Method of obtaining avocado powder
The invention relates to avocado powder and to the method of obtaining the same. Avocado powder is a novel product which enables the avocado to be preserved for an extended period of time at ambient temperature, such as to conserve the characteristic properties of the product, with the additional advantage of being 100% natural and occupying less physical storage space, thereby eliminating the post-processing cold chain. The method of obtaining avocado powder comprises a series of operations or steps that terminate in the pulverization and packing of the end product.
1. A process of obtaining avocado powder, comprising the following steps:
selecting ripe avocados, in which the avocados include flesh, pits, and hulls;
removing the pits and hulls from the flesh;
milling the flesh to form an avocado paste;
placing a layer of avocado paste into at least one dehydrator vessel, the layer of avocado paste having a thickness that does not exceed 2 centimeters;
cooling the avocado paste;
dehydrating the avocado paste in a freeze vacuum chamber for a predetermined time of approximately 1 to 10 hours;
pulverizing the dehydrated avocado paste; and
packing the pulverized avocado paste.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cooling of the avocado paste is carried out with liquid nitrogen or a freezing mixture consisting of dry ice and ethanol for approximately 2 to 5 minutes.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the cooling of the avocado paste is carried out in a refrigeration chamber at approximately 1 to 5° C. for a predetermined time of at least 1 hour.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the at least one dehydrator vessel is rotated continuously to ensure uniform cooling.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein dehydrating the avocado paste is carried out at a pressure of approximately 450×10 −3 to 50×10 −3 mbar and a temperature of approximately −40° C., during a predetermined period of time of approximately 1 to 10 hours.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein packing the pulverized avocado paste is performed in oxygen and light-impervious containers and in a controlled atmosphere.