Inulin bulk powder is a natural dietary fiber and prebiotic. It is widely found in chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, onion, banana, and other plants. Its chemical structure is fructan. It is a white powder, easily soluble in water, has no special smell, and has a slightly sweet taste. Inulin promotes intestinal health, regulates blood sugar, enhances immunity and improves lipid metabolism. It is often used in food, beverages, health products, and medicine.
Stability And Storage Requirements Of Inulin
The stability of inulin is closely related to its storage conditions, which are mainly affected by factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and packaging methods.
1. Effect of temperature on inulin
•Effect of high temperature:
When inulin is in a high-temperature environment, a thermal degradation reaction may occur. Generally speaking, when the temperature exceeds 60℃, the molecular structure of inulin may begin to become unstable. As time goes on, the degree of polymerization of inulin will decrease. This affects its functional properties. For example, in some foods processed at high temperatures, if inulin is added, the high temperature during processing may cause partial degradation of inulin.
•Effect of low temperature:
Relatively speaking, a low-temperature environment is more friendly to inulin. At low temperatures, the molecular movement of green organic inulin slows down, its chemical properties are more stable, and it can better maintain its original structure and function. Generally speaking, if inulin bulk powder is stored in an environment of 5℃-10℃, its quality can be well maintained. However, if the temperature is too low, such as below 0℃, bulk inulin powder may change its physical properties due to reasons such as water freezing. For example, agglomeration and other phenomena, but this usually does not cause serious damage to its chemical structure and function. After the temperature rises, inulin bulk can still basically restore its original state.
2. Effect of humidity on inulin
•The harm of high humidity:
Inulin is hygroscopic. In a high-humidity environment, inulin will absorb moisture from the air. When inulin absorbs too much moisture, it may cause it to agglomerate. This will not only affect the appearance and convenience of inulin but also provide conditions for the growth of microorganisms. Microorganisms are easy to breed and reproduce in an environment with moisture and nutrients (inulin). This will cause Jerusalem's artichoke inulin powder to be contaminated and reduce its quality. In addition, a high-humidity environment may also accelerate the hydrolysis reaction of inulin and affect its function.
•The control effect of refrigeration on humidity:
The refrigerated environment usually has a low humidity. The general relative humidity is around 40%-60%. Such humidity conditions are conducive to reducing the absorption of water by chicory root inulin powder and keeping it dry. This can prevent problems such as caking and microbial contamination.
3. Microbial factors
•Microbial growth conditions:
The growth of microorganisms requires suitable conditions such as temperature, humidity,y, and nutrients. Inulin is a nutrient. If it is not properly stored at room temperature, it can easily become a culture medium for microbial growth. Generally speaking, the suitable temperature for microbial growth is between 20℃-40℃. And pure inulin powder is usually in this temperature range. If there are microorganisms in the environment, they may multiply rapidly.
•The antibacterial effect of refrigeration:
Refrigerating inulin fiber powder can effectively inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. Most microorganisms will have their metabolic activities significantly inhibited at low temperatures, and their growth rate will slow down or even stop growing. For example, at a refrigerated temperature of around 4°C, the growth rate of common microorganisms such as bacteria and molds will be greatly reduced, thereby extending the shelf life of chicory inulin powder and maintaining its quality.
4. Light
Ultraviolet rays in sunlight may cause the quality of inulin powder organic to deteriorate, and avoiding direct sunlight is an important storage principle.
5. Packaging
Using moisture-proof packaging with good sealing can effectively avoid the impact of the external environment on inulin bulk powder.
Is It Necessary To Refrigerate?
Generally, refrigeration is not required, but it can be refrigerated under certain circumstances.
Just store at room temperature:
100 Inulin powder can be stored stably for a long time in a dry, cool, and light-proof environment. The generally recommended storage temperature is 15~25°C and the humidity is less than 60%.
Requirements For The Storage Of Inulin
•Unopened inulin:
For unopened inulin products, generally, good quality can be maintained during the shelf life in a dry, cool,l and room temperature environment, as long as the temperature does not exceed 30°C and the relative humidity does not exceed 70%.
However, if the ambient temperature is high or the humidity is high, it is more appropriate to store it in a refrigerator. This can better maintain the stability of the best quality inulin and extend its potential shelf life.
•Opened inulin:
Once the bulk powders inulin is opened, the area of contact with the air increases, making it more susceptible to factors such as humidity, oxygen, and microorganisms. At this time, it is a good choice to put the inulin in a refrigerated environment. Refrigeration can reduce the reaction rate of dietary fiber inulin with oxygen, reduce the occurrence of chemical reactions such as oxidation, and also inhibit the microbial contamination problems that may be caused by contact with air. For example, after opening, if the certified organic inulin prebiotic pure powder is exposed to room temperature, it may absorb moisture and agglomerate within a few days. However, if it is placed in the refrigerator, it can be kept in good condition for a long time if it is properly sealed.
Refrigeration Precautions:
1. Packaging requirements:
Before putting inulin in the refrigerator, make sure that its packaging is well sealed. You can use sealed bags, sealed cans, etc. to package the inulin prebiotic fiber powder. You need to prevent moisture and other odors in the refrigerator from entering the packaging and affecting the quality of the chicory root fiber powder. If the inulin absorbs moisture or odors in the refrigerator, it will not only affect its taste but also may cause quality degradation.
2. Temperature setting:
The refrigerator's refrigeration temperature should generally be set between 2℃-8℃. Too high a temperature may not effectively inhibit microbial growth and chemical reactions, while too low a temperature may cause inulin to freeze, agglomerate, and other problems. At the same time, avoid placing inulin bulk powder in places where the temperature is too low, such as the air outlet of the refrigerator, to prevent the local temperature from being too low and causing adverse effects on the inulin.
3. Avoid frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door:
Frequent opening and closing of the refrigerator door will cause large fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the refrigerator. This is not good for the preservation of chicory root fiber inulin. Therefore, after storing inulin, try to reduce unnecessary opening and closing of the refrigerator door. This creates a relatively stable refrigeration environment for inulin.
4. Handling after taking out:
When taking out inulin from the refrigerator for use, it should be taken out as soon as possible, and then the remaining inulin should be put back into the refrigerator in time. If the chicory root inulin sweetener taken out is left at room temperature for too long, when it is put back into the refrigerator, condensation water may appear in the package due to temperature changes, thereby increasing the risk of inulin getting damp.
Inulin can be stored stably for at least 12 months in an environment with a relative humidity below 60% and a temperature not exceeding 25°C. When the temperature rises to 35°C, the hydrolysis rate of its fructan increases significantly. Therefore, proper control of temperature and humidity is the key to ensuring the quality of inulin. Dietary inulin usually does not need to be refrigerated and can be stored stably for a long time in a dry, cool, and dark environment. However, refrigeration is a reasonable choice when it is stored at high temperatures, high humidity, or for a long time. The correct storage method can not only maintain the functionality and quality of inulin bulk powder but also extend its service life.
Guanjie Biotech is a bulk inulin supplier. As one of the pure inulin manufacturers, we provide high-quality inulin. The production process of inulin bulk powder involves many steps, from the selection of raw materials to the final packaging, each step requires strict quality control to ensure the production of high-quality inulin that meets market demand. In addition, in the storage process, we also have our warehouse to store the products strictly according to the requirements. Quality assurance and competitive price. Welcome to consult. If you need bulk inulin, please feel free to contact us at info@gybiotech.com.
