spray dryer

food processing

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

A spray dryer is a piece of equipment used in food processing to remove moisture from liquid or semi-liquid substances, transforming them into a powder. This process, known as dehydration, is a method of food preservation that inhibits microbial growth by reducing water content.12

In a spray dryer, the food product is atomized into a fine mist and then exposed to hot air. This causes rapid evaporation of moisture, leaving behind a dry powder. This technique is widely used in the dairy industry to produce powdered milk, buttermilk, and other by-products. Spray-dried products are more compact, have a longer shelf life, and are easier to transport and use as ingredients in other foods.324

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dairy product
Spray dryers
Spray dryers are more commonly used since they do less heat damage and produce more soluble products. Concentrated liquid dairy product is sprayed in a finely atomized form into a stream of hot air. The air may be heated by steam-heated “radiators” or…
Read More
Spray dryers are more commonly used since they do less heat damage and produce more soluble products. Concentrated liquid dairy product is sprayed in a finely atomized form into a stream of hot air. The air may be heated by steam-heated “radiators” or…
Read More