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freeze-drying

industrial process
Also known as: freeze-dehydration, lyophilization

Quick Summary

Freeze-drying is a process used to preserve materials, most commonly food, by drying them in a frozen state under a high vacuum. This method involves lowering the temperature of the substance below its freezing point, causing the water within it to turn into ice. The vacuum then allows this ice to sublimate directly into vapor, effectively removing moisture while the item remains frozen.12

This technique is highly effective for preservation because it significantly inhibits the growth of microorganisms and slows down chemical reactions that lead to spoilage. While freezing itself is a long-standing method of food preservation, freeze-drying offers a way to remove water without the high temperatures that can degrade certain food qualities. The apparatus used for this process is called a freeze dryer. Freeze-drying is also utilized in various industrial applications beyond food, such as in medicine and research.2345

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