When you think of summer fruits, it’s inextricable from the sweet juice that bursts from the soft skin on the first bite, often running down the chin.

But the latest online trend is a reversal of this joyful sensation: freeze-dried fruit and vegetables are made by taking the water out of fresh produce, and some claim it’s an easy way for people to derive the same nutritional benefits.

Instead of biting into soft flesh, you can hear the crunch as influencers chomp down on everything from freeze-dried strawberries to broccoli. What do the experts say – are these nutrition powerhouses or just chips in different shapes?

Freeze-drying involves rapidly freezing foods and beverages before removing the ice crystals and making them very dry using a pressurisation and vacuum process,........

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