Air-Dried Beetroot Powder
Air-dried beetroot powder is made by slowly drying slices of whole beetroot at low temperature, then milling them into a fine powder.
Air-dried beetroot powder: how it is made
Whole beetroots are washed, sliced and dried with warm air over many hours. Once the slices are dry and brittle they are milled to a fine powder. Nothing is pressed out and nothing is added, which is why our ingredient list has one item on it.
Air-dried vs spray-dried
Spray-drying starts with juice, not the whole root. The juice is misted into a chamber of hot air and dries in seconds. It is fast and cheap at scale, but it removes the pulp, and the sugary juice is often dried onto a carrier such as maltodextrin to stop it turning sticky. Air-drying takes longer and keeps the whole vegetable.
Air-dried vs freeze-dried
Freeze-drying removes water by freezing and then using a vacuum. It is gentle and produces a very light, bright powder, but it is the most expensive method, which shows in the price per gram. Air-drying sits between the two: gentler than spray-drying, far cheaper than freeze-drying.
What you notice in the jar
- Colour: a deep magenta to burgundy powder.
- Flavour: earthy and gently sweet, like roast beetroot.
- Texture: fine, with the natural fibre of the root, so give drinks a stir or a quick blend.
- Label: one ingredient. If a beetroot powder lists more, it is worth asking why.
How to store it
Keep the lid tight and store below 25°C in a cool, dry place. Beetroot powder draws moisture from the air, which can make it clump. Each jar contains a silica gel sachet to help with this: do not eat it, and keep it out of reach of children.
Compare methods in more detail on beetroot juice powder vs whole beetroot powder.