Traditional freezers are used to store food items that are already cool or frozen but also many times to freeze foods that are hot or at room temperature for future consumption. While this may be the most common method for freezing food, doing so is by no means the most efficient or the most sanitary. For the best results, you need a blast freezer.
What Is A Blast Freezer?
A blast freezer is an appliance that is not made for food storage but is instead designed to freeze them incredibly fast. This method is known as shock freezing because of just how quickly they work. These freezers come in various types to suit different needs and uses from home to commercial. And they, therefore, vary in shape, size, capacity, and features.
How Does A Blast Freezer Work?
Just like their name suggests, most blast freezers work by blasting the food with extremely cold air at an even flow from internal blowers. It is this flow of cold air that rapidly chills and freezes even very hot foods that are right out of the oven.
Most units will have different cycles which you can use to blast chill or shock freeze depending on the type of food and for what purpose. For example when in a “strong” cycle blast freezer temperature may reach around minus forty degrees Fahrenheit.
Why Would You Want To Use A Blast Freezer?
There are actually many reasons to use one however the most common are:
Defeat Bacteria
The longer that food stays unfrozen the greater the chance of contamination to food-borne illnesses and the spread of bacteria such as E.Coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus. Bacteria can multiply very quickly in foods that are between forty-six and one hundred and fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit or eight to sixty-eight degrees Celsius.
Freezing it quickly decreases this risk exponentially which is obviously a huge concern for parents and businesses alike.
It’s The Top Way To Preserve Freshness, Taste, And Quality
When food is frozen ice crystals develop. However, most people don’t realize that the size of the crystals is directly related to the time it takes to freeze. The longer the time, the larger the ice crystals will be. When freezing in the traditional manner, the lengthy time it takes results in large ice crystals forming in the cells of the food.
All plants and animals contain a large portion of water in their bodies and their cells. When these large ice crystals form it causes cells to burst and tear. The result is a loss of moisture, nutrients, taste, quality, and a change in texture.
When food is frozen using a blast freezer the opposite occurs. Since it takes such little time to freeze (usually under two hours), the ice crystals are much smaller and don’t cause the same damage. This process of quick chilling and freezing seals in the juices and flavor of the food so that it tastes and is, just as fresh as the moment it was frozen. And that also means maintaining its nutritional value.
Since this process works so well, it is ideal for freezing food for both the short and long term. Once frozen with a blast freezer the food can then be placed and stored in a conventional freezer until it will be sold or eaten. A perfect example is frozen dinners which are prepared in this manner by manufacturers and then kept in freezers by the supermarket and then the consumer.
Who Can Benefit From A Blast Freezer?
Everyone can enjoy the advantages of owning one since they are so useful to both businesses and homeowners.
Commercial Blast Freezer Uses:
Blast freezers have been a vital tool for many commercial applications. They are a must in places such as schools, hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses where food, sauces, and desserts, are often prepared ahead of time and must be of the highest standard, free of bacteria, and safe to eat. Of course, these situations demand that the food that is not only fresh but that looks and feels it as well.
These types of freezers are particularly important for large companies which sell meat, poultry, and seafood by the pound. This is because they help to keep their products from being dehydrated as they would if they were frozen with conventional freezers.
Blast freezing allows them to maintain their weight and price but also keeps them just as fresh and with all their nutrients and natural juices so the consumer can get the freshest and tastiest food possible. Blast freezers are also commonly used by bakeries and pastry shops to cool down baked goods and save time when preparing mixes.
Freezing products at extremely low temperatures also of course can allow bakery and pastry shop owners to store their products for much longer than they could otherwise. Many freezers are made with specific cycles that are designed for bakers and even chocolatiers. Cakes and cooked bread can be frozen and when thawed will smell and taste as if they just came out of the oven.
Uncooked bread can also be frozen and stored for the future which can really save some cash. Ice cream makers too can really benefit from using one. Many people actually don’t realize this since they think of ice cream as already being frozen. However, because ice cream contains around thirty percent water after it is taken out of the batch freezer just like other types of food this water freezes slowly and develops large crystals when frozen in a standard freezer.
These crystals take away from the natural volume, look, flavor, and creaminess which is not good news if you are in the ice cream business. For making and selling great-tasting ice cream blast freezers are an important investment. Blast freezing increases the length of time ice cream can be preserved, keeps the flavor, creaminess, and volume, and allows the business owner to always have a product that is ready to be on display.
Irinox blast freezers are well-known for their features that cater to ice cream makers such as being able to increase the temperature quickly so that frozen ice cream can be scoopable and ready to sell.
Home Blast Freezer Uses:
Luckily today, blast freezer manufacturers have realized that there is a high demand for their products in a more compact version so that they can be used in the home. And while they are incredibly popular many consumers don’t know just how many benefits there are to owning one and how many ways they can be used to make food tastier and life easier.
Owning a blast freezer as you already know can help can prevent nutrient loss, bacteria from multiplying, and the loss of moisture, which means providing top-quality food for your family’s consumption which should always be one of the main priorities of a parent.
Having one also lets busy moms and dads save time by being able to prepare full meals in advance that can be easily defrosted, and reheated yet retain all of the delicious features of the particular dish. Many families do this on a weekly basis which can save a ton of time and money. They are also an excellent way to save leftovers so they can be used as a meal at another time.
Some freezers have extra convenient features like a thawing mode to defrost your frozen food for you and can even roast foods at low temperatures. A few include a rapid chilling cycle so you can quickly chill wine, water, beer, and sodas in only a few minutes.
If you love to have guests and parties having a blast freezer with features like these will allow you to prepare well in advance so on the day of your event you’ll have minimal stress and will need only minutes to get ready instead of hours which equals more time enjoying yourself with the people you care about.
