Freeze-Dried Candy
Packaging Guide
Everything you need to know about choosing the right bag, material specs, design requirements, and what actually keeps your product fresh. Written by people who do this every day.
Ready? Get a Quote →Why Packaging Is So Critical for Freeze-Dried Products
Most brands get this wrong the first time but nobody explains what freeze-dried products actually need from their packaging.
Freeze-dried candy brands spend months perfecting their process, nail the texture on their Skittles, build a TikTok following, start getting orders then show up at a craft fair with bags from Amazon that turn their product into a sticky, chewy mess by day three.
That's not a product problem. That's a packaging problem. They are not the same thing.
The hard part is that bad packaging doesn't announce itself immediately. You don't open a box and know the bags failed. You find out two weeks later when repurchase rates are low and you can't figure out why. Or when a customer posts a video of their "stale" product that definitely wasn't stale when it left your hands.
Freeze-dried candy is one of the most moisture-sensitive products you'll ever try to sell. The entire point of the freeze-drying process is to remove moisture which means your product will aggressively try to pull it back the moment you put it in a bag that can't stop it.
These packaging types simply don't work for freeze-dried products:
- Kraft paper bags: no moisture barrier at all
- Standard poly bags from print-on-demand services
- Generic branded bags from Alibaba under $0.15 each
- 2-layer mylar without a proper foil barrier
The issue is something called moisture vapor transmission rate : MVTR. It measures how much moisture passes through a bag material per day. For most food products, a middling MVTR is fine. For freeze-dried candy, you need it very low: 0.3 grams per square meter per day or less.
The silent killer: Your product is fine. Your packaging is quietly failing. The two are almost impossible to tell apart unless you know what to look for. Which is exactly why most brands catch it too late.
Barrier Specs & What the Material Actually Means
Not all mylar bags are built the same. The construction of each layer matters. A lot.
In the food packaging world, "mylar bag" usually means a multi-layer laminated bag with an aluminum foil layer in the middle. That foil layer is what gives it real moisture and oxygen barrier properties. But not all mylar bags are built the same.
MVTR Required
OTR Required
for Freeze-Dried
| Spec | PolarSeal Standard | Why It Matters for Freeze-Dried |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 4-layer mylar: PET, foil, nylon, PE | Multi-layer construction provides the moisture and oxygen barrier that freeze-dried candy needs |
| Moisture Barrier (MVTR) | ≤0.3 g/m²/day | Freeze-dried candy will re-hydrate and lose crunch without a high-quality moisture barrier |
| Oxygen Barrier (OTR) | ≤0.5 cc/m²/day | Oxygen causes flavor degradation and color fading. Critical for candy products |
| Closure | Resealable zip lock (standard) | Customers expect resealable. It extends shelf life and signals premium quality |
| Finish Options | Matte / Gloss / Soft-touch / Holographic | Matte is most popular for freeze-dried candy; holographic for shelf pop |
| Tear Notch | Standard (both sides) | Required by most retail buyers; essential for customer experience |
| Hang Hole | Optional (euro slot) | Required for peg display in retail environments |
Our bags are spec'd correctly from the start: Request MVTR and OTR specs in writing before placing any order. If a supplier can't provide these numbers or deflects the question, that's your answer. All PolarSeal bags use high-barrier 4-layer mylar as standard, not as an upgrade.
| Feature | Why It Matters | Essential? |
|---|---|---|
| Resealable Zipper | Product goes soft overnight without proper reseal. Customers blame the product, not the bag. | Non-negotiable |
| Tear Notch (both sides) | Retail buyers reject bags without them. DTC customers who need scissors won't reorder. | Required for retail |
| Matte Finish | Photographs better, feels more premium, doesn't show fingerprints. | Strongly recommended |
| Hang Hole / Euro Slot | Required for peg display. If retail is a goal, add it from day one. Much cheaper than going back. | Optional |
| Nutrition Facts Panel | FDA required for US food products. Catch this at proof stage, not after 500 bags are printed. | Legally required |
Choosing the Right Bag Size
Bag size is about product weight first, shelf presence second. Freeze-dried candy expands dramatically, so account for volume, not just weight.
Sizing tip: A 1oz net weight of freeze-dried Skittles fills roughly twice the space of a regular 1oz candy bag. When in doubt, go one size up. A full-looking bag photographs better, feels more premium, and communicates value before anyone tastes a thing. Ask us to recommend a size →
Size by Product Type
Freeze-Dried Skittles
1oz: 5"×7" · 2oz: 5"×7" or 6"×9" · 3.5oz: 6"×9"
Freeze-Dried Gummy Worms
1oz: 6"×9" (high volume) · 2oz: 6"×9" · 4oz+: 8"×12"
Freeze-Dried Taffy / Starburst
1oz: 5"×7" · 2oz: 6"×9" · Assortments: 6"×9" or 8"×12"
Freeze-Dried Marshmallows
Very low density, size up: 1oz: 6"×9" · 2oz+: 8"×12"
Variety / Mixed Packs
Small sampler: 6"×9" · Large multi-flavor: 8"×12"
Sample / Trial Packs
0.5oz event samples: 4"×5" · 1oz trial packs: 5"×7"
What Your Bag Design Should Include
Whether you're bringing finished artwork or starting from scratch, here's everything a well-built freeze-dried candy bag needs. Our design team handles all of this for you.
Front Panel: Brand Identity
- Brand logo, prominently placed, high contrast
- Product name and flavor variant
- "Freeze Dried" descriptor (helps customers at shelf)
- Net weight (e.g. 2 oz / 56g)
- Hero image or background graphic
- Brand colors, typography, visual identity
Back Panel: Product & Compliance
- Nutrition Facts panel (FDA required for US)
- Full ingredients list with allergens bolded
- Manufacturer or distributor name & address
- Country of origin statement
- Storage instructions ("Store cool and dry")
- UPC barcode (if selling through retail)
Optional Brand Boosters
- Marketing claims ("Small Batch", "Handmade")
- Certifications (non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher)
- QR code linking to website or reviews
- Social media handles / website URL
- Best-by date window or printed area
- Lot / batch number area
Don't Have All of This Yet?
You don't need everything finalized to get a proof. Our design team works with you from whatever stage you're at: logo, rough concept, or just a product name.
Get a Free QUOTE →FDA Labeling Note: For US consumers, your label must include a Nutrition Facts panel, complete ingredient list with allergens bolded, net weight in both metric and US customary units, and a manufacturer or distributor address. Our team builds all of this into your layout. Just flag it in your quote request.
How Ordering Works With Us
Here's exactly how our process works from the moment you reach out.
We do this without being asked. A factory photo before shipping is standard practice. Before your bags ship, we send you real photos and a short video of the finished, printed bags in hand. Not a mockup. Real bags, real light, real finish. If something looks off, we catch it before it gets on a boat.
Know Your Size? Let's Build Your Bags.
Request a free quote and we'll confirm sizing, review your design assets, and have a proof in your inbox within 1 business day.