Astronaut Space Food: Freeze Dried Ice Cream: Thrive Product Highlight

Photo Credit: San Diego Shooter's

Many people hear "freeze dried ice cream" and automatically think "astronaut space food."  Yes, astronauts eat freeze dried foods: including ice cream.  Freeze dried ice cream = astronaut ice cream.

But a big misconception about "astronaut space food" is that it is sub-par or not so tasty.  This isn't true: it is simply different.  Tasty in a different way.




When Shelf Reliance announced back in Feb 2011 that they would be carrying freeze dried ice cream, I had so many questions:

• What does it taste like?
• Do you have to hydrate it and then freeze it?
• If so, how do you hydrate it?
• How could you eat it if you didn't have a freezer?
• Is it cold?

I had no clue what to expect.  So, I ordered some right away to try.  It was totally different than I'd imagined.

If you try to hydrate freeze dried ice cream, it simply turns into a big mess of melted ice cream.  Why?  Because you can't hydrate it with frozen water, just liquid water.

If you try to freeze it after hydrating it, it taste just like ice cream that melted and was put back in the freezer.

So, how to eat it?  I asked the same thing!

It is just like a cookie: a very dry cookie.  Not a chewy cookie.  Think the chocolate part of an oreo type cookie for texture (but even drier).  Tastes just like an ice cream flavored crumbly, brittle cookie.  Dip it in milk!  It is a great treat.

Shelf Reliance offers three types of ice cream:

1. Ice cream Sandwiches
2. Double chocolate ice cream bars
3. Neapolitan Bits

I keep a few cans as quick comfort food if we were to need it.  And, yes, I do believe comfort food would feel like a need if I were dealing with my own emotions and my 4 young kid's emotions following a serious disaster.  I would want to do anything and everything I could to quickly comfort them and make things feel as normal as possible.  This is a comfort food that tastes great, requires no cooking, prep, or cleanup and has shelf life of 25 years.  The neapolitan bits are probably my favorite.  Love them.



I am an independent consultant for Shelf Reliance; a company with a mission to empower others to become self reliant, prosperous and charitable.  You can learn more about Shelf Reliance, becoming a Shelf Reliance consultant ,buying their products, or earning free products, on my Shelf Reliance Consultant website.