Chuno

The Inca developed the method of freeze drying. Their development of chuno, which is a method of freeze dried potatoes, allowed for food which would last an extremely long time. This produced a food that would provide nutrition for long trips, while also providing a stock of protein that could be utilized by leaders that were regularly on the move, and soldiers as well during long battles. Chuno was created over several days, by utilizing the cold temperatures in the mountains at night, and the sun during the day. In the sun, the chuno, which was made of potato, would be smashed to remove moisture, and then frozen at night, to be repeated the following day. An interesting thought is how we use freeze dried foods even today. Astronauts use freeze dried technology today when they travel to space, and it was something invented by the Inca so long ago.