Astronaut Ice Cream gives kids a taste of space, backpackers a light snack

Kids around the country, mostly at museums and theme parks, get a taste of what it would be like to live in space with Astronaut Ice Cream.

Anyone expecting the cold and soft textures of a traditional ice cream sandwich is in for a shock when they bite down on the freeze-dried bar. With 98% of the liquid removed, the sandwiches are crunchy. They still melt in your mouth, but more like a breath-mint than ice cream.

You can also set half of it aside, in the console of your car, in the heat of summer without any worry it might melt.

The Boulder-based company’s founder Ron Smith expected freeze-dried ice cream would be a bit of a fad — but it’s had staying power with Astronaut Foods celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

“I think it captured the imagination and it has for multiple generations,” said Chris Dickerson, marketing director.

It can also be practical for those heading out on the trail backpacking.

The ice cream bars are sold alongside the freeze-dried meals of its sister company, Backpacker’s Pantry, at REI. The meals, such as mac and cheese and pad Thai, are reconstituted with hot water at camp, while the ice cream just like trendy freeze-dried candy is eaten hard. The Astronaut Foods brand also makes freeze-dried fruit and Dickerson expects regular freeze-dried ice cream could make a return soon.

Before heading out to stores, both food lines make a stop at a Boulder facility where the ice cream sandwiches are hand packed and the ingredients for the backpacking meals are mixed and packaged, Dickerson said.

The backpacking meals have also been eaten during space missions. Companies planning private space stations and short-duration space visits are interested in sending them up again. Freeze-dried food maintains its nutritional value and its flavor, making it a good fit in space, he said.

Supplying private space companies could be small new niche for the company, although nothing is final, Dickerson said.

“It’s been really fun having those conversations,” he said.