How to Mill Dried Anchovies to Achieve Uniform Fish Flour
Anchovies are a highly valued marine raw material, widely used in the food, feed, and seasoning industries. However, transforming whole dried anchovies into uniform, stable fish flour is not as simple as direct grinding. Based on our project experience, the key lies in controlled drying + suitable milling technology, rather than relying on a single machine.
In this article, we share a proven and practical solution for milling dried anchovies into 10–40 mesh uniform fish flour, with stable quality and high efficiency.
- Applications of Anchovy Fish Flour
- Anchovy fish flour is commonly applied in:
- Food seasoning powders (bouillon, soup base, umami enhancers)
- Pet food and aquatic feed formulations
- Functional protein ingredients for processed food
- Fermented products and flavor extracts
For these applications, you will usually require:
- Consistent particle size
- Low moisture content
- Good flowability
- Minimal heat generation during milling
This is exactly where many conventional grinding solutions fall short.
- How to Achieve Uniform and Fine Fish Flour – Our Yinda Recommended Solution
If you want to achieve uniformly fine anchovy fish flour, we strongly recommend a two-stage process:
controlled hot air drying + hammer milling.
2.1 YDHF Series Hot Air Tray Dryer
Dry anchovies into a fragile and brittle status
Before milling, anchovies must be dried to a stable, brittle condition. In our experience, the ideal moisture content should be below 10%. At this stage, the fish becomes fragile enough for efficient size reduction, while avoiding smearing or clogging during grinding.
- Principio de funcionamiento
Our Yinda YDHF series hot air tray dryer uses forced hot air circulation to evenly remove moisture from anchovies placed on stainless steel trays. Heated air flows horizontally or vertically through each tray layer, ensuring uniform drying without localized overheating.
- Características clave
Uniform drying across all trays
Adjustable temperature and drying time
Food-grade stainless steel structure
Low operating cost and easy maintenance
Suitable for batch production and pilot testing
Once the anchovies reach a brittle and friable state, they are ready for milling with minimal energy loss.
Test Video for Reference
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0ziFsw8q08U
2.2 YDGS Series Hammer Mill
Milling dried anchovies into 10–40 mesh fish flour
After drying, the anchovies are milled using our Yinda YDGS series milling dried anchovies machine hammer mill set, which is especially suitable for protein-rich, brittle materials such as dried fish.
- Principio de funcionamiento
High-speed rotating hammers generate strong impact force, breaking the dried anchovies into powder. The final particle size is controlled by interchangeable screen meshes, allowing stable output from 10 to 40 mesh. Matching a air cooled chiller to achieve a low temperature grinding status to keep the minimal heat generation.
- Características clave
Strong impact force for brittle fish materials
Stable output particle size
Low heat generation during milling
Easy screen replacement and cleaning
Compact structure, suitable for continuous operation
This combination ensures uniform fish flour, with good color retention and minimal odor change.
Test Video for Reference
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z60ZOzGE9QI
- Other Recommendations for a More Automatic Production Line
For customers planning semi-automatic or fully automatic fish flour production, we also recommend the following auxiliary equipment:
3.1 YDSS Belt Conveyor
Used to automatically transfer dried anchovies or block materials into the hammer mill. This reduces manual handling and supports continuous batch production.
3.2 YDGZ Vibrating Sifter
Installed after milling to:
- Remove oversized particles
- Achieve a more concentrated particle size distribution
- Improve final product consistency
- Oversized material can be received torecycle back to the mill.
Conclusion
From our practical experience, uniform anchovy fish flour is achieved not by milling alone, but through a well-designed drying and grinding process.
By combining:
- YDHF hot air tray dryer
- YDGS series milling dried anchovies machine molino de martillosset
- Optional conveying and sieving systems
We Yinda help customers build stable, scalable, and food-grade anchovy powder production lines.
If you are planning a dried anchovy milling project, or would like a customized fish flour processing solution, feel free to contact us. We are always happy to share test data, machine videos, and professional recommendations based on your target capacity and application.
Correo electrónico: dennie@yindamachinery.com
Website: www.yindamachinery.com
WhatsApp/TEL: +8613914192807