesn’t dry—it stays sticky.

Mix honey with dry ingredients like oats or coconut flour to create a freeze-dried blend.

Fried Foods

Oil-soaked foods won’t dry properly.

Bake or air-fry foods instead before freeze-drying.

Cooked Pasta or Rice (Without Sauce)

Plain pasta/rice can be difficult to rehydrate properly.

Cook pasta/rice in broth before freeze-drying for better rehydration.

Nuts & Seeds

High fat content causes rancidity.

Store nuts separately in vacuum-sealed containers instead of freeze-drying.