Have you ever eaten an Airhead candy and wondered what would happen if you put it in the freezer? Well, that was me last week as I popped a cherry Airhead into my mouth and started daydreaming. Airheads are some of my favorite childhood treats – colorful little ropes of tangy fruit flavors suspended in sugary softness. But as I rolled the candy around my tongue, I began picturing what it might look like frozen solid.
That got me thinking – could you actually freeze dry an Airhead? Freeze drying is a food preservation process I’ve used before on all sorts of snacks, from berries to leftover chicken. It works by rapidly freezing the item and then slowly evaporating the frozen water directly from ice to water vapor in a vacuum chamber. This extract moisture without leaving liquid water behind that could damage the texture over time.
But would Airheads, which are essentially just sugar and flavorings, have enough water content to even be affected? Their texture is so soft and melt-y already. I started searching online to see if anyone had tried it before, but came up mostly empty-handed. Most candy freeze drying tutorials focused on harder candies like gummies or Jolly Ranchers instead. My curiosity was piqued – there was only one way to find out for sure. It was time for an Airhead experiment!
Researching the Question
After finishing off that first Airhead, I got home from work and pulled out my laptop to do some digging. I searched phrases like “freeze drying Airheads” and “dehydrating fruit snacks” hoping to find someone who had already done the legwork. Unfortunately, results were scarce – lots of unrelated threads about childhood snacks but nothing specifically on this project.
A few tutorials for freeze drying other candies came up, as I had expected. Recipes abounded for hard candies like Jolly Ranchers that would hold their shapes well through the process. Even some information on gummy candies, which maintain more structure than Airheads thanks to gelatin. But everywhere I searched, no one seemed to have tried it with the squishier fruit chews.
Not wanting to be defeated, I dug a little deeper. Academic papers discussed moisture content thresholds for effective freeze drying between 15-30%. But finding analysis on commercial candies proved elusive. As a last resort, I messaged some food science experts online. One speculated that due to their amorphous sugar structure, Airheads were likely below that lower limit. Still, without direct data, doubts remained in my mind.
By the end of the evening, I was no closer to a clear yes or no. The internet had left me hanging! If I really wanted resolution, it seemed I had no choice but to conduct my own experiment. A small financial investment in Airheads seemed worthwhile to sate my scientific curiosity once and for all. It was time to put on my lab coat and get testing.
The Experiment
Armed with a bag of mixed Airhead flavors, I got my experiment set up. The first step was freezing overnight on a plate, to get a control batch nice and solid. I carefully unwrapped strawberry, cherry, blue raspberry and rainbow strips, being sure not to squish them. Then into the freezer they went.
In the morning, I prepped my freeze dryer for operation. It’s a basic countertop model that serves my small personal projects just fine. I lined the drying tray with parchment for easy removal later. Then I gently placed each frozen Airhead piece on in a single layer, taking care not to crack the frozen shells.
With the tray loaded up, I sealed the drying chamber and selected the sublimation cycle. According to the manual, this would flash freeze, then slowly pull moisture from the samples over 8-12 hours under vacuum pressure. A long process, but worth it to do this right. I crossed my fingers and hit start. Periodically I checked the progress – slowly the Airheads were transforming before my eyes.
By the end of the cycle, I was amazed at the results. Other than bright colors dulled slightly, the Airheads largely retained their shapes. Where there were once soft chewy ropes, now crisp dried strands sat frozen in time. I was eager to sample one, to see if my experiment had paid off!
The Results:
Carefully, I lifted a dried Airhead off the tray, fascinated by its new texture. It was remarkably pliant yet crunchy all at once. Like a crisp cookie shell encasing something chewy within. My mouth watered anticipating the taste. I tentatively took a small bite.
The flavor hit immediately, just as vibrant as before drying. But now an added layer of enjoyable crackling and breaking joined the experience. Slowly the candy dissolved and rehydrated on my tongue. Meanwhile, the sugary coating dissolved in a burst of bright cherry flavor. I grinned – by George, I think it worked!
Elated by my success, I began rigorously testing the rest. Each one showed similar results across the flavors. While their original textures were now dried out and brittle, the insides maintained a hint of their former melt-in-your-mouth nature. And best of all, after a few moments the flavors fully bloomed once more with no loss of intensity.
By carefully monitoring the process, I found it is possible to freeze dry Airheads and preserve much of what makes them such a nostalgic treat. Their bright hues and tangy essence can endure the vacuum sublimation intact, emerging with a bonus echo of crunch. All that’s left is refining my method further to develop the perfect Airheads in an all new form!
