What to Freeze-Dry Now to Save for Winter (or Eat Today)

Peak season is a two-for-one opportunity: freeze-dry the abundance to brighten up winter meals later, and freeze-dry a batch of favorites to snack on immediately. Here's what falls into each category.

Freeze-Dry Now, Enjoy This Winter

• Heirloom tomatoes — sweeter and more flavorful than hothouse varieties, and a great base for winter chili and soups.
• Asian pears — sliced or halved, versatile enough for a blue cheese pairing or baked with cranberries, walnuts, and arugula.
• Sour cherries and berries — save these for holiday pies; freeze-dried sour cherries beat the jarred version by a wide margin.
• Peaches and apricots — intended for cobbler, though they're good enough eaten on their own that they may not make it that far.
• Bell peppers and jalapeños — for winter chili.
• Corn off the cob — for corn chowder.
• Eggplant — for eggplant Parmesan or a noodle-free lasagna.
• Peas — tossed with pasta, pepper, Parmesan, and prosciutto.
• Spinach and kale — for a winter ribollita.

Freeze-Dry Now, Snack Today

• Shishito peppers — blistered and worked into a French onion dip.
• Okra — a favorite replacement for potato chips.
• Green beans — freeze-dried plain, they double as a dog treat.

Make It a Habit

Give yourself half an hour this week to think through what's worth saving for winter, keep an eye out for deals or garden surplus while it's cheap or free, and get back to enjoying the season. If you want a fuller list of what freeze-dries well beyond what's listed here, foods you can freeze dry covers it, and our summer recipes built around freeze-dried produce is a good next stop for turning some of this into dinner tonight rather than saving all of it. For the bigger-picture approach to a whole harvest, see preserving your garden harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What produce is best to freeze-dry for winter meals?
Heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, eggplant, peas, and hearty greens like spinach and kale all freeze-dry well and hold up in winter soups, chilis, and pasta dishes.

What fruit should I freeze-dry for holiday pies?
Sour cherries and berries freeze-dry especially well for pie filling — noticeably better than jarred alternatives, according to owners who've tried both.

Can I freeze-dry vegetables to eat right away instead of saving them?
Yes — shishito peppers, okra, and green beans are all good candidates for freeze-drying and eating immediately rather than storing for later.

Can freeze-dried green beans be used as dog treats?
Yes — plain freeze-dried green beans are a simple, single-ingredient treat option for dogs.