Table 5 Water activity, particle size, bulk density, Hausner ratio as a flowability and techno-functional properties of yellow mealworm powders. Mean values with different letter (a–c) within rows indicate significant difference between samples (Tukey’s HSD test, p < 0.05).

Water activity [-]

0.096 ± 0.001 b

0.214 ± 0.006 c

0.098 ± 0.001 b

0.083 ± 0.007 a

Mean particle size [µm]

123.0 ± 12.4 b

89.1 ± 11.8 a

96.7 ± 17.3 ab

90.8 ± 14.6 ab

Loose bulk density [kg/m³]

307.01 ± 6.34 b

280.00 ± 1.11 a

271.71 ± 9.50 a

279.63 ± 1.70 a

Tapped bulk density [kg/m³]

388.72 ± 4.44 b

360.00 ± 1.43 a

389.23 ± 1.54 b

387.18 ± 2.35 b

Hausner ratio (HR₁₀₀) [-]

1.27 ± 0.04 a

1.29 ± 0.01 a

1.44 ± 0.04 c

1.38 ± 0.01 b

Water holding capacity [g/g]

1.65 ± 0.09 ab

2.23 ± 0.13 b

1.43 ± 0.01 a

1.44 ± 0.11 a

Oil holding capacity [g/g]

1.30 ± 0.03 a

1.59 ± 0.17 b

1.37 ± 0.03 a

1.35 ± 0.02 a