Future Experiments
Now that I’ve proven freeze drying Airheads can work with promising results, my scientific curiosity is really sparked. There are still variables I want to play around with to dial in the ideal outcome. My next step will be comparing freezing times before drying to see if faster or slower yields better textures.
I also plan to experiment with drying times, maybe doing shorter sessions with breaks in between. This could draw out moisture removal at a gentler pace. Preserving maximum softness within the hard candy-like shells is a priority. I may even try vacuuming seal packaging post drying to maintain freshness longer.
Once I’ve optimized the process, my imagination runs wild with possibilities for this rediscovered novelty candy. What if different flavor combinations were swirled together in a single strand? Or some had crunchy coatings mixed in for extra fun. I’m picturing piles of the freeze dried Airheads attractively displayed in vintage apothecary jars at the register too.
Who knows, if these trial batches are widely enjoyed perhaps I’ll share my method more broadly. In the meantime, consider yourselves an exclusive taste testing group! Stay tuned for updates on how my latest experiments progress. I’ll be sure to post comparison shots too – don’t want to leave any part of this Airhead adventure undocumented. Wishing you all a very happy snacking future!
FAQ’s
What type of freeze drier did you use for the experiments?
I have a countertop-sized Advent Pro freeze dryer that works well for small personal projects. Anything larger and you’d probably want a commercial unit. The most important things are that it can achieve vacuum pressure and sharp freezing temps.
How long did it take to freeze dry the Airheads samples?
In my initial tests, I found about 8 hours in the sublimation cycle produced the best results texture-wise. Some samples on the edges dried faster. In future experiments I plan to try shorter or longer times to compare outcomes.
Will freeze dried Airheads still get your hands all sticky?
Great question! Part of the appeal of freeze drying is it removes moisture but leaves the texture intact. Since the Airheads dried out completely, they were no longer tacky or prone to sticking. My fingers stayed clean after handling and eating them.
Can other types of fruit snacks/gummies be freeze dried too?
Definitely! Freeze drying is used for all sorts of fruits, veggies and treats. Gummies may require tweaks since gelatin affects the process. Fruit roll-ups or other fruit leathers/chews would likely dry well similar to Airheads. I plan to experiment with different types too.
How long will freeze dried Airheads stay good for?
Properly stored with desiccant packs in an air-tight container, freeze dried foods can maintain quality for 6-12 months or more. I haven’t tested shelf life specifically yet with Airheads but expect they’d last at least that long before showing signs of degradation.
Can you ship me some freeze dried Airheads to try?
I’m afraid distributing any foods commercially would require proper licensing and facilities. For now these experiments are just for my personal use. But stay tuned – if enthusiasm continues and my methods are refined, perhaps a small artisan candy business could happen!
What about other textures – could you puff them like rice crisps?
Oooh what a neat idea! I haven’t tried that specifically but am always open to new ways to play with textures. Factors like drying temperature may need adjusting to get an expanded puffed effect. Maybe a lower heat and longer time frame could work some magic. Definitely going on my list to experiment with!
How do the freeze dried Airheads compare nutrition-wise to the originals?
Good point – they’re both essentially empty calories either way! But the process does reduce the original moisture content some. Exact nutrient analysis would require lab testing which is beyond my setup. In general though freeze drying aims to preserve natural vitamins, minerals etc versus other preservation methods.
Conclusion
Well folks, what started as an idle candy-fueled daydream has blossomed into a full-blown experiment! I hope you’ve enjoyed following along with my journey to freeze-dry Airheads. It’s been so much fun nerding out over the science, executing each step carefully, and tasting the results. I’ve learned that with a steady vacuum and flash freezing, these nostalgic sweets can endure the process while keeping their touch of magic.
While more testing lies ahead, I feel confident saying freeze drying Airheads is absolutely possible on a small scale. They may come out crispy where once soft, but the flavor revelry is as lively as ever. With some adjustments, there’s real potential here for creating a whole new nostalgic novelty. Maybe one day soon these resurrected retro candies will be gracingyour tastebuds too – stay tuned!
As for me, I think it’s high time I rewarded myself for a job well done in the lab. Maybe a fresh batch of sour cherry Airheads is calling my name… After that, it’s back to experimenting and refining. Thank you all for coming along on this sugary adventure – your interest and feedback keeps fueling my candy catalyzed curiosity. Here’s hoping science, snacks and sweet memories continue colliding in interesting ways!
