Banana chips are a popular snack among consumers because they are crispy, sweet and nutritious. Although its production process is simple, there are many details that need to be paid attention to in the production process to ensure the quality of the finished product. Next, let’s take a closer look at what is the procedure of making banana chips.
Step1. Peeling
Peeling is the first step in banana chips production. Because bananas vary in shape and curvature, it is difficult to uniformly peel them mechanically, so most peeling work is still done manually. Workers need to completely remove the banana peel to ensure that the surface of the flesh is clean and free of residue.
Step2. Slicing
Depending on the product specifications, the thickness of the slices is usually between 2 mm and 5 mm. In order to ensure uniform slice thickness, the factory generally uses a dedicated slicer for operation. The quality of the slices not only affects the taste of the finished product, but also affects the uniformity of heat during subsequent frying.
Step3. Blanching
The purpose of this step is to remove some enzyme substances and prevent oxidation and discoloration, while also helping to improve the taste. The blanching time and temperature need to be precisely controlled, usually at around 90°C for 30 to 60 seconds to ensure that the banana slices are completely inactivated without deforming.
Step4. Deep frying
Frying not only determines the crispy texture of banana chips, but also affects their color and aroma. Vegetable oil (such as palm oil) is usually used for frying, and the oil temperature is controlled between 160°C and 180°C. The frying time is generally 2 to 4 minutes.
Step5. De-oiling
Fried banana chips contain more oil and need to be de-oiled to reduce the greasiness and extend the shelf life. Usually, a centrifugal de-oiling machine is used to de-oil banana chips, and the operation time is about 1 to 2 minutes. Effective de-oiling not only improves product quality, but also meets the needs of modern consumers for healthy snacks.
Although peeling is still mainly done manually, with the development of food processing technology, many large banana chips manufacturers have introduced fully automatic banana chips production lines, which have significantly improved production efficiency and product consistency. By optimizing the configuration of the production line, the factory is gradually realizing the automation and intelligence of the processing process.