For the past 3 months, my freeze dryer has been running nonstop. Did you see my Ultimate List of Things You Can Freeze Dry?? The minute one batch is done, the next is ready to go in. I’ve tried lots and lots of different items in my freeze dryer and am frequently asked about my favorites. Without fail, I will always mention freeze dried Skittles. They’re amazing! The first time I made them, I spent a lot of time researching forums and websites, trying to figure out exactly how to do it. Luckily, I ran across a super cool tip, that will get these tasty treats into your mouth at least 15 hours sooner than the common instructions. And yes, of course I will share it with you to: how to freeze dry Skittles in 6 hours!
{choir of angels singing}
How to Freeze Dry Skittles in 6 Hours
I’m not exxagerating when I say that my family has been munching on these things on a regular basis, for the past several months. I definitely need to reign it in. It helps that the Skittles turn out super cute and are fun to package up to share with friends and neighbors. We like to give them away in a glass mason jar with a ribbon around it, in a cellophane bag, or in a mylar bag with a see-through window. Any way you package it will be well received, I promise!
DIY Freeze Dried Skittles ~ What You Need
- Freeze Dryer – I suppose it goes without saying that you will need a freeze dryer to create this heavenly goodness. I highly recommend the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer, preferably with the oil-free pump. The oil free pump is quieter, but more importantly eliminates the need to buy and change the oil in the unit. The oil-free pump is more expensive and isn’t necessary, but a definite plus.
- Skittles – I can fit 5 trays in my freeze dryer and I’m a firm believer that the more Skittles, the better. So, I typically fill up all 5 trays with Skittles. At Walmart, I will buy 2 or 3 50 oz. bulk size bags of Skittles, either flavor is great. I can fill 2 trays with one bulk size bag of Skittles.
Step-by-Step Instructions ~ How to Make Freeze Dried Skittles
Keep in mind, this is the INSIDER-SECRET way to making freeze dried Skittles. There really is no need to wait 20 plus hours for these to be done, when it can take a mere 5 to 6 hours!
STEP ONE: Freeze Dry Something Else, First.
Okay wait, what?! Yes. Complete an entire cycle of anything else your freeze drying heart desires. For example, do a batch of shredded cheese or… diced ham (both, super great to have in food storage.)
STEP TWO: Open the Drain Valve, Take It Out, and Add “More Dry Time.”
When the cycle is complete, as mentioned above… open the drain valve, and (if you’re food is done) remove the trays of food from the freezer. Click “add more dry time.”
STEP THREE: Add Trays of Skittles to the Freeze Dryer.
Skittles DO NOT need to go through an entire freeze drying cycle, hence adding them at the end, for drying only. That is where you save yourself hours and hours of time. You get an entire batch of food-food AND a bonus batch of Skittles at the end of it!
Do the Skittles need to be space apart on the tray?
Some people will tell you that you need to keep your Skittles spaced apart on the trays, because they pop open (enlarge.) Don’t worry about that. Remember… the more Skittles in your life, the better. I fill up my trays until there really isn’t any space left. And yes, some of the Skittles are overlapping each other. I just make sure the height of the Skittles overlapping aren’t higher than the rim of the trays. If you’re using a Harvest Right freeze dryer, like me, one 50 oz bag of Skittles will fill up at least a tray and a half, or two complete trays.
With the Skittles being close together, some of them will get stuck together, but they’re SO easy to break apart quickly in your hand, when the process is complete.
STEP FOUR: Add 6 Hours of Dry Time, Seal the Door, Close the Drain, Let Run.
After your trays of Skittles are in the freeze dryer, simply add 6 hour off additional dry time, put the soft seal back over the door opening, shut the door, close the drain, and let the machine work it’s magic! In the meantime, you can package up your food-food that you just removed from the freeze dryer. If you play your cards right, you’ll have a freeze dried meal AND dessert all from one complete cycle, thanks to the extra dry time option.
STEP FIVE: Taste the Rainbow! Package What’s Left.
Let’s say your 6 hours ends in the middle of the night. Do you really have to set your alarm and wake up to remove it?? No. You’re fine. The freeze dryer will keep it for you, until you wake in the morning. I have noticed that the Skittles expand a little more when I do that, but not by much. It’s worth not waking up in the night.
The only thing that matters a little bit, when you take several hours to remove them from the dryer is they will become slightly sticky. If that’s the case, just let them sit on the counter for a couple hours and the stickiness will go away. After that, you can package them up.
If you take the Skittles out on time, they usually aren’t sticky. But if they are, as mentioned above, just let them sit on the counter for a little bit, and the stickiness won’t last long.
How Do You Package Freeze Dried Skittles?
When I package the Skittles, I typically fill up mason jars with them or mylar bags. If I plan on giving a jar to a neighbor in the next few days or taking a bag of Skittles with us on an upcoming road trip, I won’t bother adding an oxygen absorber when packaging. But, if I’m going to put the Skittles in storage or don’t think I’ll open the package for a while, I will add an oxygen absorber to them, just to keep them nice and crunchy. Oh yeah, that’s right… if you haven’t tried them yet, they’re crunchy. You’ll love it!
If You Liked This Freeze Dried Skittles Recipe, Check Out:
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