Have you ever asked yourself what happens to your candy when you take away its water content? Well! keep in mind that it undergoes transformation in appearance, flavor, or texture. You know there are two major processes behind such transformations. Both processes indeed give the candy an edge when it comes to texture, taste, and even look.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the candy dehydration process, also compare it with the freeze-dried process and provide step-by-step guidelines enabling you to dehydrate candies at home. With our decades of experience in innovation and production in candy, we’ll be very happy to share these processes with you!
1 Can You Dehydrate Candy?
Indeed, candy can be dehydrated! However, the success of the process relies on the type of candy and its nutritional constituents. Certain candies tend to get dehydrated and change into a crunchy texture, while some simply melt away or remain unchanged.
[ Explanation ]:
The term dehydration refers to the removal of water content in food. Water softens the food but taking it out results in dry and often crispy food. Certain foods are able to undergo dehydration effectively because they contain a higher water content, while others do not change much if the composition has a higher concentration of fat or sugar instead. So, let’s explore the examples of candies that can dehydrate or that don’t.
[ Candies That Dehydrate Well ]:
- Gummy Bears and fruit snacks: These contain water as well as gelatin which allows them to be dehydrated. When dehydrated, they lose their moisture content and thus shrink while becoming crunchy.
- Marshmallows: Moreover, they contain tiny air pockets saturated with water. When dehydrated, marshmallows are able to puff up and thus look relatively larger and also become crispier.
[ Candy That Doesn’t Dehydrate Well ]:
- Chocolate: It has high fat and low moisture which aids in it not shrinking much or drying out. Instead of fully dehydrating, it prefers to melt or stay unchanged.
- Caramel & Taffy: Additionally, these candies also do not have a high moisture content compared to the sugar content they have. Thus, instead of getting crispier, they prefer to just become super hard.
2 What Happens When You Dehydrate Candy?
Now, you may want to know what type of transformations your candy may undergo, right? Well! Dehydrating a piece of candy involves the removal of its water content which leads to its flavor, texture, and overall shape and appearance being transformed. Let us examine how this is achieved!
i) Texture Changes: Consider a gummy bear that is chewy in its essence. If we were to dehydrate it, the gummy bear would become crunchy and brittle. This phenomenon occurs because the moisture that previously allowed the candy to be softened is lost, therefore a firmer structure is maintained.
ii) Flavor Enhancements: Have you ever observed certain dried foods being sweeter in taste? If so, then keep in mind that dehydrating a piece of candy has also been observed to enhance its taste. The reason is that the absence of water allows sugar and flavour compounds to become more prominent which in turn makes the candy richer in taste. However, you have to be careful as this means that the total sugar concentration will increase per bite.
iii) Appearance Alterations: Additionally, the base structure of candy is likely to change when dehydrated. For instance, the gummy bears being sugar-infused soft gelatin sweets are likely to change in size and transform into a frosted shape.
3 Freeze-Dried vs Dehydrated Candy: Key Differences
Have you ever thought about why some candies are chewy while others are light and crispy? The answer lies in knowing their methods of preservation which are dehydration and freeze-drying. So, in this section, we will help you understand the differences in texture, flavor, and how long you can keep them.
i) The Making Process:
Dehydrating candy process: In this process, you apply heat to the candy which causes water evaporation. You know an average candy after dehydration would have about 40% moisture left.
Freeze Drying: Freeze-drying, also known as lyophilization, takes approximately 98-99% of moisture off the candy. It involves firstly freezing the candy and then reducing the surrounding pressure resulting in sublimation, which transforms water from solid to gas.
ii) Texture Changes:
Dehydrated Candy: Moreover, once the candy goes through the heating with the removal of water, the final product has a much denser, chewier texture. For instance, dehydrated fruit snacks tend to be leathery as well.
Freeze-Dried Candy: On the other hand, the freeze-drying process as discussed earlier removes almost 98-99% of water ( responsible for weight and softness ), thus making it light and crispy. Like with the case of marshmallows, freeze-dried candies become crunchy and dissolve in the mouth.
iii) Flavor:
Dehydrated Candy: In the process of dehydration, sugars when subjected to greater amounts of heat, undergo a chemical reaction known as caramelization which breaks down sugar to form new compounds. This resulting compound gives the candy a roasted flavor that is deeper and also causes the color to darken as well. For instance, about 160°C, or 320°F, will cause sucrose to caramelize and develop a nutty flavor along with a brown color.
Freeze-Dried Candy: On the other hand, there is no heat involved in the process of freeze-drying, so the flavor is better preserved since there is no breakdown of sugars and also volatile flavor compounds are lost. Moreover, the absence of water leads to concentrating on the already existing flavor context making the taste even more intense.
iv) Shelf Life and Storage:
Dehydrated Candy: While dehydration eliminates the bulk of water from candy, it often retains around 30-50% of moisture. This leftover water can support microbial activity. Thus, if candy is kept in the pantry, it has a shelf life of around 6 to 12 months. However, the use of airtight containers alongside oxygen absorbers can greatly improve this time period. Under ideal conditions, some dehydrated foods can last up to 10 to 15 years.
