Are Starbursts meant to be savored, or devoured in just a few quick bites? If you’re like me, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as those first few chews of a fresh Starburst, unleashing bursts of fruity flavor on your taste buds. But all too soon, the intense flavor is gone, leaving behind just a less exciting wad of sweetness.
That got me wondering – what if there was a way to prolong that initial flavor hit and truly savor each Starburst? I started brainstorming different methods that might allow the flavor to linger longer with each bite. Then it hit me – what about freeze drying these colorful candies? As someone with a passion for creative cooking experiments, I was eager to try applying this preservation technique better known for foods like fruits and meats to my favorite candy.
Freeze drying involves flash freezing foods to remove much of their water content through sublimation, leaving a lighter, crisp texture behind while preserving important elements like flavor, color and nutrients. The idea of turning standard soft Starbursts into something crunchier that could slowly blossom flavor with each enjoyable chew was too enticing not to experiment with. So one weekend, I gathered up a rainbow pack of Starbursts and got to work in my kitchen lab. What resulted from this novel process was a surprising success – and a whole new way for me to enjoy the candy I’ve loved for years.
The Appeal of Starbursts
As I’m sure all Starburst fans can relate to, one of the best parts about these fruity chewy candies is how intensely flavorful they are. With each initial bite, your mouth is flooded with delicious tastes of strawberry, orange, lemon or grape. The thin fruit-flavored shells do an excellent job of delivering bold pop of flavor in an explosion on your taste buds.
However, the downside is that this flavor hit is often fleeting. Within just a few chews, the tangy sensation dissipates and all you’re left with is a mushy glob of sugar. Trying to savor each Starburst is a challenge, as the flavors seems designed more for that initial impact rather than longevity. Don’t get me wrong – I still love sinking my teeth into a Starburst for that first taste. But I often find myself wanting more of that vibrant fruit essence with each subsequent chew as I enjoyed the candy.
This got me thinking that it would be nice if there was a way to maintain and intensify those flavors over a longer period of time while still consuming the Starburst. That’s what led me to consider freeze drying as a potential solution. By eliminating much of the moisture but keeping the fruit remnants intact, I wondered if the result would be a version of Starburst better suited for truly savoring each deliberate chew. It was time to put this theory to the test in my home kitchen lab.
The freeze-drying process
To start my Starburst freeze drying experiment, I needed to prepare the candies for sublimation. On a cold night, I lined a baking sheet with over a dozen Starbursts, spreading them out in a single layer. This then went straight into the freezer to flash freeze the candies overnight.
The next morning, I carefully peeled each candy off the pan, noticing how brittle the wrappers had become in the sub-zero temperatures. It was time to transfer them to my trusty food dehydrator. After removing the trays and screens, I laid out the frozen Starbursts evenly across the mesh shelves.
The dehydrator was set to its lowest temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Over the next 8 to 10 hours, it went to work slowly drawing the frozen moisture from the candies. Periodically I’d check their progress, noticing a remarkable transformation taking place. The Starbursts began shrinking dramatically in size as they lost water weight. Their vibrant colors seemed to intensify against the pale drying surfaces.
By the end of the day, the fruits of my labor were complete. Where I had once arranged plump Starbursts, I now found miniature colorful shards barely larger than grains of rice. Gingerly picking one up, I was struck by how hardened yet unusually lightweight it felt between my fingers. Curiosity growing, I was eager to sample the final results of this unusual culinary experiment.
The results of tasting the freeze-dried Starbursts
It was finally time to see if all my efforts paid off. With great care, I snapped a freeze-dried Starburst in half in my fingers. Peering closely, I was interested to find tiny flecks of color and remnants of the fruit filling still visible within the hollowed candy shell.
Bringing one of the halves up to my mouth, I noticed how breaks in the shell released tiny wafts of concentrated fruity scent. Taking a tentative bite, I was pleasantly surprised by the enjoyable crunch produced from shattering the hardened sucrose structure. Even more surprising was what came next.
Rather than a single powerful burst of flavor as with a normal Starburst, I instead experienced a slow, steady bloom of tangy fruit essence across my taste buds. With each minuscule fragmented piece crunching between my teeth, another wave of strawberry, orange, or grape flavor seemed to ripple out. It was unlike anything I had tasted before from this candy.
