Manufacturing of banana powder

Banana puree is the first step in banana powder processing. Good quality puree with proper drying produces good quality powder.

Banana powder is made from fully ripe banana pulp. Passage through a colloidal mill converts the pulp into a fine paste.

A 1 or 2% sodium metabisulfite solution is added at this stage to improve the color of the final product or to prevent discoloration.

Both spray and drum drying may be used; however, the latter is more favorable as it allows the recovery of all solids.

In the drum dried method, the moisture content of the pulp is reduced to 8 – 12% and then it is further decreased to 2% by drying at 60 ° C in a tunnel or cabinet dryer.

A typical spray drier can produce 70 kg of powder per hour, giving yields of 8 – 11% of the fresh fruit, but drum drying gives a final yield of about 13% of the fresh fruit.

Banana powder with spray drying
Banana powder is prepared by spray drying of fully ripe banana pulp after adding milk solids at a 10% level. 

Spray drying of food rich in invert sugar is difficult because of their thermoplastic nature, which results in the adherence of the dried matter to the sides of the sprayer and necessities scrubbing.

However, when milk solids are added, spraying becomes easy and the material does not stick to the walls of the sprayer.

The dry powder is highly hygroscopic and is packed in bag-in-box packages. The bags are made from laminated material with moisture barrier layers.
Manufacturing of banana powder