Freeze drying has become one of the fastest growing techniques greatly preferred by consumers to be utilized in the food industry. So many new recipes and ideas are coming out all of the time for people looking to increase the health of their diets, and freeze dried foods have been taking their share of the spotlight for both nutrition and convenience. Perhaps you have already heard of banana flour, but if you have not, we will introduce you to what you need to know! First, let’s begin with what freeze dried food is:

What Is Freeze Dried Food?

Freeze drying is a process involving flash freezing food items and then gently heating them under low pressure to implement sublimation (the evaporating of the frozen moisture directly into a gas). It greatly extends the shelf life of food while maintaining taste and quality. The freeze drying technique helps to prohibit the growth of bacteria by removing all of the moisture that they need to grow. In general, there are three stages to the process called flash freezing, primary drying, and secondary drying.

This process is used to create banana flour that has many health-conscious consumers raving. Continue reading, as we will discuss just what it is that is causing all the commotion.

Just How Popular Is Banana Flour Getting?

During the forecast timeframe between 2021 and 2026, the freeze dried food market was expected to grow by 8.03%! This was primarily fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the demand for convenient foodstuffs, particularly freeze dried food, greatly increased in value. As freeze dried food can easily last up to 25 years without spoiling, the ability to provide families with long-term nutrition has been making it a very attractive prospect. The pandemic has shown a negative impact on just about all businesses, but the food sector is among the most affected industries globally. 

Banana flour is not truly a new invention, as it has been around for a long time in developing and underdeveloped countries as a cheap product for wheat flour. It is made by grinding green bananas into a powder. An additional increase in the supply chain of gluten-free items such as banana flour has been simultaneously increasing. Here is a summary of some major reasons for the increase in demand for banana flour among global customers in recent years:

• People are becoming more health conscious in the modern era, and as a result, they are changing to more healthy, nutritious products. Furthermore, in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, most people are focusing on improving their general health. Naturally, there has been a sudden increase in the global demand for healthy food. This factor is significantly accelerating the implementation and manufacturing of banana flour across the world.
• Due to unripe green bananas being unfit for sale or export, they are usually handpicked and disposed of. These discarded bananas are perfect for making banana flour, and when used for this intent, this waste is anticipated to be greatly reduced. As a result, farmers will be able to make extra money from their crops, while the ecological damage of those crops will be reduced. Several manufacturers have begun producing perfectly ripe banana flour to meet the need and take part in the popularity, which is made from overripe banana skins and fruit. These ingredients are processed to perfection by way of freeze drying.

What Is Banana Flour Used For?

The most effective and appropriate use for banana flour is in no-bake recipes, as part of a flour blend in regular baking recipes, and as a thickener for smoothies or other lightly flavored dishes. This is because the flour has a mild banana flavor (prior to cooking) and works well as a thickener. Not to be relied on as a straight substitute for wheat or other high-protein flour, banana flour has both a low amount of protein and does not offer good binding properties for baked goods. 

How Does This Recent Freeze Dried Food Trend Relate To My Business?

From the information above, it can be evaluated that freeze drying is one of the most effective techniques to use for preserving food items for a significantly long time. Banana flour is one of the many growing freeze dried food items that are growing in popularity among health-conscious consumers. On the other hand, many people have been partaking in these trends by offering their own freeze dried products for sale online!

If you already have a business offering food products for sale or have been planning to launch your own, Shepherd Foods can help. For over 30 years, we have provided delicious, nutrient dense freeze dried food items to food industry businesses. Our professionals specialize in preparing and freeze drying a whole spectrum of delicious ingredients. 

For more information about how we can help you make your freeze dried food market related business ideas into reality, give us a call today at (800) 497-8321. Shepherd Foods offers high quality co-manufacturing and co-packing services that are sure to strengthen and support your business endeavors.

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