Preparing soya bean powder involves several steps, from initial bean preparation to the final drying process. Here's a breakdown of how to make soya bean powder:
Steps for Making Soya Bean Powder
The process typically involves the following stages:
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Stoving and Cracking:
- The soybeans are first stoved, which likely refers to a drying process to reduce moisture content and prepare them for cracking.
- The soybeans are then cracked to break the beans into smaller pieces.
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Soaking:
- Soak the cracked soybeans in water. This helps to rehydrate the beans and loosens the outer skin. The duration of soaking can vary, but is typically several hours.
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Blanching:
- Blanch the soaked soybeans in water at 80-85°C (176-185°F) for 5-60 seconds. This process deactivates enzymes that can cause off-flavors and helps in the removal of the bean's outer skin.
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Cooling:
- Immediately cool the blanched soybeans to stop the cooking process and preserve their quality.
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Coarse Grinding into Soy Milk:
- Grind the cooled soybeans with water to create a slurry, essentially producing soy milk. The consistency should be relatively coarse at this stage.
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Boiling:
- Boil the soy milk to further eliminate any remaining enzymes and improve its flavor.
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Homogenizing:
- Homogenize the boiled soy milk to create a smoother, more uniform texture. This step prevents separation and improves the overall quality of the final product.
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Spray Drying:
- Spray dry the homogenized soy milk to remove the water content and create a fine powder. Spray drying involves spraying the liquid soy milk into a hot air stream, which evaporates the water and leaves behind the solid particles as a powder.
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Optional Additives & Packaging:
- Calcium Enrichment (Optional): The spray-dried product can be enriched with 0.1-60% calcium salt to improve its nutritional value. The specific amount would depend on the intended use and desired nutritional profile.
- Packaging: The final soya bean powder is then vacuumized or nitrogen gas-filled to extend its shelf life and prevent oxidation.
Summary
Making soya bean powder involves a series of steps designed to extract the bean's nutrients and transform it into a convenient, shelf-stable form. This includes preparing the beans, extracting soy milk, and drying the milk into a powder. Optional steps like calcium enrichment can further enhance its nutritional value.
