Buyer guide · 5 min read
Spray-Dried Tomato Powder: Specifications, Uses and Storage for Food Manufacturers
By Shantanu Gawli, Mireva Foods ·
Spray-dried tomato powder is tomato pulp or concentrate that is sprayed into a hot air chamber and dried in seconds to a fine, free-flowing red powder. Food manufacturers use it to add tomato colour, flavour and acidity to dry products where tomato paste cannot be used, such as seasonings, instant soups and snack coatings.
Spray-dried powder vs dried tomato pieces
| Property | Spray-dried tomato powder | Dried tomato flakes or pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Concentrate sprayed and dried in seconds | Slices or dice dried over hours |
| Texture | Fine powder | Visible pieces |
| Dispersion | Disperses quickly in water and sauces | Rehydrates slowly |
| Typical HS code | 2002.90 | 0712.90 |
| Best for | Seasonings, instant soups, coatings | Ready meals, garnishes, soup mixes |
What to include in your specification
- Moisture: usually 5% max to keep the powder free-flowing
- Particle size or mesh
- Colour: deep red, measured against a reference agreed with the buyer
- Taste and aroma: characteristic ripe tomato, free from burnt or off notes
- Carrier: whether a drying aid such as maltodextrin is used, and at what level
- Microbiology: total plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella
The carrier question matters for labelling. If a drying aid is used, it may need to appear on your ingredient list.
Where tomato powder is used
- Snack seasonings and coatings for chips, crackers and extruded snacks
- Instant soups, noodles and cup meals
- Sauce, ketchup and gravy bases
- Spice blends and masalas
- Ready meals where a dry tomato note is needed
How to store tomato powder
Tomato powder absorbs moisture quickly and can cake or darken. Keep it in its sealed, lined bag in a cool, dry store away from light, rotate stock first in, first out and reseal opened bags immediately. In unopened packing a typical shelf life is about 12 months.