Individual Quick Freezing (IQF)

These are IQF (Individually Quick-Frozen) freezing tunnels with capacities up to 24,000 kg/h

The product passes through the tunnel on a conveyor belt and is cooled by the circulating cold air stream.

The speed of the belt, the air temperature and the air flow can be adjusted for each type of product

The conveyor belts are made of stainless steel or plastic.

The evaporators are equipped with a sequential defrosting system for a continuous production of several days up to one week

How do I freeze foods?

Before freezing cooked foods (e g soup, spaghetti sauce, casseroles, cooked meat, muffins), it is important to cool them completely in the refrigerator. Chilled foods freeze faster and allow the freezer temperature to remain cooler Frozen foods are therefore better preserved

Can we freeze raw vegetables and fruits?

Almost all vegetables must be blanched before freezing, with the exception of peppers, peppers, leeks and mushrooms This preserves their color, texture and flavour

To blanch your vegetables, cut them to the desired size and shape and place them in boiling water for 2 to 4 minutes.Then plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking process. Then, pat them dry and place them in the freezer

Unlike vegetables, fruit does not need to be blanched before freezing. Just wash and dry them before putting them in the freezer.You can also cut them up. Peaches, pears, pineapples and other large fruits freeze better this way

To freeze fruit effectively and prevent it from freezing into a frozen block, one trick is to spread it out on a baking sheet and place the sheet in the freezer for 2 or 3 hours while it freezes You can then transfer them to a container or plastic bag

Foods that don't freeze

Some foods cannot be frozen For example, raw eggs in the shell or hard-boiled eggs, soft cheeses such as Brie, or fresh cheeses such as ricotta It is recommended not to freeze certain vegetables, such as lettuce, bean sprouts, raw potatoes and radishes, as they will lose their crunchiness in the freezer

What containers should I use for freezing?

Good packaging helps maintain the quality of food in terms of taste, smell and appearance. It also helps protect food from freezer burn, which occurs when water evaporates from the food and freezes on its surface, causing it to harden and dry out

Resealable plastic bags: Check the packaging to make sure they are freezer safe. Let the air out of the bags before closing them and placing them in the freezer

Heavy (extra-strength) aluminum foil: Wrap foods (e g , meat, fish, cake, veggie) tightly in the foil before freezing

Plastic or glass containers: Make sure they can withstand freezing temperatures. Some containers indicate the temperature tolerance and others have a logo like a snowflake

Plastic containers such as yogurt or margarine can only be used to freeze food if they are made of #2 or #5 plastic. Be careful when thawing frozen food in a glass container.This material does not take well to the rapid change from cold to hot and may break To avoid this temperature shock, place it in the refrigerator to thaw slowly, not directly in the oven

Ice cube trays:These are perfect for freezing baby food Once the cubes are frozen, it is important to transfer them to plastic containers or bags to protect them.

Plastic wrap:This can be used, but it is not enough on its own as it is too thin It can be used to wrap a food tightly and then place it in an airtight container or freezer bag from which the air is removed, for example chicken breasts that you would like to be able to take out of the freezer one by one.

IQF Freezer