Abstract: An article can be prepared for freeze-drying by creating one or more incisions in the article. In embodiments of the disclosed technologies, the one or more incisions can be made using a laser, a device which dispenses a quantity of liquid nitrogen, and/or an ultrasonic cutting device. The incisions can improve the quality of the article when, for example, it is freeze-dried or freeze-dried and rehydrated. At least some embodiments of the disclosed technologies can be used to prepare groups of one or more articles having non-uniform sizes.