What (who) is lyophilize - definition
![Freeze-dried Bulgarian [[apricot]], [[melon]], [[meatball soup]], [[tarator]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Bulgarian space food.jpg?width=200 "Freeze-dried Bulgarian [[apricot]], [[melon]], [[meatball soup]], [[tarator]]")
![critical point]]. Freeze-drying (blue arrow) brings the system around the [[triple point]], avoiding the direct liquid–gas transition seen in ordinary drying (green arrow).](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Drying.svg?width=200 "critical point]]. Freeze-drying (blue arrow) brings the system around the [[triple point]], avoiding the direct liquid–gas transition seen in ordinary drying (green arrow).")
![Freeze dried [[bacon]] bars](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Freeze dried bacon bars (cropped).jpg?width=200 "Freeze dried [[bacon]] bars")
![Freeze-dried coffee, a form of [[instant coffee]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Liofilizat 04 pl.jpg?width=200 "Freeze-dried coffee, a form of [[instant coffee]]")
Wikipedia
Freeze drying, also known as lyophilization or cryodesiccation, is a low temperature dehydration process that involves freezing the product and lowering pressure, removing the ice by sublimation. This is in contrast to dehydration by most conventional methods that evaporate water using heat.
Because of the low temperature used in processing, the rehydrated product retains much of its original qualities. When solid objects like strawberries are freeze dried the original shape of the product is maintained. If the product to be dried is a liquid, as often seen in pharmaceutical applications, the properties of the final product are optimized by the combination of excipients (i.e., inactive ingredients). Primary applications of freeze drying include biological (e.g., bacteria and yeasts), biomedical (e.g., surgical transplants), food processing (e.g., coffee) and preservation.
