What is a Blast Freezer?
We have a lot to say and explain about this topic but the first thing that you must know and have knowledge about is what actually are Commercial blast freezers? We are all well aware of the freezers and chillers but here the main topic is the “blast freezers”, so a blast freezer that may not sound like other normal home appliances, but in fact, this product has the capability to be one of the most important parts of your kitchen setup. A blast freezer has the ability to chill or freeze any of your food much quicker as compared to these ordinary freezers. This ends up in locking its necessary nutrients and vitamins while preventing the growth of bacteria within that food. Blast freezers typically have many shelves where all your food pans or sheet pans can be stored and chilled at exceptionally low temperatures.
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Science of blast freezing or blast chilling
The basic working principle of blast freezing is that they form the crystals inside the frozen food that are smaller in size as compared to the crystals that are formed in food frozen in a normal freezer, which means that upon defrosting food, large ice crystals melt and cause additional moisture to release, that effects the taste and quality of your food products.
Blast chiller vs Blast freezers
The difference between a freezer and a blast chiller is that a freezer holds food at below freezing temperature while a blast chiller cools food quickly by blowing cold air over the food product and gradually dropping the temperature in the chamber
How does a commercial blast freezer work?
Blast freezers tend to freeze the food quickly due to the blowers that are present inside the blast freezers pass the freezing air over the surface of the food. Blast freezers usually have a variety of settings that you may select according to your food whether you want it as room temperature, chilled, or hot.
Benefits of blast freezing for restaurants
Owning a restaurant requires diligence. It is very important to understand how to keep a very good reputation for your restaurant. It is also very important to make sure that your business is keeping food quality and hygiene to a high standard. Not only for restaurants but a blast freezing is suitable for many other industries as well. Its remarkable advantages can dramatically increase your profitability by having a positive impact on the quality of your food.
Below we outlined some major key benefits of blast freezing and how an investment in a blast freezer can provide many advantages for restaurants.
- Efficient
- Smaller ice crystals
- Make extra smooth ice creams and sorbets
- Nutrients are maintained
- Maintains quality of food products
- Enhances the shelf life of prepared foods
- Prevents bacteria from growing speedily
- Allows you to cool down food products quickly when cooking
- Less evaporation
- Versatility
Blast freezers Vs Flash freezers Vs Deep freezers
A blast freezer is typically designed in such a way that it quickly brings down the temperature of the food that is being stored in it. They are more frequently used in a lot of commercial kitchens and in the frozen food industry. Not very different from flash freezers in which when you flash freeze meats, they are frozen in such a way that it does not create ice crystals between the fibers of your meats. Whereas the term deep freezers usually describe a type of freezer that has extra insulation for longer-term storage than your normal refrigerator freezer. Deep freezers normally come in two variants that are upright or chest freezers
The whole difference lies in the method and the temperature that we set for the cooling that is used to store the product. Undeniably, freezing is a slow decrease (until 24 hours) of a sample’s temperature. It will finally reach -18°C, transforming water inside the sample into ice crystals.
Blast freezer repair and maintenance cost
As we know that blast freezers are very expensive than other normal freezers that is why they are not suitable for home use and only can be used commercially. Where we talk about the whole five-figure price of a blast freezer, we must know that a single part of the blast freezer would also not come in handy and would demand a high cost. So before buying a blast freezer you must be well aware of the fact that this is not it and it may demand a further investment of your hard-earned money if damaged or need repair at any time.
Disadvantages of blast freezing
With all the good sides of any product there comes some disadvantages which can be ignored if you have no option left other than buying equipment. Some of the disadvantages of a blast freezer are as follows.
- Products are more prone to dehydration because of larger and uncovered surface
- Small fluctuation in storage temperature can result in defrosting into a large lump.
- Blast freezers are not appropriate for domestic use.
- Blast freezers are very expensive.
- The process involves in a blast freezer requires a larger energy consumption than normal freezing, which is why it can only be used commercially.
Commercial blast freezers care instructions
Blast chillers are very important to food service operations. Blast chillers come in different sizes like full-size, half-size, and countertop models, and as roll-in units or reach-ins. In Spite Of the varieties of models, all blast chillers are quite expensive, some of them cost upward of five figures, yes you heard it right. Here are some tips on how to best care for them to protect this major kitchen investment.
- Consistently Cleaning the Interior & Exterior
- Regular Cleaning the Condenser Coil
- Checking the Area by the Evaporator Coil
- Checking the Gaskets Often
- Check the Air Filters Often
- Routinely Clean Drain Pans and Tubes
- Keep Your Refrigeration Unit Dry
Common FAQ’s about Commercial Blast Freezers
How cold is a blast chiller or blast freezer?
As we know, the main objective of a blast chiller is to chill foods at a fast rate. Blast chillers can normally bring down the temperature of foods from 160 degrees to 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less in just about 90 minutes
Are there any health implications of blast frozen food?
There is no doubt that fresh food is always best for one’s health because there is nothing as healthy as a fresh product. But no one can have fresh food all the time so frozen food is a healthier option than its out-of-season ‘fresh’ counterparts which are picked out even before they are ripe. This means that there are fewer health implications of blast frozen food.
Does a commercial blast freezer reduce food waste?
No doubt that the blast chillers freeze food so quickly that the size of the ice crystals that are formed in the freezing process is reduced rapidly. As we know that in the restaurants a huge amount of food is made and then wasted every day, so with the help of a blast chiller it has a tantalizingly short payback period which totally depends on the amount of food you produce.
Blast freezers vs normal freezer which is better?
The major difference between a normal freezer and a blast chiller is their basic functionality, a commercial freezer can chill and freeze food products and keeps them frozen over a longer period of time, on the other hand, blast chillers quickly cool food products.
What is an air blast freezing system?
Airblast freezers are actually used to freeze food products from an already chilled temperature to their required storage temperature which totally depends on the food product with air temperatures between -35°C and -45°C. A typical blast-freezing refrigeration system comprises a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and fans.
What are the types of freezing in fish processing?
We must know that fish freezing is a process of conservation in which it is important that the temperature of fish and fishery products is lowered at -40°C or below with most of the water inside of fish tissue turning into ice. The best procedures for freezing fish are in order
1) Vacuum sealed
2) Wrapped in plastic wrap, double wrapping would be a better option though
3) Freezer paper is a must
4) Any method packaged in water (water affects texture and flavor when defrosted.)
What Are the Pros and Cons of Commercial Blast Freezers and Chillers?
Commercial blast freezers and chillers are essential tools in the food industry, designed to freeze food rapidly and efficiently. These units use advanced technology like flash freezing and quick freezing to preserve food by minimizing the formation of ice crystals, which can damage the texture and quality of food. During the freezing process, food is exposed to extremely low temperatures for a short period of time, allowing it to maintain its original freshness and nutritional value.
Blast chillers and blast freezers are particularly effective for businesses that handle large quantities of food, as they can rapidly freeze items in bulk. This method is crucial for producing frozen foods that meet high standards of quality. The ability to freeze food quickly also helps maintain food safety during short periods of time, making these units indispensable for the modern food industry. However, the initial cost of installation and energy consumption are factors to consider when weighing the pros and cons.
