Freeze dryer? I've never used one. Does it become dry enough to store at room temp?

Fortunately I have a lot of freezer space & reducing the volume of the liquid conserves a lot. One of those blocks is enough for a huge curry or meat sauce.

I add it late in the cooking because it can burn on the bottom of the pot if left unattended. In this way you can easily do a taste comparison of the difference. It's a significant improvement - much fuller taste & better texture.