What Does a Fruit and Vegetable Drying Plant Consist Of?

Apart from traditional fruit and vegetable drying, we will explain step by step what an industrial fruit and vegetable drying plant consists of in this article.

There are many reasons for drying fruits and vegetables. Aside from the benefits, the most important economic reason is that fresh fruits and vegetables have a very short shelf life. By drying fruits and vegetables, their shelf life is extended, food waste is avoided, and they become more consumable.

The dynamics of the dried fruit and vegetable market have excited entrepreneurs, making establishing a drying plant a sensible business opportunity. We will explain the necessary steps to set up a professional drying plant below.

1. Selection and Sorting
   For a drying plant, the first step is to establish a line for selecting and sorting fruits and vegetables to separate rotten, damaged, or foreign matter such as stems or leaves. This line should be set up near the sorting area to ensure efficient processing.

2. Washing
   After sorting the fruits or vegetables, they are moved to the washing station. If the fruits or vegetables do not require peeling, they can directly enter the drying process.

3. Peeling
   Once the washing process is completed, the next step is peeling the fruits. The peeling machines remove the skins, and if the fruit is to be sliced, it is sent to the slicing section. If no slicing is needed, the fruit or vegetable can be directly transferred to the drying section.

After extensive research and development, Ekotec has developed its own fruit peeling machine. Our fruit peeling machines are specifically designed for peeling apples and persimmons. A video of our fruit peeling machine is shared below.

4. Slicing
   The last step before drying is the slicing process. The products that come out of this section are then moved to the drying area.

5. Drying
   After preparations in the previous steps, the actual drying process takes place. To carry out the drying process with Ekotec heat pump dryers, it is necessary to have a suitable drying area, that is, the drying cabin. The drying process is carried out in well-insulated cabins. After extensive R&D work by Ekotec, we have determined that the most effective drying is done in drying cabins made of sandwich panels. These cabins are available in single-unit and double-unit variants. After the drying cabin installation, the placement of the fans should be done according to the instructions from Ekotec to ensure even drying of the products.

Drying Plant Description:

When placing the fruits and vegetables inside the drying cabin, hygienic polyethylene baskets that comply with food safety regulations should be used. Using baskets that are not food-safe may result in poor outcomes. Additionally, it is important that the baskets have holes on all sides to ensure proper airflow.

In conclusion, the setup of a drying plant consists of these steps. The fruit drying plants set up with Ekotec heat pump dryers are customized according to the customer’s requests and needs. Our locally produced products, such as the drying heat pump and fruit peeling machine, support your requirements.