What to do with commercail almond pulp.
December 1, 2011 8:10 PM Subscribe
I make orgeat commercially, and am left with a lot of almond "meal" after production. It is tasteless, as all the oil has been removed, however it seems wasteful to just throw it away. Does anyone know if this can be eaten by farm animals, or has any other use?
Can you burn it to make power or boil water for some other part of your process?
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:42 PM on December 1, 2011
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:42 PM on December 1, 2011
So it's almonds with all the fat removed, leaving a dry meal that's nutritionally about equal parts protein and carbs? That sounds to me like you are sitting on a vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free gold mine. I would get in the kitchen and start working on baked goods recipes. People with such dietary restrictions are often not much more discriminating than farm animals in terms of their standards, and they have lots more money to spend (I say this as a person with weird self-imposed dietary restrictions.)
High-protein, low-carb biscotti would be my first venture with a supply of such material.
posted by contraption at 8:43 PM on December 1, 2011
High-protein, low-carb biscotti would be my first venture with a supply of such material.
posted by contraption at 8:43 PM on December 1, 2011
Are there any pig farms near you? Swine would love it. (They'll eat damned near anything, but nuts are high on the menu.)
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:47 PM on December 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:47 PM on December 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm on a gluten-free diet, and I use almond meal in g-f recipes for cakes and brownies and desserts and all sorts of things.
If you lived near me I would happily buy a regular supply for my baking needs. Find some people who can't eat gluten and they will pay to take this by-product off your hands.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 8:51 PM on December 1, 2011
If you lived near me I would happily buy a regular supply for my baking needs. Find some people who can't eat gluten and they will pay to take this by-product off your hands.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 8:51 PM on December 1, 2011
First off, I wouldn't be surprised if their is still a fair amount of oil left, unless you are using a solvent to help with the extraction. I mention that, because the oil might make it higher-value.
In any case, I'm sure someone will have a use for it. How much of it do you generate? You might try contacting the coop agricultural extension for your area (if I guessed your location right).
posted by Good Brain at 8:53 PM on December 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
In any case, I'm sure someone will have a use for it. How much of it do you generate? You might try contacting the coop agricultural extension for your area (if I guessed your location right).
posted by Good Brain at 8:53 PM on December 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I should have mentioned that you might check with artisanal local bakeries. Could be a cross promotion opportunity for your main business too.
posted by Good Brain at 8:58 PM on December 1, 2011
posted by Good Brain at 8:58 PM on December 1, 2011
You might also look around for someone who makes skin care products--almond meal is sometimes used as an exfoliant in body/face scrubs. Etsy might be a good place to start a search for somebody in your area.
posted by corey flood at 9:41 PM on December 1, 2011
posted by corey flood at 9:41 PM on December 1, 2011
If you do go into recycling this into something edible, you'll probably want to look into a food scientist to figure out what you really have.
posted by rhizome at 11:08 PM on December 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 11:08 PM on December 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Toast some in a dry frying pan and see if the flavor improves.
posted by hortense at 12:14 AM on December 2, 2011
posted by hortense at 12:14 AM on December 2, 2011
Right now in LA, where I am, there are a glut of gluten-free bakers. Go see if one will purchase your raw materials, or all of them if you have that much left-overs to spread around!
Since you are working commercially and this by-product is produced in a facility that is certified by the health dept, I can't see a problem.
posted by jbenben at 12:21 AM on December 2, 2011
Since you are working commercially and this by-product is produced in a facility that is certified by the health dept, I can't see a problem.
posted by jbenben at 12:21 AM on December 2, 2011
I came in to say what corey flood said - I would imagine this would be awesome in cold processed soap. You can either find a local soap maker, sell it as a supply on Etsy, or make soap for holiday gifts this year!
posted by DarlingBri at 4:16 AM on December 2, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 4:16 AM on December 2, 2011
Almond meal is something people on the paleo diet can eat and with it being so popular right now...you could probably make a nice profit :)
posted by whitetigereyes at 10:08 AM on December 2, 2011
posted by whitetigereyes at 10:08 AM on December 2, 2011
Is it like the almond pulp leftover from making almond milk? If so, then look up "almond pulp recipes". A lot of people make crackers out of them. I've used it for gluten-free stuffing - really good!
I don't think it's the same as almond flour used in gluten-free or paleo diets since that's usually just finely ground blanched almonds.
nthing the idea of re-selling it for beauty products.
posted by Neekee at 12:06 PM on December 2, 2011
I don't think it's the same as almond flour used in gluten-free or paleo diets since that's usually just finely ground blanched almonds.
nthing the idea of re-selling it for beauty products.
posted by Neekee at 12:06 PM on December 2, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Andrhia at 8:19 PM on December 1, 2011 [2 favorites]