[CONELRAD]

Freeze-dried ice cream, also known as astronaut ice cream, is a popular novelty treat that has been associated with space travel. It goes through a freeze-drying process that removes most of the water content while preserving the flavor and texture.
Many brands offer freeze-dried ice cream, and flavors can vary. The most common flavors include vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Some brands also offer additional flavors like Neapolitan (a combination of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry) or other creative variations.
The taste and quality of freeze-dried ice cream can differ depending on the brand and personal preference. Some people enjoy the unique texture and intense flavor, while others may find it different from traditional ice cream. It's worth noting that freeze-dried ice cream has a different texture compared to regular ice cream since it is freeze-dried, which results in a dry, crumbly, and airy texture.

Weird, I asked ChatGPT this morning to tell me about freeze-dried ice cream and it said almost exactly the same thing.

 

[44 Guy]

Made it many times in my harvest right. Turns out fantastic if you keep a couple of things in mind:

1) Prefreeze your trays.
2) Garbage in, garbage out. Use only high quality ice cream.
3) Work quickly to avoid it thawing out.

 

[NY Min]

Weird, I asked ChatGPT this morning to tell me about freeze-dried ice cream and it said almost exactly the same thing.

Wonder how long it will be before Alexa and Siri are doing most of the posting here?

 

[NY Min]

2) Garbage in, garbage out. Use only high quality ice cream.

I imagine it would be better done with quality ice cream than it is with the muck they use for the standard version.

Although I still think ice cream should be cold, creamy, and wet, not warm, dry, and crunchy.

 

[swamppapa]

Tasty, extremely hygroscopic
Sticks to me fingers like a defrosting ice cream sandwich slightly less messy in the car with kids.

 

[44 Guy]

I imagine it would be better done with quality ice cream than it is with the muck they use for the standard version.

Although I still think ice cream should be cold, creamy, and wet, not warm, dry, and crunchy.

When you're backpacking, even dry crunchy pine needles tastes good

 

[NY Min]

When you're backpacking, even dry crunchy pine needles tastes good

I always preferred to see the pack contained a can of halvah.

 

[Bluesky9]

We "freeze dry" all kinds of things in our Harvest Right Freeze Dyer. My wife and her son both have a "sweet tooth". Most ice cream bars turn out ok; she hands out many of them to friends who ask about the freeze dryed food. We also do candies but some of them puff up due to the sugar. We have sliced bananas dipped in lemon juice, freeze drying right now. Bananas, pineapple and dyed fruits are my favorites. The ice creams are too sweet for me.
We have had our freeze drier for 4 years with no issues. We have a fairly large garden and 40 fruit trees and 30 fruiting bushes. The Juliet Bush cherries are starting to turn red and will be ready to pick in about a week. We will freeze some, freeze dry some and give the rest to the neighbors. I'm expecting to get more than six gallons. Next will be blueberries.

 

[Stoveman]

Could you rehydrate freeze dry ice cream and make actual ice cream from it?

 

[kev1n69]

I did 2 or 3 large boxes I think 48 sandwiches after trying a smaller qty it's a good treat. Then moved to picking up 1/2 gallons of bryers brand when they put it on sale all good treets. I just slice the box open and slice it like Texas toast size. Quick calories and a good treat even as powder once all the good food is gone and getting sick of beens and rice. It will make a great treet.

 

[jeff_k]

Could you rehydrate freeze dry ice cream and make actual ice cream from it?

I sorta did that. Put the freeze dried ice cream sandwich in a plastic container with a wet sponge/but not touching. Put container in fridge for a few hours...to rehydrate. Then in freezer. I worked enough to say I did it. I'd say it's more trouble than it's worth.

Banana slices rock!!!

I make banana milkshakes with them. Freeze dried/powered milk, stevia, water and ice cubes from a solar setup/inverter countertop ice maker and stick blender.

 

[cowboy1964]

I like the Mountain House freeze dried ice cream sandwiches but at $2 a pop, a little too expensive to stock. Of course, I didn't really stock them, I just ate them as I got them. They come in Mylar so would store forever.

Not exactly forever. Even MH, which normally claims 30+ years on most of their stuff, only claims 3 years with ice cream. And it's over $4 now.

 

[Cat wrangler]

Ok, this is an old thread. BUT, it sure answered my fd ice cream question!

A crank ice cream maker was mentioned. I have an ice cream maker that you put in the freezer. Add cream or milk and cream, a bit of sweetener and vanilla and let it run. Really good stuff. Good while we have electricity and milk.

A fd is sure tempting. Any fd food we have tried is really good. Maybe time to start stashing nickels, dimes and quarters (lots of dollars, too!).

 

[NY Min]

I have a cranked ice cream maker that uses salt and ice, and I have a smaller electric one that goes inside the freezer.

But these days I just load up an iSi whipped cream maker with a heavy cream-evaporated milk-sugar base, charge it with a nitrous cartridge, and stick it in the refrigerator.

Then I mix up whatever flavoring I want, squirt the whipped base into it, fold, and stick in the bottom of the freezer compartment in a clean tuna fish can or cans. No-churn single-serve ice cream in any flavor/s within an hour on demand.

A pint of the base makes 5 or 6 servings depending on flavor and keeps in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

 

[McMacy]

I have one, as I'm sure most of us do, but I don't have a cow. Without a store to buy cream or milk I'd be up the creek; not to mention ice being difficult to get a hold of!

Because there may be a SHTFantasy someday?

 

[Al Diehl]

Ok, this is an old thread. BUT, it sure answered my fd ice cream question!

A crank ice cream maker was mentioned. I have an ice cream maker that you put in the freezer. Add cream or milk and cream, a bit of sweetener and vanilla and let it run. Really good stuff. Good while we have electricity and milk.

A fd is sure tempting. Any fd food we have tried is really good. Maybe time to start stashing nickels, dimes and quarters (lots of dollars, too!).

A very good investment. I love mine because I like camping and I like meat. Short of carrying a freezer on my back, freeze drying is the answer.

Al

 

[jeff_k]

Just last night...took out some FD strawberries, FD bananas (my latest thing), FD evap milk (usually use for coffee creamer) put in a blender with some water and ice cubes (from countertop ice maker) and bam! A great milkshake/smoothie. 😁

 

[UserNameTaken]

Well, apparently my survival skills are lacking. I am embarrassed to report I have never tasted freeze dried ice cream. Do you freeze it first or eat it, raw?

I wonder how it does if you mix it with freeze dried alcohol?

We might be onto something here. A milkshake that knocks you on your can after tshtf.

 

[jeff_k]

I'll say that freeze dried cheesecake is better than freeze dried ice cream...because you can rehydrate it and actually eat it. Ironic that you make me do mental gymnastics on this...why? Because if you took the ice cream "mix" and put it in the freeze dryer, it would turn to ice cream before it was turned into the freeze dried chunks/powder. It would most likely taste the same. As for freeze dried alcohol...you could technically freeze dry beer and wine...but you'd have to add grain alcohol back into it. Just a thought...