Plant-Based Food Freeze Drying Machine

Plant-based food freeze drying machine

Vacuum freeze-drying of biological materials is one of the best methods of water removal, with final products of the highest quality. The solid-state of water during freeze-drying protects the primary structure and the shape of the products with minimal volume reduction. In addition, the lower temperatures in the process allow maximal nutrient and bioactive compound retention. This technique has been successfully applied to diverse biological materials, such as meats, coffee, juices, dairy products, cells, and bacteria, and is standard practice for penicillin, hormones, blood plasma, vitamin preparations, etc. Despite its many advantages, having four to ten times more energy requirements than regular hot air drying, freeze-drying has always been recognized as the most expensive process for manufacturing a dehydrated product. 

The application of the freeze-drying process to plant-based foods has been traditionally dedicated to the production of space shuttle goods, military or extreme-sport foodstuffs, and specialty foods such as coffee or spices. Recently, the market for ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ products is, however, strongly growing as well as the consumer's demand for foods with minimal processing and high quality. From this perspective, the market for freeze-dried plant-based foods is not only increasing but also diversifying. Freeze-dried fruits and vegetable chunks, pieces, or slices are nowadays majorly used in a wide range of food products such as confectionaries, morning cereals, soups, bakeries, meal boxes, etc. Instant drinks are prepared out of freeze-dried tea, coffee, or even maple syrup enriched with polyphenol-concentrated extracts from trees. 

The possibilities are endless. In this review, the application of freeze-drying to transform plant-based foods was analyzed, based on the recent research publications on the subject and personal unpublished data. The review is structured around the following related topics: latest applications of freeze-drying to plant-based foods, specific technical problems that could be found when freeze-drying such products (i.e., presence of cuticle; high sugar or lipid concentration), pretreatments and intensification technologies employed in freeze-drying of plant-based foods, and quality issues of these freeze-dried products.

Freeze drying (FD), also known as lyophilization, is a well-known technique for the production

of high-quality food powders and solids. It is a preferred method for drying foods containing compounds that are thermally sensitive and prone to oxidation since it operates at low temperatures and under a high vacuum. Application of FD to various plant-based foods, such as apple, guava, strawberry, blackberry, pumpkin, tomato, asparagus, coffee, tea, garlic, ginger, maple syrup, etc., has already been reported in the literature.

The freeze-drying method by lack of liquid water, oxygen-free environment (if operated under

vacuum), and low operating temperatures is thus the best choice to dehydrate fruits and vegetables

in order to keep an optimized bio compound content in the final products. Despite the long drying time and expensive process, freeze-drying is widely used to produce high-value food products due to maximal retention of food quality when compared to other drying techniques. FD is considered the standard or reference drying method in most research studies. Lately, various process intensification approaches have been implemented in order to overcome the challenges faced by FD methods, such as either pretreatment of the sample or the use of innovative technologies including infrared, microwave, and ultrasound energy with freeze-drying.

Based on large Plant-based food freeze drying machine, vacuum freeze-drying technology has entered thousands of households.

Parameter:

Pre-sale:

* As soon as we get your inquiry, we will always reply to your email on time and try our best to recommend you the most suitable freeze dryer. Detailed tech-info will also be provided for you.

* We can do sample test for customers.

After-sale:

* If possible, please do come to our factory and we will teach workers the whole process of freeze drying. The most appropriate time needed for freeze drying will be tested by us.

* We will keep in touch with you, to make sure every parts of the freeze dryer work well. One year warranty, free online service for abroad customers.

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