March 11th is Johnny Appleseed Day. So, if you like apples, you owe a debt of gratitude to Johnny Appleseed (whose real name was John Chapman) for helping spread apples throughout America.

In earlier times, those that wished to preserve apples for even a slightly, extended amount of time, had to store apples in a cool, dark, dry place for several weeks. Root cellars were dug under houses just for this purpose.

Eventually, people discovered other methods of preservation, such as canning and dehydrating. Unfortunately, these methods use heat which can destroy more than half the food’s nutritional value.

Now, with a Harvest Right freeze dryer, preserving apples is simple. And freeze-dried apples pack all the nutritional punch of fresh apples and can be stored for up to 25 years. 

Here are just a few of our favorite ways to use freeze-dried apples:

• Eat them as a crunchy, healthy snack
• Add freeze-dried fruit to smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, and yogurt
• Use them when baking pies, cobblers, and muffins
• Powdered to add extra flavoring to some of your favorite recipes

Celebrate today by incorporating freeze-dried apples into your menu. What are your favorite ways to use freeze-dried apples? Tell us in the comments below.