WHY FREEZE DRY FOODS?
Freeze-drying, also known as cryodesiccation, is a low temperature dehydration process. This involves freezing the product, lowering pressure, then removing the ice by sublimation.This process makes it perfect for pet food consumption.
This is in contrast to dehydration. By most conventional methods, which evaporate liquid water using heat.
Freeze-drying is known to result in the highest quality of foods amongst all drying techniques because structural integrity is maintained along with preservation of flavours.
Because of the low temperature used in processing, as well as the removal of water from solid to gaseous state directly, the quality of the freeze-dried product is excellent. Nutrient factors that are sensitive to heat are preserved in the process. This is compared to other processes incorporating heat treatment for drying purposes. The original shape of the product is also maintained. This method has been well-studied and has proved to be one of the best ways to preserve volatile organic compounds, locking in flavours and up to 80% of nutrients, while extending shelf life.
HISTORY OF FOOD PRESERVATION.
The Incas were a great civilization that devised an ingenious way to preserve food and ensure a stable food source. By drying food out in the sun, they were able to store it for later use, which played a key role in the advancement of their civilization.
900 years ago, the Incas were already freeze drying potatoes into chuño. Today, chuño is still a staple in Peru. This is achieved by repeatedly freezing potatoes on mountain peaks, then squeezing the water out with their feet in the sun at lower altitudes.
A lot has changed since the days of the Inca Empire. In 1934, Elser patented freeze-drying food. Since the beginning of the space age, NASA has been using freeze-dried food to give astronauts a complete nutrientprofile.
TAKI’S FREEZE DRYING TECHNOLOGY
Using a unique system, our freeze drying machines processes foods at -40° C, to lock in up to 85% of nutrients. This helps with the structural integrity of the food. TAKI products are vibrant in colours, textures and flavours. The process locks in the nutrients within the protein itself after the process. Perfect for pet food use.
Unlike other methods of food preservation, freeze drying leads to minimal shrinkage. At TAKI, we only use premium grade ingredients from reputable suppliers who source their proteins form pristine and sustainable sources.
Our philosophy is simple; take the best nature has to offer and turn it into TAKI TREATS with minimal processing and no additives.
