What is Refractance Window DryingUpdated 2 months ago

Refractance Window Drying is a gentle method of dehydrating fresh whole food. It gently removes water from fresh food.

Refractance Window Drying does not directly expose the food to extreme hot or cold temperatures.  It relies on the transfer of thermal energy from warm water to the food.  The food is dehydrated through the “window”, which allows the passage of energy. This self-limiting method preserves and protects the inherent attributes of a fresh food including color, aroma and taste.

Refractance Window drying is a gentle method with which to remove moisture from fresh, raw foods. It does this up  until a precise point of dehydration, at which point the drying process automatically ceases. This self-limiting method protects the natural physical form of the food while ensuring that it retains nutritive value. 

Because the foods are only briefly exposed to non-damaging temperatures and are never subjected to pressure or sheer force, the dried food retains attributes of its fresh, raw food equivalent. Studies to date have demonstrated that Refractance Window® dried strawberries retain more Vitamin C than freeze-dried strawberries.  

Sensory qualities such as vibrant color, aroma and nutritional value are not diminished. This indicates that the active aromatic and pigment compounds which impart indispensable characteristics have been naturally protected throughout the drying process. When one tastes fresh dried cranberry right off the RWD, one can enjoy the unmistakably tart yet subtle sweetness of a raw cranberry picked at its peak of ripeness.