How to Make Freeze Dried Starburst

Freeze drying Starburst turns chewy candy into light, crunchy treats. Learn how to freeze dry Starburst, storage tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 3

Total Time: 3 15

Servings: 360 pieces

Author: Hilda Sterner

Turn on your freeze dryer and pick candy mode.
On the candy mode screen, leave all the settings as is (pre-warm time = 5 minutes, and pre-warm temperature = 165F; select "start."
You will need to wait 15 minutes while the freeze dryer is going through its cycle. Use this time to unwrap, quarter, and arrange Starburst on the trays. Leave plenty of space between them for expansion.
Once the 15 minutes are up, load trays in the center of the machine, lock door, and close drain valve. Select "continue."
It will take 20 minutes for pre-warming to begin counting down, then 5 minutes of pre-warming (for a total of 25 minutes.
Once pre-warming is complete, the candy drying cycle will count down for 2 hours.
Remove trays and check to see if Starbursts are done. They should be puffed up, airy, and light. If necessary, add additional drying time.
Place freeze dried Starbursts in mason jars or mylar bags with an oxygen absorber.

I used the latest version of the software (v6.5.0). Your screen may look different or have different presets. If so, adjust prewarm time and temperature as seen in the pictures in the blog post.
Be sure to check out the full post, which contains a lot more detailed information!
Use fresh Starburst for best results. Stale Starburst will be hard to slice into quarters and won't have the right moisture balance, which is needed for optimal results.
Quartering each piece allows for equal heat distribution and prevents oversized puffs that shatter when handled.
Freeze dried Starbursts are most delicate when warm. Allowing them to cool for a few minutes helps them to firm up.
If your freeze dried Starbursts look amazing but fall apart the second you touch them, the heat was too high. Ask me how I know.🙄
Once cooled, transfer freeze dried Starbursts to an airtight container such as mason jars or mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to preserve crunch and prevent moisture creep.

Did you try this recipe? Please leave a review and a star rating!