Bars and Crackers

[sport]

I want to know how Lara bars and other bars can be moist and still have a shelf life.
Has anyone made thick moist bars that held for a while.
I have put some bar like stuf in the dehydrator to experiment and I have left it thick. Am I wasting my time.

[Veganforlife]

I'm thinking it has to do with the packaging. Larabars are almost in a foil (lined) type packaging. I don't know. Now you have MY curiosity up. Hmmmm... :confused:

I just contacted them and here is their reply:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate your interest in
our products.

To answer your specific question, the reason the bars have a 12-month shelf
life is due to the fact that we use a multi-layer package that keeps out UV
light and oxygen, which, in turn, maintains freshness without the use of
preservatives.

I hope this information is helpful.

Humm Foods, Inc. creators of LÄRABAR and MÄYA

PO Box 18932
Denver, CO 80218
Office: 720.945.1155
Direct: 303.962.6623
1.877.LARABAR
http://www.larabar.com

[exurb]

sport sugar is also a preservative, even if a natural sugar. if you made bars with dried ingredients, and made an emulsion that is really high in sugar but still chewy, you might get more of a preservative effect even though they're not crispy.

you could also try to choose your ingredients to avoid fermentation. note that if sugar is very high, sugar can actually prevent fermentation, but if low it will contribute to it.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I think that most of the ingredients aren't truly raw when they receive them. I haven't seen an ingredient on there that says "raw".

Yes, they don't cook the bars but that doesn't mean they use all raw ingredients.

[Lay-Lay]

kool thought, thanks for sharing!

[Veganforlife]

LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices - energy in its purest form. Made from 100% whole food, each flavor contains no more than six ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.
*
1*1/2 SERVINGS OF FRUIT* ** NO ADDED SUGAR* ** UNPROCESSED
RAW* ** NON- GMO* ** GLUTEN FREE* ** DAIRY FREE* ** SOY FREE
VEGAN* ** KOSHER
*
LÄRABAR REAL.
Sweet with no added sweeteners. Sustaining with no added fillers, supplements or flavorings.*LÄRABAR is what your body needs - real, whole food loaded with nature's own minerals and vitamins.
*
LÄRABAR RIGHT.
All of the vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, good carbohydrates and healthy fats are derived exclusively from the whole, raw food used to make LÄRABAR.
*
LÄRABAR RAW.
Uncooked and Unprocessed. The essential enzymes, which are necessary for the digestion and utilization of nutrients, remain completely intact in their most natural, powerful state. A diet abundant in raw, unprocessed foods is important for health and longevity.
*
For LÄRABAR, we source the best possible ingredients. Every time. Every bar. Enjoy.
*

[Veganforlife]

I truly think that most of the ingredients aren't truly raw when they receive them. I haven't seen an ingredient on there that says "raw".

Yes, they don't cook the bars but that doesn't mean they use all raw ingredients.

This is true, but maybe as a transition food it would be good?
I'm asking them this question...

[Lay-Lay]

I think it makes and awesome transition food or travel food.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I've been known to stash the cashew cookie one in my purse for an urgent situation.

[Lay-Lay]

true that, when in need indeed!

[Veganforlife]

Here is the reply to Larabars being raw:

Yes. The ingredients we use in LÄRABAR are dehydrated below 118 degrees,
which we consider to be raw. The nuts used are raw, not roasted.

In addition, our ingredients are not heated to temperatures in excess of 118
degrees during production. The two exceptions are cashews, which are heat
steamed to extract the nut from the fruit of the tree, and cocoa powder,
which comes from a roasted bean. Also, the lemon juice in our Lemon Bar
flavor is flash pasteurized for safety.

Thank you again for your interest!

So, you make the call as to eat or not eat.

[sport]

They have suddenly gone from being raw to being half raw.
I am not sure that this is good enough.

[girlsmiley]

I found these by accident ... and then found out they are made in the town where I live ...

http://www.thepurebar.com/

I now carry them with me when I know I will need a snack (like to the movies) :D

[sptygl]

isn't that the whole point of this site.
health, no processing, and as natural as possible??

i have made a few of the recipes we've seen posted, and yum!!!

i now hating purchasing PREMADE when i can make it fresh myself!! :p

[Dimond]

I found these by accident ... and then found out they are made in the town where I live
http://www.thepurebar.com/ I love these because they are actually truly raw (I asked a bunch of questions to find out.) and they're organic which Larabar isn't. I also think they taste way better. I'm able to get them at great prices too (cheaper than the health stores).

[Queen Shelley]

How about copying the ingredients, tweaked here and there, dehydrate and make your very own bars...give them your very own name. Wrap tightly, freeze, pack in your lunchbox or take along on your travels. ;)

[sport]

Well I have made mine and took them out of the dehydrator while still soft and am about to try some with a cup of cinamon tea (just a spoon of cinamon that I ground from sticks in a mug of hot water).
I put them in the fridge overnight and expect that I will have them all gone in a few days but I will leave one or 2 for a while longer to see how soon it goes off.

[honeybee joy]

I won't really eat a lara bar anymore, unless I have to. I was at the airport, and was walking around and noticed that they had lara bars. I was so exicted to find something raw at a airport that I thought, well let me get one so that I won't be starving on the plane, because it was like 3pm and my flight did not arrive till 9pm. Well I had just spent a week at the Tree, and everything is organic and all raw. I noticed after I ate it my brain got foggy and dizzy. I think I have a few stuffed somewhere in that cabnet that I will eat so It won't go to waste, but I was wondering if it was because they might not soak the nuts, or as sharon said that it could come in cooked, or that it didn't meantion being organic. I did like the cherry and the lemon one though. The chocolate ones are fun, but I can make that at home! :)

[oceanvixen79]

I like making my own much better. I use my own dehydrated apples and cherries. I can use my own raw cashews, walnuts, or whatever...even cocoa or tweak the spices. They probably come out to be cheaper in the long run too.

[sport]

I like making my own much better. I use my own dehydrated apples and cherries. I can use my own raw cashews, walnuts, or whatever...even cocoa or tweak the spices. They probably come out to be cheaper in the long run too.
Have you ever avoided eating them long enough to see how long the shelf life is.