Freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries: ideas for breakfast, baking and snacks

Freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries are fruit that has had its water removed without heat: they end up light, crunchy and packed with concentrated flavour. At home we use them almost every day at breakfast, but they also earn their keep in baking and as a snack. Here's what they are, how they differ and how to get the most out of them.

What freeze-dried fruit is (and why it crunches)

Freeze-drying is drying with cold. The fruit is frozen and goes into a vacuum chamber where the water turns straight from ice to vapour without ever melting. As there's no heat involved, the fruit doesn't get “cooked”: it keeps its shape, colour and aroma. Our strawberries and raspberries come out of the freeze-dryer with less than 4% moisture, which is where that signature crunch that melts in your mouth comes from.

What matters most for you is what isn't in them. Our freeze-dried strawberry is 100% strawberry, and our freeze-dried raspberry is just raspberry. No added sugars, no preservatives and no colourings. The sweetness and tartness you taste come from the fruit itself, only more intense because there's no water left to dilute them.

Strawberry or raspberry: how they differ

Both are red and crunchy, but they don't behave the same way on the plate. Here's what their product pages and our kitchen tell us:

• Flavour: strawberry is sweet and fragrant; raspberry is tarter and more perfumed. If you like contrast, raspberry brings the zing that wakes up a plain yoghurt.
• Texture: raspberries are hollow inside, so they break at the slightest touch and melt as soon as they meet anything moist. Strawberries hold together a little longer.
• Fibre: both are high in fibre: 15.1 g per 100 g for strawberry and 26.2 g per 100 g for raspberry.
• Sugars: neither has added sugars. The sugars on the label (57.6 g per 100 g in strawberry and 25.2 g in raspberry) are the fruit's natural sugars, concentrated by removing the water.
• Sizes: strawberry comes in a 35 g jar and a 2 kg bag; raspberry in a 50 g jar and a 1 kg bag.

And if you'd rather skip the chopping, our freeze-dried strawberry pieces come ready diced to 4 mm, just the right size for sprinkling (in a 50 g jar or 2 kg bag).

At breakfast: ideas we repeat every week

This is where they really shine. A handful is enough, because being concentrated, they go much further than fresh fruit.

1. Yoghurt that turns pink. Scatter a few raspberries over Greek or plain yoghurt and wait a minute: they melt and turn it pink. It's like raspberry yoghurt, except you know exactly what's in it.
2. Porridge with contrast. Add the fruit at the very end, just before eating, so it stays crunchy. If you stir it in while it cooks, it softens and releases all its colour into the oats (not a bad thing either, if you fancy pink porridge).
3. Overnight oats. Here we want the opposite: the strawberry pieces spend the night in the jar, rehydrate and spread their flavour through the whole mix.
4. “PB&J” toast without the jam. Bread, a layer of peanut butter and crumbled freeze-dried strawberry on top. The crunch suits it perfectly.
5. Smoothie without extra water. Blend a handful with banana and skyr or plant-based milk. You get fruit flavour without watering the smoothie down.

In baking: colour and flavour without liquid

The big advantage of freeze-dried fruit in the oven is that it contains no water. Fresh fruit releases juice and can make a batter soggy or split a cream; freeze-dried fruit won't. A few simple ideas:

• Fruit chocolate bark. Melt dark chocolate, spread it on baking paper and scatter strawberries and raspberries over it before it cools. Once it sets, break it into pieces.
• Pink creams and fillings. Blitz the fruit to a powder and mix it into whipped cream, cream cheese or a ganache. It adds colour and flavour without making the mix runny.
• Cakes and biscuits. Fold the pieces gently into the batter at the end. They spread out nicely and give little bursts of flavour in every bite.
• Last-minute decoration. On a cake or cupcakes, add it just before serving so it doesn't absorb moisture from the frosting.

For creams and icings, freeze-dried fruit powder also works really well, as it comes ready ground and easy to mix in.

As a snack: straight from the jar

No prep needed. Freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries are eaten just as they are, like fruit crisps. We like to keep a jar in our bag or desk drawer, or mix them with nuts and a few chocolate chips for an afternoon nibble.

If you can't decide, the berry pack with strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry comes with four jars (strawberry at 35 g and the other three at 50 g each) so you can try a different one every day. And our freeze-dried fruit collection has plenty more to mix and match.

How to store them so they stay crunchy

Freeze-dried fruit has just one enemy: moisture. If damp air gets into the packaging, it loses its crunch and turns chewy. To avoid that:

• Keep it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat sources (so not next to the oven).
• Close the jar tightly after each use, or transfer it to an airtight container.
• Once opened, enjoy it within the following weeks for the best flavour and texture.
• Scoop out what you need with a dry spoon, never with damp fingers.

Frequently asked questions

Does freeze-dried strawberry contain added sugar?

No. Our freeze-dried strawberry has a single ingredient: strawberry. The sugars shown on the label are the fruit's own, just more concentrated because the water has been removed.

Can you rehydrate freeze-dried fruit?

Yes. In contact with yoghurt, milk, plant-based milk or an overnight oats mix, it absorbs liquid and softens. If you're after the crunch, add it at the last moment.

Can I eat it if I have a nut allergy?

Bear in mind that, according to the product information, it may contain traces of sesame, soya, peanuts and other tree nuts. Always check the label if you have any allergy.

How much freeze-dried fruit equals fresh fruit?

With no water, it takes up much less space and weighs far less than fresh fruit, so a small handful brings a lot of flavour. It's best to start with a little and adjust to taste.

To wrap up

Freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries are one of those ingredients that, once they're in your cupboard, end up in everything: the morning yoghurt, the Sunday cake or the afternoon snack. If you haven't tried them yet, start with a jar of each and find your favourite. We still can't agree on ours.