Sun dried figs and tomatoes come to mindDehydration in the usual manner does that flavor concentration with fruit also. There are MANY foods that can be freeze dried and rehydrated in an excellent manner....that isn't as good (or possible)from "just" old way dehydrated.
Freeze dried foods are frozen during the process, but not frozen in their finished state. The freeze dryer takes all the moisture out of the food, leaving it shelf stable for up to 25 years when stored appropriately. I'm not sure I can explain the science behind it. The freeze dried food can be rehydrated by adding back in approximately the amount of liquid that was removed. Sometimes, that just means adding it to what your cooking, such as veggies for a soup. There are various ways to rehydrate different foods.
The pieces were so much smaller, and it was so easy to just pop one in my mouth after another taking in way to much citric acid at one time. 
I'm way too old to be doing stupid stuff like that.Freeze dried mangosFreeze dried foods are frozen during the process, but not frozen in their finished state. The freeze dryer takes all the moisture out of the food, leaving it shelf stable for up to 25 years when stored appropriately. I'm not sure I can explain the science behind it. The freeze dried food can be rehydrated by adding back in approximately the amount of liquid that was removed. Sometimes, that just means adding it to what your cooking, such as veggies for a soup. There are various ways to rehydrate different foods.
Someone on here said it concentrates the flavor. I second that. Freeze dried fruit is delicious in its freeze dried state without hydration. Almost like a natural candy. But, I ate too much freeze dried pineapple once and it left my mouth raw for a couple days.
Freeze dried sounds amazing, and such a good solution to preserving food and its nutrients : ) The set up is probably expensive, and as you explained, it is not a "walk in the park" when it comes to maintenance of the equipment. I will have to investigate this further, thanks for all your input : )Freeze dried foods are frozen during the process, but not frozen in their finished state. The freeze dryer takes all the moisture out of the food, leaving it shelf stable for up to 25 years when stored appropriately. I'm not sure I can explain the science behind it. The freeze dried food can be rehydrated by adding back in approximately the amount of liquid that was removed. Sometimes, that just means adding it to what your cooking, such as veggies for a soup. There are various ways to rehydrate different foods.
Someone on here said it concentrates the flavor. I second that. Freeze dried fruit is delicious in its freeze dried state without hydration. Almost like a natural candy. But, I ate too much freeze dried pineapple once and it left my mouth raw for a couple days.
You're welcome. Yes, it is an investment, so you have to really want to do it. I only needed the small Harvest Right freeze dryer for the two of us, so only about $2,500 +/- . But, using it is not complicated at all and there are a lot of videos on Youtube for how to freeze dry and how to rehydrate. It's a fun hobby that prepares you for a rainy day, and gives you a great option for what to do with leftovers.
