How to Freeze-Dry AirHeads for a Freeze Drying Business

In this article, I’m going to share with you my experience of freeze-drying AirHeads for the first time by arranging the candies on the trays the freeze-dryer settings. So, let’s jump in and talk about freeze-dried Airheads.

Key Takeaways

• • Freeze-drying candy is a unique process that requires specific settings and tray arrangements.

• • AirHeads can be freeze-dried, but they don’t need to be cut to create bite-sized pieces.

• • Freeze-drying AirHeads can result in a crunchy texture with a delayed flavor taste.

Setting Up the Freeze Dryer

Here is how to set up the Harvest Right freeze dryer for AirHeads.

For those with older versions of the Harvest Right software that is 4.9 or less, you can still set the dry temperature by going into the custom settings and changing it to about 140-150 degrees before starting the machine. Then, once it starts freezing, you can cancel and choose “Add More Final Dry Time” to kick it into the final dry at the high temperature you set initially.

For those with the newer software, you can simply press “Customize” before starting the machine and change the temperature to 140-150 degrees and the dry time to your preference. This will activate Candy Mode after the initial 15 pre-freeze cycle.

Once the trays are arranged and the temperature and dry time are set, I close the drain valve and start the high-temperature candy process. For AirHeads, which are already soft, I skip the tray warming and let the machine start drying the candy. I set the drying time to 3-4 hours.

In conclusion, setting up the freeze dryer for AirHeads is a simple process that involves setting the temperature and dry time, arranging the candy on the trays, and starting the high-temperature candy process. By following these steps, you can achieve perfectly freeze-dried AirHeads that are ready to be packaged and sold.

Arranging Airheads on the Tray

When it comes to arranging Airheads on the tray, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it’s important to unwrap the Airheads quickly and efficiently, as most candies are wrapped in some type of wrapper. If the candy is warm and soft, the wrapper can stick to the candy and make it difficult to unwrap.

Once the Airheads are unwrapped, they can be arranged on the tray. In the video, I cut some of the Airheads in half to create more bite-sized pieces, but it’s not necessary. The full-size Airheads can be arranged on the tray as is.

It’s important to arrange the Airheads evenly on the tray, leaving some space between each piece. This will ensure that the Airheads freeze dry evenly and don’t stick together.

Overall, arranging Airheads on the tray is a simple process. Unwrap the candy quickly and efficiently, and arrange them evenly on the tray with some space between each piece. This will ensure that the Airheads freeze dry evenly and come out perfectly.

Unveiling the Freeze-Dried Airheads

After the freeze-drying process was complete, the Airheads had puffed up slightly, but not enough to require cutting them into smaller pieces. 

Taste Test

After freeze-drying the AirHeads, it was time for the most exciting part – the taste test. I tried the full-size AirHead first, and I have to say, the texture was crunchy, and the flavor was quite impressive. The taste hits you after the full bite, and it’s really enjoyable.

Moving on to the half-size AirHead, I didn’t notice much of a difference in taste compared to the full-size one. It was still packed with sugar and had a satisfying crunch to it.

Overall, I can say that freeze-dried AirHeads are a great addition to any candy lineup. They don’t need to be cut into smaller pieces, as the full-size AirHeads don’t expand that much, and they can still fit in the same size bags as the other candies. However, cutting them into smaller pieces could create more variety in colors and sizes, which is always a plus for marketing purposes.

If you’re thinking of adding AirHeads to your freeze-dried product lineup, I highly recommend giving them a try. They’re easy to prepare, and the end result is a tasty and crunchy treat that customers will love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, freeze-drying AirHeads is a fun and easy process that can be done with a few simple steps. Through this experiment, I found that it is not necessary to cut the AirHeads into smaller pieces, as they do not expand significantly during the freeze-drying process. 

It is important to note that the temperature and drying time settings may need to be adjusted based on the type of candy being freeze-dried. For AirHeads, a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and a drying time of 8 hours produced great results but you could also warm the trays and run for 4 hours and it will have the same results. It is also important to keep the candy in a cool, dry location before freeze-drying to prevent the candy from becoming too soft and difficult to unwrap.

Freeze-drying AirHeads can be a great addition to your product lineup, especially if you are looking to add more variety to your offerings. With the right settings and techniques, you can produce tasty and crunchy freeze-dried AirHeads that are sure to be a hit with your customers.