DRYING AGENT, ITS PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION METHOD

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain a drying agent capable of keeping the water activity of foods or the like extremely low without using a method such as drying by heat drying or silica gel by making a crystalline nistose hydrate anhydrous under reduced pressure. CONSTITUTION:The crystalline nistose hydrate is made anhydrous under reduced pressure or in the presence of the dehydrating agent. The obtained drying agent has the composition of >=70% nistose content and <=2% water content and a crystalline powder. The drying agent is directly brought into contact with or mixed with foods. Thus, without using the drying method or the like by heat drying, silica gel or the like, the water activity of foods or the like is kept extremely low. Then, foods are stably prevented from adverse change and are kept in quality at a low cost.