Encouraged, I tried a chip from another color, savoring the deliberate pace with which the characteristically vibrant Starburst taste now unfurled. Gone was the initial flash then fizzle effect – instead, it was like each shatter released a new trickle of fruity deliciousness to extend the experience. Before I knew it, I had emptied the whole sheet trying all the hues.
While not quite the same replacement satisfaction as a standard Starburst, I have to say the results were better than I imagined. This gave me a whole new appreciation not just for freeze drying, but also for this favorite candy of mine. It was a process worth experimenting with, that’s for sure.
FAQ’s
Since writing about my freeze-dried Starburst experiment, I’ve received a lot of questions from curious candy fans. Here are some frequently asked questions and my responses:
How long do the freeze-dried Starbursts last?
In my testing so far, the freeze-dried Starbursts have maintained their crunchy texture and concentrated flavor for at least 2-3 weeks when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. I’d imagine properly sealed up, they could potentially last even longer without losing quality.
Can other hard candies be freeze dried too?
Absolutely! I don’t see why the process wouldn’t work for crunchier candies like sour balls, candy corn or pom bears. The denser structure may take a bit longer to dry out fully. Gummy candies could be interesting too – I’d love to try freeze drying gummy worms someday.
Does it change the nutritional content?
Removing much of the water content through freeze drying does reduce the calorie and carbohydrate amounts slightly. However, all the natural sugars remain intact. The process also preserves vitamins and minerals well. So nutritionally, it’s very comparable to eating the standard candy.
How can you rehydrate them if you want?
Simply place a few freeze-dried Starburst shards somewhere moist, like the tip of your tongue, under your top lip, or tucked into a fresh apple slice. Within seconds, they’ll eagerly soak up just enough moisture to become plump and reactivate their intense flavors once more.
Any plans to sell freeze-dried Starbursts?
As much fun as it would be, freeze drying is still a time-intensive hobby rather than large-scale business for me. But who knows – if demand really took off, maybe I could consider a small artisanal batch for other snack experimenters to enjoy! For now, I’ll just focus on perfecting the craft.
How did you get into freeze drying foods?
I’ve always loved exploring new culinary techniques in my kitchen. Freeze drying intrigued me as a way to experiment with foods beyond standard preservation methods. After trying it with fruits, I started dreaming up other applications like freeze-dried candy!
What’s your favorite Starburst flavor?
Hands down strawberry – there’s nothing quite like that bright burst of juicy fruit flavor! Though now that I’ve freeze dried them all, lemon is growing on me with its nice tangy zest. Hard to pick just one!
Can you tell us more about your “kitchen lab”?
It’s basically just a small corner of my kitchen dedicated to culinary experimentation. I’ve collected an assortment of appliances like my dehydrator and some basic equipment for concocting small culinary creations. It lets me have fun exploring food in a low-stakes way.
Any other ideas for unusual candy experiments?
Definitely! I’d love to try blending candy flavors in new ways, like freeze drying candy corn inside gummi bears. Infusing gummy worms with fruit flavors before drying could be fun too. The options are endless if you don’t mind seeing what sticks!
Do you have any recipes using freeze-dried Starbursts?
Hmm now you’ve given me an idea! Perhaps crumbled freeze-dried Starbursts would make a fun decorative sugar on pastries or cookies. Maybe they could be blended into homemade frosting too for a blast of fruit flavor in sweet treats. You’ll have to stay tuned as I experiment!
Conclusion
After such a successful experiment, I’ve got to say trying freeze-dried Starbursts has me wanting to continue perfecting my technique. While the initial results were certainly tasty and delivered on prolonging that burst of flavor, I think there’s still room to take this process even further.
On my next try, I may experiment with leaving the Starbursts in the dehydrator a bit longer. Would an even more intensified candy chip develop? Or could adjusting the temperature help retain more of the original texture? So many variables to tweak in pursuit of distilling the candy down to its purest flavor essence.
Whether you regularly dabble in culinary experiments or just love an out-of-the-box snack, I’d recommend giving freeze-dried Starbursts a whirl if you get the chance. It delivered a surprise result that was much more enjoyable than I ever imagined when the idea first popped into my head. You never know how familiar ingredients might shine in new applications.
Who knows, with some refinements this process could end up being a totally new way to experience not just Starbursts but other favorite candies as well. We’ll have to stay tuned for future flavor journeys in my personal test kitchen. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts if you take on this project yourself. I’d love to hear how it turns out for others as much as I enjoyed the process myself.
