We are often asked a question: "Will the food freeze-drying equipment lose nutrients after freeze-drying?"The answer to this question is not simple, as it involves a variety of fields such as food science, biochemistry and freezing technology.
First of all, we need to understand what lyophilization is. Lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying or sublimation drying, is a process in which wet materials are frozen into solids, and then in a vacuum environment, the solid ice is directly converted into gaseous water by heating, thereby removing the water in the materials. This technology has a wide range of applications in the food industry, such as making dehydrated vegetables, fruits, meat, etc.
So, will the nutrients of the ingredients be lost during the freeze-drying process?The answer is: maybe, but probably not. This mainly depends on the freeze-drying conditions and the characteristics of the ingredients.
First of all, freeze-drying conditions have a great impact on the nutrition of ingredients. If the temperature during the freeze-drying process is too high, or the time is too long, it may lead to the loss of some heat-sensitive nutrients (such as vitamin C, B vitamins, etc.) in the food. Therefore, controlling the freeze-drying conditions is the key to protecting the nutrition of the ingredients.
Secondly, the characteristics of the ingredients also affect the nutrient loss during the freeze-drying process. In general, major nutrients such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are lost less during the lyophilization process. However, certain trace elements and antioxidants may be lost in the process.
However, it is important to note that while there may be some loss of nutrients during the freeze-drying process, this does not mean that freeze-dried foods lose their nutritional value. In fact, freeze-drying technology can effectively retain most of the nutrients in the ingredients, especially those that are sensitive to heat. In addition, freeze-dried foods will be greatly reduced in size and weight, making them easier to store and transport, which is important for resource-limited areas.