The hygroscopicity of the dehydrated food is related to its physical, chemical and microbiological stability. This study aimed to characterize the physico-chemical and hygroscopic behavior of freeze dried yellow mombin pulp powder with maltodextrin (DE20). Analysis of moisture, pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, sugars, color, hygroscopicity and caking degree were performed. To obtain the isotherm, BET, GAB, Henderson and Oswin models were fitted and evaluated at 25 °C. The addition of maltodextrin to yellow mombin pulp resulted in a powder with a lower hygroscopicity and degree of caking. In addition, the results showed that the addition of maltodextrin provides a powder statistically different (p < 0.05) than the powder without maltodextrin with respect to moisture content, soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, sugars and color. The isotherms of the powders were classified as type III, characteristic of materials rich in carbohydrates. The results showed that the best fit of the isotherms were BET and Henderson models for the yellow mombin pulp powder and the yellow mombin pulp powder with maltodextrin, respectively.
food powder; isotherms; dehydration; Spondias mombin L
