Effects of different drying methods on physical properties of ginger powder

Using ginger in Anhui linquan as raw material, ginger powder was made by four drying methods: spray-drying, heated-air drying, far-infrared(FIR) drying and vacuum freeze drying. The physical properties of ginger powder was studied. The results show that ginger powder by spray-drying has high density, but the yield, hydratability, oil-absorbing ability and organoleptic quality are the lowest; the yield and density of ginger powder by FIR drying are the highest, hydratability, oil-absorbing ability and organoleptic quality are better; the hydratability of ginger powder by heated-air drying is the best, but the yield, density, oil-absorbing ability and organoleptic quality are inferior to FIR drying; the yield and hydratability of ginger powder by vacuum freeze drying are in the middle of the four drying methods, density is the lowest, oil-absorbing ability and organoleptic quality are the best.