Blast freezers are popular for use at home with all types of meats, poultry, and fish including wild game, and are therefore also a favorite of many hunters and fishermen. Seafood and shellfish which have been frozen are indistinguishable in taste and texture from ones just brought home from the market.
A trick many people use with shellfish like clams and oysters in particular is to blast freeze them and then let them thaw out in the fridge where they will open on their own so you can effortlessly scoop them out of their shell. And of course, don’t forget fruits and vegetables can be shock frozen and blast-cooled as well. Blast freezers can be used instead of air-drying pasta and are ideal for people who love to bake.
They can help minimize oxidation in the dough, save time, and ensure soft and smooth mixes. Plus you can set desserts in a matter of minutes instead of hours. A blast freezer can also help you to quickly cool down pies and baked goods while keeping their crispy crust so they can be enjoyed at just the right temperature. Don’t forget ice cream either which will retain its naturally creamy texture so you can enjoy it how it should be.
Purchasing A Blast Freezer
The freezer you choose will ultimately depend on a few factors. What you will be using it for is the most important since this will determine the size you need and often times the specific model as blast freezer designs and features are manufactured for different tasks that cater to the needs of certain industries or home use.
For example, someone looking for a machine to freeze their leftovers and prepare meals for their family will not need one which has modes and features that cater to ice cream makers. Knowing how much food you will be using it for at one time will also help you quickly weed out options that are too small or too big for your needs.
When shopping for one, the description of each model will tell you how many pans it can fit and how many pounds or kilograms of food. If you own a restaurant or will be using your freezer for a business this is very important. Your budget is of course obviously another factor which will influence your decision. Blast freezer prices can vary greatly depending on the size, features, and capacity of the unit.
Even small blast freezers cost a few thousand dollars. However, when it comes to the health and well-being of your family, customers, and clients it should be thought of as an investment. Particularly with a business, always having fresh products will help to ensure you are successful.
Not owning one can oftentimes cost you much more in the long run in terms of waste, food spoilage, and even being sued by customers if they become sick from food that has been contaminated. Buying new is always the best way to go simply because you will have a warranty on both the appliance and its parts from the manufacturer.
Also purchasing online has made things easy since new freezers can often be found much cheaper than in local shops and many times even less expensive than buying a blast freezer used. If you must by second-hand some refrigeration companies may sell refurbished or used machines and you could always search on the internet for “used blast freezer for sale,”.
Or you may get lucky and find an ad selling one in your local paper from someone who has gone out of business or is looking to sell and upgrade to a larger model.
Blast Freezer Hire
Blast freezer rental or blast freezer hire is sometimes the best choice for certain businesses or situations. This is often the case in businesses that may require using one but only seasonally or a few months out of the year. You may also already own a blast freezer but due to an increase in demand for your product need to rent one temporarily to make sure you can fill all of your orders.
Renting a unit can also be cheaper than outsourcing your blast freezing as well and the unit can often be placed in a location that is more convenient and closer to your operation. Freezers that are rented or hired out are almost always what are called mobile blast freezers.
Different Blast Freezer Sizes
It doesn’t matter if you own a big business, a small one, or are just looking for something for your home kitchen, there are options for everyone.
Small Blast Freezers
While not all manufacturers make them, the smallest option, and one which is increasingly popular for use as a home blast freezer are countertop models. These are the least expensive and most compact choice and as their name suggests made to fit on a countertop.
They are sometimes also marketed as mini blast freezers since they are much smaller than larger types and somewhere around twenty inches in height. That being said they usually still weigh at least a hundred pounds. Most countertop options will have shelves for about three pans.
Under The Counter
A medium-sized choice that offers more room than a countertop model but still saves space is an under the counter blast freezer. These utilize a space that might otherwise be overlooked or unused. Many under the counter freezers will have adjustable legs so that you can set them at the height which is most convenient to your space and level as well.
Others will have wheels so that even though they weigh a few hundred pounds you can move them if you need to. Depending on the model you choose these can have to accommodate anywhere from three to ten pans as some can be quite wide.
Floor Models
Floor models are even bigger and deeper (some more than 40 inches deep) and for this reason, are often referred to as reach in blast freezers. They are stand-alone units that are normally at least forty inches high. Some units will even have a top that can be used as a workstation, it depends on the model. Many freezers this size will have up to a twenty-pan capacity.
Walk-In Blast Freezers
There are also some pretty large choices as well that are particularly useful for businesses. Roll-in freezers are designed so that you can simply roll an entire food trolley with a set of racks right in. This means you can blast freeze between twenty and thirty pans of food at one time. Some of these large walk-in blast freezers are even double depth so you can fit more than one trolley at a time.
While they are more expensive than other sizes, for larger operations they are often a necessity. Many blast freezer manufacturers can actually design integrated units and install them for you so can have a blast freezer built into your existing walk-in cooler.
Mobile Blast Freezers
Mobile blast freezers are as big as they get and are commonly used by companies both small and large that do a lot of freezing. They are also made to be movable. Since they are so big and can be transported mobile blast freezers are what many businesses choose to rent instead of purchasing their own unit. But of course, if you have the need for one, in the long run buying your own will be cheaper.
Many retailers will actually customize the unit to the unique needs of your company when purchasing one. Mobile units can be a smart choice if your business may have to change location in the future or you simply end up needing to move your freezer to a more convenient spot.
Whether it’s for home or commercial use, a blast freezer is the smartest and most effective way to safeguard your food from bacteria, preserve its nutritional value, and prepare it for storage while maintaining its original texture and taste. From helping busy parents to bakers, ice cream makers, restaurants, and other businesses they are an investment in quality and convenience.
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