What do you do with dehydrated apple powder? (+Air drying)

Description

Z Natural Foods takes pride in bringing customers a wide range of the most nourishing foods on earth in the most versatile form, and our apple powder is no exception.

With a deliciously mild sweet taste and aroma, apple powder contains a complexity of nutrients and compounds that nourish the body. 

When a food powder is created, the process of removing the water (in this case, air-dry) produces a 

While it is true that a powder version is not the same as eating a fresh apple, the idea that we can’t replace fresh food with a powder to nourish our body is simply untrue. 

As a matter of fact, there are many significant advantages to using powders, especially with apples, largely because 

An Apple’s nutrient density and versatility are considered several of its many positive attributes

These attributes are critical when considering the most appropriate ways to use them.  

Before we answer the question, What do you do with dehydrated apple powder?, it is vital to understand the various drying processes and why we choose to air-dry our apple powder. 

While there are many natural ways to dry foods and preserve their nutritional qualities, including low temperature, shade, air, sun, and freeze-drying, the quality of the raw materials predominantly determines the final product. 

Ultimately, preserving the incredibly nourishing qualities found in apples is best achieved through drying and creating a powder.

3 primary advantages to using the air-drying method when creating an apple powder: 

1. Air-drying apples create the closest end product when presenting a whole food complex. 
2. Air-drying apples hold their cellular texture better (with an average water content of 5%) and create a better mouth feel.  
3. Air-dried foods allow you to customize your needs when creating a product. An air-dried apple can be left whole, chopped, or milled into a powder. All of which will still offer the nutritional value that comes from the fresh version. 

While apples in their natural state have a very good shelf-life compared to other fruits,   this method preserves their structure and integrity and significantly extends their shelf life. The shelf life of any food or product is directly linked to its moisture content. An air-dried product has an average of only 5% or less moisture content. So, air-drying allows for greater versatility of the end product due to more accessible storage options and blending capability and supports the natural flavor profile of the fresh food version. 

Air-dried apple powder has a wide range of uses in the functional food market, and today, we are going to discuss what we consider to be 

3 of the best ways to use this delicious functional food

1) Improves flavor profile

One factor that most people consider essential when consuming food is taste. Let's face it; no one wants to eat something that tastes terrible. When used correctly, changing the flavor of a dish is where apple powder has unlimited potential. Add it to any dessert or smoothie to increase nutritional value, and as a natural sweetener, it supports a well-balanced flavor profile. 

Apple powders' mildly sweet flavor may enhance a bland or unappealing food or recipe and provide your palate with just enough, but not too much. 

Finally, a unique way to use apple powder to support a flavor profile is to use it in sausage or meat dry rubs; it provides the perfect hint of sweetness. In simple terms, apple powder can enhance or tone down almost anything you add it to. 

Apple powder offers a unique aspect of how it can help with texture. Apples are a great source of pectin. Vegans believe that apple pectin is a great alternative to gelatin as a thickening agent. The gelatinous nature (due to the pectin and soluble fiber content) of apple powder makes it a perfect addition to milkshakes, smoothies, puddings, stews, or soups. 

Another way to use apple powder to support texture is using it as a flour replacement (especially when making an apple pie). Talk about bringing your apple pie crust to the next level. 

Finally, apple powder is the perfect solution for those who like a smooth texture or a fast on-the-go recipe for apple sauce.   

2) Emergency Food Storage

In our current times, with more extreme weather events, the possibility of being trapped in the middle of nowhere, and being without modern conveniences, being prepared and more self-sufficient is a good idea. One of the simple ways to be more self-sufficient is to create an emergency food storage box for your car or home. 

While a long list of items like batteries, water, and medical supplies are considered vital, highly nourishing foods with a long shelf life are essential. 

There is no denying that nothing beats fresh, wholesome foods, but unfortunately, they do have some pitfalls. The biggest pitfall is that fresh foods don’t have a long shelf life and can quickly lose nutritional value. Storing fresh food at the appropriate temperature is also an equally important issue. We understand that you want something easy to use, highly nourishing, and a simple solution to what otherwise may be a complex issue. 

Therefore, apple powder is a must-have because it provides greater versatility in several areas regarding food survival kits. 

To review the foods in our Emergency Food Storage section, go here:

Emergency Food Storage

3) A replacement for Isolated supplements and to keep the doctors away

Back in the 1860s, there was the expression, ”Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”  Over the years, the expression has evolved to “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” 

Both expressions were right on the money, as apples are a powerhouse of nourishment. 

As wonderful as nutrient and polyphenolic supplements are for supporting well-being, they are often presented in an isolated form. This may create issues with how well the body will utilize these compounds. Dried wholefood powders are an excellent alternative to isolated supplements as they provide the complex wholefood matrix the body can use. 

Like most other fruits and vegetables, apples possess unique qualities and compounds for various health purposes. These polyphenolic compounds all fall under (at some level) four general categories of plant compounds. The total phenolic content of apples ranged from 31.5 to 980.8 GAE/g, which is comparatively higher than the concentration in grape extract, a beverage known for its polyphenolic content. 

For example, while onions are often spoken about as a top-quality source of quercetin, apples can hold their own as a close second as a fantastic source of this potent flavonoid. 

Among the compounds researchers have discovered in apples, flavinoids were the most abundant, including quercetin glycosides. Quercetin has been spoken of as one of the most potent flavonols in the entire family, and a little bit goes a long way. Quercetin is being aggressively studied for its ability to support a healthy aging process through multiple mechanisms of action. In one human study, quercetin showed its ability to inhibit inflammation by increasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors(PPARy), which was shown to antagonize nuclear factor kappa b (NFKB), a protein complex at the top of the inflammation cascade that controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production, and cell proliferation. 

Some other significant polyphenolic compounds found in apples are:

• Chlorogenic acid is one of the primary phenolic acids in apples. This powerful compound has been researched for its potential supportive qualities for cardiovascular well-being, and it plays a role in apples' regulation, ripening, and senescence(the deterioration process with age) processes. 
• Catechins are a significant flavonoid found in apples. These are a well-known family of antioxidant compounds made famous through research on green tea.
• Catechins and rutin are also the predominant phytochemicals in apples as they confer color and aroma to different genotypes. Depending on the place, season, light, and altitude, these compounds vary significantly in diverse apple genotypes.

In conclusion, apple powder is an outstanding essential functional food that provides tremendous versatility and has a limitless number of important uses. 

So, apple powder is your all-in-one solution, whether you are looking for a clean and natural flavor and texture enhancer or an addition to your emergency food storage supply. 

For more information about our Organic Apple Powder, go here:

Organic Apple Powder

To review all of our Emergency Food Storage foods, go here:

Emergency Food Storage