Freeze-Dried Candy: On the other hand, most of the moisture, 98-99% can be removed by sublimation during the freeze-drying process. This greatly prevents microbial activity and the working of enzymes, thus the shelf life is greatly increased. Moreover, if stored properly ( use of airtight containers ), freeze-dried foods can last for years without any further care and even up to 25 years in some cases.
v) Use Cases:
Dehydrated candy: It has an incredibly unique texture, making it an ideal choice for garnishing desserts or as a mix-in, for example: adding dehydrated gummy bears in cupcakes for an extra bite.
Freeze-dried candies: On the other hand, provide an extended shelf life alongside being lightweight which makes even freeze-dried fruit candies perfect for long-lasting snacks to take on the go.
4 What Does Dehydrated Candy Look Like?
Now, let us look into how candies are affected when moisture is taken away from them:
Comparison of visual transformations of different types of candies
| Visual Transformations of candies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Before dehydration | After dehydration | |
| Gummy Bears | Soft, chewy, vibrant colors | Smaller, firm, intensified colors |
| Marshmallows | Soft, fluffy, white or pastel hues | Crisp, light, slightly shrunken |
| Hard Candies | Glossy, hard, translucent | Matte, slightly sticky, opaque |
| Licorice | Flexible, chewy, glossy | Hard, brittle, loss of sheen |
| Taffy | Soft, stretchy, smooth surface | Hard, brittle, possible cracking |
| Jelly Beans | Firm, chewy, shiny coating | Harder, chewier, dull coating |
5 DIY Guide: How to Dehydrate Candy at Home
Furthermore, you will be very pleased to know that you can dehydrate your favorite candies at home and enjoy their crispy texture and sweet flavor. Trust me this would be a sweet adventure that I wish to take along with you!
Step 1: Select Your Candy
First of all, pick candies that can be dehydrated such as marshmallows and gummy bears which have very low moisture levels. But be careful and do not pick any chocolate or high-fat candy. Those will only leave a mess behind.
Step 2: Prepare Your Equipment
Next, you know your oven ( home freeze dryer ) or food dehydrator will both work. I recommend using a dehydrator since it gives you better control of the meal’s airflow and temperature. If you are using an oven, it is very crucial that it can achieve low temperatures.
Step 3: Arrange the Candies
Now, evenly spread out your chosen candies in a single layer on top of the parchment paper or on the dehydrator trays. Make sure the candy pieces are not touching each other so air can circulate freely.
Step 4: Set the Temperature and Time
For candy in general, use a dehydrator or an oven and dial the temperature to a low setting within the range of 125°F to 135°F (52°C to 57°C). The temperature provides enough heat to get rid of moisture while not melting the candy. Depending on the type and amount of candy, the dehydration process can take anywhere from 6 – 24 hours. For example, gummies take about 6-8 hours, whereas large pieces take longer. Take note: It is important to check on them!
Step 5: Monitor the Process
At this stage, it’s best to keep an eye on the candy and check on it from time to time. Gummies will begin to shrink and have a semi-chewable/semi-brittle texture with a marshmallow topping. Also, since the heat is used to remove water, the candy changes its structure making it light and crisp.
Step 6: Cool and Store
Once you get the desired textures, remove them from the heat source. Let them cool down to room temperature, preferably for a long period of time to firm up. Room temperature is best as well. After cooling, store the dehydrated candies in a container that is airtight to prevent them from absorbing moisture and becoming sticky/ chewy.
Moreover, a Quora user named Debonaire, who has worked for Food Services sales, has shared her experience of using a dehydrator to dehydrate foods in her kitchen.
Tips for Success:
- Choose low-moisture content candies that can effectively dehydrate.
- Avoid using high-fat candies like chocolates as they may not get dehydrated, so it would be a waste of time.
- Lastly, Begin with minimal quantities to observe the impact of dehydration on various types of candies.
6 How Your Company Can Help (Subtle B2B Focus)
We at MPS ensure that our clients enjoy bringing fun candy experiences to their consumers. The expertise that we have in freeze-dried candy production enables us to use modern moisture-removal processes to create light crispy treats with intensified flavors.
If you are looking for custom dehydrated candies, we will work with you to formulate other formulations that fit your exact requirements. The dehydration technique we employ guarantees the candy’s rich taste while also providing the sensation of soft chewing.
For retailers and distributors like you, we offer bulk order production as well as private labeling, which will help you diversify your brand with little effort. By collaborating with us directly, you are ensured factory-direct prices as well as straightforward exporting which guarantees an easy and inexpensive supply chain.
Let’s partner and work on developing astounding candy products that will impress your customers and enhance your company’s value and reputation.
7 Conclusion
To wrap everything up, there are many ways for candy to be altered and the texture and taste certainly be changed using the process of dehydrating. However, the results will differ depending on the type of candy, as well as the methods used to dehydrate them.
From an inquisitive candy enthusiast interested in trying things out in the kitchen to a business looking for high-end products, there is a world of possibilities which is offered by dehydrated and freeze-dried candies.
For those who aim to captivate their consumers with extraordinary sweets, we encourage you to try making some at home or contact us for custom solutions and wholesale opportunities.MPS Candy is a Chinese candy supplier that can provide you with a variety of candy wholesale, candy OEM services, and factory direct wholesale prices.
