Today, I want to talk about freeze-dried food, specifically several different kinds of cheese. Please note that I buy commercially processed food; I don’t freeze-dry it. My favorite companies for freeze-dried food are Nutri-Store, Thrive Life, and Augason Farms.
Here’s the deal: Freeze-dried food is more expensive in #10 cans than dehydrated food. But please remember that it has a longer shelf life, and you can eat freeze-dried food right out of the can. Another bonus is that it takes less water to hydrate and less cooking fuel.
Freeze-Dried Food Options
I want to be upfront here today. I used to sell Thrive Life, but writing posts, teaching classes, speaking, writing my book, and caring for clients purchasing food from my Thrive Life website became hard. I stocked up enough food to sleep at night, knowing I had enough #10 cans (7 inches tall and 6-1/2 inches in diameter) filled with freeze-dried food options for Mark and me to survive any disaster.
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
I have used this shredded cheddar cheese in many casseroles and even made grilled cheese sandwiches. Flipping the sandwiches to cook the other side was a little tricky.
The grated cheese would fall out, but the taste was great! I have used it for tacos, and it tastes great, but it still has a different texture from freshly grated cheddar cheese. I bought two cases of it because I liked it so much.
Hydrate the cheese, drain it, and use it in any recipe. No special cookbook is needed. It’s cheese. I love it! You can make nachos, cheesy potatoes, baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, and top them with cheese. It works great in most recipes after you rehydrate it.
Quote from Thrive Life:
Thrive Life Cheddar Cheese will give your recipes a bold kick of flavor. Try using it in classic grilled cheese sandwiches, onion dips, festive quesadillas, pizzas, and tasty soups. It will add the perfect flavor to make any dish a success.
INGREDIENTS: Cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes, annatto color, and potato starch added to prevent caking. Contains: Milk.
25-year shelf life
Freeze dried
NO GMOs: No bioengineered ingredients
NO artificial colors or flavors
Good source of calcium
Certified gluten-free
Rehydration Instructions:
Drizzle 1/2 cup cold water over 2 cups cheese and stir continuously until water is incorporated. Store in the fridge overnight or for several hours before using.
Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
I have always loved Pepper Jack cheese, I guess because I used to live in Logan, Utah, and they had the best cheese source, a factory where we could purchase cheese directly from the cheesemakers.
Quote from Thrive Life:
Thrive Life Pepper Jack Cheese has a long shelf life and is easy to use. It’s perfect for daily meals or keeping on hand for long-term food storage. Rehydrate, melt it over Mexican food, use it for grilled cheese sandwiches, or toss it into your breakfast burritos. It’s a good source of calcium. Use in any recipe—substitute 1:1.
INGREDIENTS: Pepper Jack Cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, jalapeno peppers, enzymes), with powdered cellulose added (to prevent caking). It contains Milk.
25-year shelf life
Freeze dried
NO GMOs: No bioengineered ingredients
NO artificial colors or flavors
Certified gluten-free
Good source of calcium
Rehydration Instructions:
Place cheese in a dish or bowl and cover with cool water. Allow cheese to rehydrate for 3 to 5 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Drain excess water if needed.”
Cheese Sauce (it’s a powder)
I have made homemade mac and cheese with this cheese sauce powder; it tasted great and was easy to make. I followed the recipe on the can. It has a shorter shelf life (ten years unopened).
Quote from Thrive Life:
Thrive Life Cheese Sauce is cheddar cheese ground into a powder for a versatile and delicious cheese sauce. Drizzle over macaroni, bake into pasta dishes, or stir into soups. Use in any recipe—substitute 1:1. It’s cooking made simple!
INGREDIENTS: Whey solids, maltodextrin, milk fat, salt, buttermilk, cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cultures, salts, enzymes), modified food starch, xanthan gum, natural flavoring, and annatto coloring. Contains: Milk.
10-year shelf life
NO GMOs: No bioengineered ingredients
NO artificial colors or flavors
Certified gluten-free
Rehydration Instructions:
Place cheese in a dish or bowl and cover with cool water. Allow cheese to rehydrate for 3 to 5 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Drain excess water if needed.”
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
I use this one in several ways, including on pizza and in my lasagna. It is fabulous!
Quote from Thrive Life:
Thrive Life Mozzarella Cheese elevates any Italian dish to magnifico status! This versatile cheese adds a delicious touch to lasagna, pasta, pizza, and more. Crafted with part-skim milk, it’s lower in fat and a good source of calcium.
INGREDIENTS: Cultured pasteurized part-skim milk, salt, enzymes, and potato starch to prevent caking. This product contains Milk.
25-year shelf life
Freeze dried
NO GMOs: No bioengineered ingredients
NO artificial colors or flavors
Certified gluten-free
Good source of calcium
Rehydration Instructions:
Place cheese in a dish or bowl and cover with cool water. Allow cheese to rehydrate for 3 to 5 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Drain excess water if needed.”
More Freeze-Dried Tips
- Pros and Cons of Freeze Drying
- Which Methods of Food Storage are Correct?
- 5 Freeze-Dried Food Items I Recommend You Store
I needed to share my thoughts today on cheese, a freeze-dried food we can all feel comfortable storing in our pantry or food storage stash. You never run out of cheese if you have some of these on your shelves. Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda
The post Freeze-Dried Food: How To Use It appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
from Food Storage Moms
No comments:
Post a Comment