Freeze Dried Skittles vs. Freeze Dried Starburst: Which One Wins?

Excerpt: Comparing freeze dried Skittles and Starburst? See how their flavors, shapes, and crunchy textures differ, and find the Comet Candies pick that fits your sweet tooth.

Meta description: Freeze dried Skittles vs starburst: compare flavor, texture, shape, and occasions to choose Rainbow Skrillerz or Comet Bursts.

If you’re choosing between freeze dried Skittles and freeze dried Starburst, the winner depends on the candy you already love. Rainbow Skrillerz – Freeze Dried Skittles are a great pick for a colorful mix of familiar fruit flavors, while Comet Bursts – Freeze Dried Starbursts bring classic Starburst flavors in their distinctive candy shape. Both are described as light, airy, and crunchy. The texture can vary by piece and batch, so the clearest difference is the original candy’s shape and flavor profile, not a guaranteed crunch advantage.

At a glance

What you’re comparing	Rainbow Skrillerz – Freeze Dried Skittles	Comet Bursts – Freeze Dried Starbursts
Original candy	Skittles	Starbursts
Shape	Puffed, irregular pieces	Expanded pieces that start as Starbursts’ familiar cubes
Flavor lineup	Strawberry, lime, grape, lemon, and orange	Strawberry, lemon, orange, and cherry
Texture description	Light, crisp, and crunchy	Light, airy, and crunchy
Good fit for	A mixed-flavor rainbow snack	A Starburst fan craving a new texture
Our quick verdict	Best for classic Skittles variety	Best for classic Starburst flavor

What’s different about the flavor?

The quickest way to choose is to start with your favorite original candy. Skittles and Starburst have their own signature fruit mixes, and freeze drying changes the eating experience without making them the same candy.

Rainbow Skrillerz feature the classic Skittles flavors listed on the product page: strawberry, lime, grape, lemon, and orange. Because the bag combines several flavors, it’s a natural choice if you like variety in a handful or want to share a colorful bowl.

Comet Bursts bring together Starburst’s strawberry, lemon, orange, and cherry flavors. Choose them if that familiar Starburst fruit mix is the one you reach for first. The official Skittles website and Starburst website offer a look at each brand’s current candy lineup.

How do the crunch and shape compare?

Both products are described as airy and crunchy. The difference to look for is how that crunch appears in each candy: Rainbow Skrillerz puff up from round Skittles, while Comet Bursts expand from Starbursts’ familiar cube shape. Individual pieces may look different, and texture can vary from batch to batch, so we wouldn’t promise that one is always crunchier or airier than the other.

Freeze-drying is a way of removing moisture from a frozen product. The University of Minnesota Extension guide explains the general process: ice changes directly into vapor during primary drying, followed by a secondary drying step. Purdue Extension’s preservation guide also discusses how a product’s form can affect freeze-drying results. These are general guides, not a product-by-product test of Comet Candies candy; they help explain why the source candy and the final piece’s shape matter to what you see and bite.

Which one is best for you?

Pick Rainbow Skrillerz if…

• You already like classic Skittles.
• You want a mixed assortment of five familiar fruit flavors.
• You’re putting together a colorful candy bowl or trying freeze-dried candy for the first time.
• You want more flavor options within the Skrillerz family.

Along with the original mix, Comet Candies offers three other Skrillerz varieties: Sour Skrillerz, Wild Berry Skrillerz, and Tropical Skrillerz. They offer different flavor directions, so take a look if you already know what kind of Skittles you’re in the mood for.

Pick Comet Bursts if…

• Starburst is your go-to fruity candy.
• You’re curious about trying a familiar flavor in a crunchy format.
• You’d like a distinctive candy shape in a snack bowl, gift, or party mix.

The Comet Bursts – Freeze Dried Starbursts product page describes a light, airy crunch and the strawberry, lemon, orange, and cherry flavors. If those are the flavors you want, it’s the straightforward choice.

Which one should you serve, share, or gift?

For a movie night or snack bowl, either can work. Choose Rainbow Skrillerz for a colorful mix of five classic fruit flavors, or Comet Bursts for a Starburst-flavored option.

For a gift, think about the person’s favorite original candy. A Skittles fan may enjoy Rainbow Skrillerz; a Starburst fan may prefer Comet Bursts. If you don’t know which flavor style they like best, explore the full Comet Candies collection for more options.

For desserts, both can add a colorful, crunchy candy element when sprinkled over a treat. Add them just before serving if you want to preserve their crisp texture. Keep the bag sealed between servings and store it somewhere cool and dry; moisture can soften freeze-dried candy.

The winner, category by category

• Classic Skittles flavor variety: Rainbow Skrillerz
• Classic Starburst flavor profile: Comet Bursts
• More Skrillerz flavor directions: Rainbow Skrillerz, with Sour, Wild Berry, and Tropical options also available
• Crunch: Tie on the information available; both are described as airy and crunchy, and texture can vary by piece and batch
• Best choice for your own snack stash: The one that starts with your favorite original candy

Our overall pick for a first try is Rainbow Skrillerz if you want the familiar mix of classic Skittles flavors. Choose Comet Bursts instead if you’re shopping specifically for freeze-dried Starburst. There isn’t one winner for every taste. Your favorite flavor is the best tiebreaker.

Ready to pick your side?

Comet Candies makes its freeze-dried candy in small batches in Franklin, Tennessee. Start with Rainbow Skrillerz – Freeze Dried Skittles or go straight to Comet Bursts – Freeze Dried Starbursts. You can also read Freeze Dried Skittles: Why This Crunchy Candy Is Taking Over Snack Aisles for more about the Skittles side of the comparison.

Explore the full candy collection and find your next crunchy favorite. U.S. shipping is free on orders over $50. Please note that all food sales are final.