Guide to Freeze Drying Eggs

Having backyard chickens is all the rage right now.  It is wonderful to see families exploring the joys of raising chickens and collecting eggs for their family.

But perhaps you've run into the problem of having too many eggs throughout the year.  So many in fact your are exploring ways to preserve eggs with little to now effort.

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We've had this same issue.  We have a LOT of chickens which makes for a lot of eggs.  Yes, we eat the eggs.  We also hatch the eggs for chicks and even sell hatching eggs.  But we still have times during the year we have an excess of eggs and need a way to preserve them.

One method we've used is to freeze our eggs in our home freezer.  This method works great but takes up freezer space and our kids don't enjoy the texture of raw, frozen eggs for eating.  Which means I can only bake with frozen eggs.

So what do we do with the rest?  We have learned how to freeze dry eggs for long term storage.  This is our favorite method.  We can preserve hundreds of eggs at a time AND have a great store of eggs in our pantry to use at times during the year when our hens are not laying their best.

Today, we'll teach you how to freeze dry eggs for long term storage and fill your pantry with this powerful protein.

Why Freeze Drying Eggs is a Great Method of Preservation

When we talk about ways to preserve eggs, freeze drying eggs takes the process to a whole new level.  There seems to be less preparation and you are ensuring that the nutritional value and flavor of the eggs last longer. 

Freeze drying removes all the moisture from the eggs which means eggs don't have to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.  They are shelf stable, like eggs that can be water glassed, however, they are dry and won't spoil over time if stored properly. Freeze dried eggs can last up to 25 years, providing you with a sustainable and reliable source of eggs for years to come.

Add freeze dried eggs take up far less space.  The eggs can be powdered down and stored in jars or Mylar bags on a shelf, in a box or container.  They are ready to use at a moments noticed without needing to be thawed or washed.

When rehydrated, freeze dried eggs taste just like fresh eggs and can be eaten like a fresh egg.  Or used in baking and cooking.  

Learn all about freeze drying and how it can benefit your family.

Can I Freeze Dry Cooked Eggs?

Yes!  Eggs can be freeze dried raw or cooked.  The best method to freeze drying cooked eggs is to scramble the eggs before adding them to the freeze dryer.  

Just crack the eggs in a bowl, add seasonings, milk, or other "toppings" you might enjoy with your eggs.  Allow the eggs to cool for a few hours in the fridge or even freeze overnight on the freeze dryer trays.  Then place trays in freeze dryer.

Personally, we don't freeze dry cooked eggs.  Our eggs are all raw and powdered.  That way we can reconstitute them and use them however we need in the future.  Including as scrambled eggs.

What supplies do I need to freeze dry eggs?

Freeze Dryer Machine:  We use the large Harvest Right Freeze Dryer.  We decided to go with the large because it can hold more, which means filling less often versus running the machine more often.  But they come in small, medium and large.  And they released an Ex-Large version in 2023.

Vacuum Sealer: A vacuum sealer is a good investment if you plan to store your freeze dried goods in jars.  This eliminates the cost and need for oxygen absorbers.

Mylar Bags:  A Mylar bag is a great choice for storing freeze dried foods.  They come in many sizes and keep light from getting to foods.  They can be stored in tubs or 5 gallon buckets for easy access.  Make sure to purchase thick bags to avoid foods puncturing through and ruining your food supply.

Impulse Sealer: An Impulse Sealer is used to seal Mylar bags.  Heat is applied to the bag layers to seal them together and avoid moisture, air and light from penetrating the bags.

Oxygen Absorbers: Whether you plan to use Mylar bags or canning jars, you'll want to invest in oxygen absorbers.  These will be added to each Mylar bag and short term shortage jars.  This ensures that any oxygen in the packaging is absorbed and keeps the food from spoiling.  

You can purchase these in many places including from Harvest Right and even on Amazon.  We've had success with both, but you may need to try a few brands until you find one that works best for you.

Preparing Eggs for Freeze Drying

Preparing eggs for freeze drying is as easy as making scrambled eggs.  You will need fresh eggs, a mixing bowl, a whisk or fork, a water pitcher and your freeze dryer trays.  It's important to use fresh eggs for freeze drying as they will provide the best results.

Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk or beat them until they are well blended. This step ensures that the egg yolks and whites are fully combined ensuring a uniform texture during the freeze drying process. You can also add a pinch of salt or other seasonings if desired to enhance the flavor.  Place the egg mixture into a water pitcher.  

The next step is to freeze your eggs.  You have two options.  You can freeze the eggs in a tradition freezer or you can use the freezer dryer to freeze the eggs.  With either option, we suggest putting the freeze dryer trays into the freezer.  We have found if we don't have the trays in the freezer first, we spill a lot of egg mixture.

Once the trays are in place, pour the egg mixture into the tray.  We have found between 18-20 eggs fit nicely on one large Harvest Right tray.  Allow the eggs to freeze for several hours or overnight.

The Freeze Drying Process: Step-by-Step

First, turn on the freezer dryer and use the factory settings and start the machine.  Once you have your freeze dryer ready, it's time to load the cooked eggs onto the trays. Place the freeze dryer trays into the machine.

Next, close the door of the freeze dryer and turn it on. The machine will start the freeze drying process by lowering the temperature inside. This rapid cooling freezes the eggs, turning the water content into ice.

After the eggs are frozen, the freeze dryer begins the sublimation process. Sublimation is the conversion of the ice directly into vapor, bypassing the liquid phase. During this phase, the freeze dryer applies low levels of heat, causing the ice to vaporize and escape the eggs, leaving behind freeze-dried egg solids.

The freeze drying process will take several hours.  Some time can be saved by pre-freezing the eggs.  But we have found that liquids usually take a bit longer than solid foods.  Because they are primarily made of water.

Once the freeze drying process is complete, the freeze dryer will notify you. At this point, you can remove the trays from the machine and carefully examine the freeze-dried eggs. They should be crisp, lightweight, and have a porous texture.  They should not have any cold or wet spots.  If they do, add a couple more hours of drying time to ensure they are completely dry.

Storing Freeze Dried Eggs for Long-Term Use

It is essential to store your freeze dried eggs in airtight containers. This will prevent moisture, air, and light from compromising their quality. Opt for containers made of glass, metal, or food-grade plastic, as they provide the best protection against oxygen and moisture. Make sure the containers are clean and dry before transferring the freeze dried eggs into them.

We prefer to store our eggs in Mylar bags.  This frees up extra room in our storage close for other freeze dried and canned products.  But many people like the easy of storing in a mason jar, plus they look really nice on the shelf.

Make sure to label all your containers with the contents and date.  With eggs, you want to make sure to label whether they are raw or cooked eggs.  This will help you keep track of the freshness of your eggs and ensure that you use the oldest ones first. 

As a reminder, any item that is raw when put in the freeze dryer, will be raw when freeze dried and when reconstituted.  

Make sure your storage location is a cool, dry, and dark area. Heat, humidity, and exposure to light can accelerate the degradation of freeze dried eggs. Avoid storing them near sources of heat, such as ovens and stoves, as well as areas prone to dampness, like basements and bathrooms. Instead, a pantry or a cupboard away from direct sunlight would be an ideal spot for storing your freeze dried eggs.

Regularly inspect your freeze dried eggs during storage to ensure their quality and longevity. Check for any signs of moisture or clumping, as this could indicate improper sealing or storage conditions. If you notice any issues, transfer the eggs to new airtight containers and address the cause of the problem.

How to reconstitute freeze dried eggs 

To reconstitute freeze dried eggs, you'll use a 1 to 1 ratio.  Meaning 1 Tbsp of eggs powder to 1 Tbsp of water.  To make 1 egg, you'll need 2 Tbsp egg to 2 Tbsp water.

This is the same with cooked eggs.  We usually error on the side of less water.  You can always add more water later but you can't necessarily take the water out.

That's it.  That is how to freeze dry eggs.  Freeze drying eggs is a simple process and allows for you to store eggs for years and years without worry of spoilage.  It is a great way to preserve eggs from all those chickens you might have on the homestead.  Plus, freeze dried eggs can be taken on vacations, camping trips and placed in emergency kits.  Allow for a safe, healthy protein to keep your family nourished all the time.

VIDEO:  How to Freeze Dry Eggs

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