HOW IS ASTRONAUT ICE CREAM FREEZE-DRIED?
Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, removes water from the ice cream by lowering the air pressure to a point where ice shifts from a solid to a gas. The ice cream is placed in a vacuum chamber and frozen until the water crystallizes. The air pressure is lowered, creating a vacuum, forcing air out of the chamber; next heat is applied, vaporizing the ice; finally a freezing coil traps the vaporized water. This process continues for hours, resulting in a perfect freeze-dried ice cream slice. Ingredients: Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream slice contains: Milk fat, nonfat milk, corn syrup, strawberry puree (strawberries, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, water, modified potato starch, fd&c red No. 40), whey, cocoa (processed with alkali), stabilized and emulsified by mono and diglycerides, guar gum, cellulose gum and carageenan, artificial flavor, red No. 40, and vegetable annatto color. Makes a great gift or a school snack.
