Microwave method for drying aromatic herbs

Food drying microwave technology

Drying Process

The agri-food industry requires drying solutions that are fast, energy-efficient, and capable of preserving the organoleptic and nutritional qualities of both raw ingredients and finished products, across a wide range of applications — from herbs and spices to fruits, insects, cheese chips, and snacks.

High-Efficiency Drying Solutions

Thanks to volumetric heating, energy is instantly and fully absorbed by the product itself — eliminating any warm-up time and ensuring consistent moisture reduction. Whether used as a standalone process or as a final drying step, these systems also contribute to product decontamination and overall process optimization.

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Key advantages of microwave and radio frequency tempering

Instant process

No warm-up, flexible production with instant start capability

Drying efficiency

Moisture residual value < 10%

Preservation of food quality

Preservation of the visual aspect and the nutritional properties

Flexibility and optimization

Dry fully with our solution, on its own or as a final step

Selective heating

No risk of surfae overcooking

Food safety

Potential decontamination during processing

Fiability

Consistent and repeatable results

Fast treatment

Compared to hot-air drying: Microwave drying is 10-15 times faster in typical conditions

Products that can be processed

Food drying microwave technology enables fast, uniform, and energy-efficient processing across a wide range of agri-food products, from herbs and spices to insects and snacks, while preserving quality and meeting food safety requirements.

Spice drying

Preserving color, aroma, and active compounds is essential to the spice industry. Drying solutions must therefore ensure precise moisture control while protecting the delicate qualities of each product.

Herb drying

Dried herbs are used across the food, pharmaceutical, and medical industries, where preserving color, active ingredients, and flavors is critical.

Insect drying

With several machines already sold and deployed, drying solutions for insects must deliver fast, homogeneous, and repeatable results while preserving taste and appearance — with no bitterness, no crumbling, and guaranteed microbiological safety.

Cheese drying

Drying cheese-based products requires fast, uniform processing that preserves texture and flavor while avoiding any risk of surface overcooking. Solutions must be adaptable — from industrial-scale continuous lines to smaller batch volumes — and deliver consistent, high-quality results in just a few minutes

NUTRIDRYER RANGE

Discover Sairem’s drying systems

Our industrial microwave food dryer, NutriDryer, is a drying solution with volumetric heating for food industry professionals processing both raw ingredients and finished products.

With instant start-up and no warm-up time, our microwave systems maximize throughput, reduce energy consumption, and preserve food quality — whether used as a standalone process or as a final drying step.

NutriDryers industrial dryers for the food industry
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Discover the range of Sairem industrial drying equipment.
NutriDryer Range

Here’s a questions-and-answers section about our microwave drying solutions.

Yes. Microwave drying can be used as a standalone process or as a final drying step, seamlessly integrating into existing lines to reduce overall processing time and energy consumption.

Thanks to volumetric heating, energy is absorbed directly by the product — ensuring homogeneous drying without surface overcooking.

Microwave drying can contribute to decontamination during processing, depending on the product. For insects, results show no Clostridium perfringens and less than 10 cfu/g of enterobacteria after treatment.

Yes. Microwave drying is a proven technology for insect processing, with multiple successful installations and repeat customers. It preserves the natural shape, taste, and appearance of the product, while ensuring microbiological safety — with no Clostridium perfringens and less than 10 cfu/g of enterobacteria after treatment.

Yes. With a proven capacity of 2,250 chips per hour, microwave technology ensures uniform drying without any risk of burning, achieving moisture residual values below 2% in full compliance with customer specifications.

Case studies

Volumetric heating: fast and uniform energy transfer

Volumetric heating uses microwave energy to generate heat directly inside the product, enabling faster, more uniform and energy-efficient industrial processing.

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What are the different industrial drying technologies?

Discover the main industrial drying methods, from hot air and freeze-drying to microwave or RF drying, and find the best method for your process.

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Microwave drying of insects and meal worms

Microwave drying applies controlled energy to rapidly reduce moisture in insects and mealworms, enabling uniform dehydration and shorter processing times.

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