If you’re still using a regular freezer in your commercial
kitchen, you may find your business having to deal with food wastage and
inconsistent ingredient quality. This often happens when your ingredients or
prepared dishes aren’t stored at the correct temperature.
Not storing your ingredients, produce, or pre-prepared meals
at the right temperatures can result in you having to deal with frozen food,
which is soggy and tasteless when defrosted. Fortunately, you can avoid this by
investing in one or two reach-in blast chillers, which ensure cooling takes place at the right temperature.
Understanding the Blast Chiller Concept
Blast chillers, or flash freezers as they’re more commonly
known, are designed to lower the temperature of anything you place inside
quickly. This process is referred to as rapid cooling and works by using
powerful fans to cool food without freezing it in as little as 30 minutes,
depending on the quantity and type of food.
Rapid cooling takes food from room temperature to -18ºC in
as little time as possible. This ensures that bacteria don’t have sufficient
time to develop on your food. By keeping food out of the “danger zone”, you
will be assured that your customers are always eating the healthiest food
possible.
Blast Chillers Are an Asset
Many new commercial business owners often think that blast
chillers are a “nice to have”. However, when you’ve thrown out spoiled produce
or seen more than your fair share of good food turning bland once it’s been
defrosted, it may be time to accept a simple universal truth: Blast chillers
are an absolute must-have in every commercial kitchen, no matter what the size.
Here are a few good reasons why.
1. Reduces the Risk of Bacterial Growth
Working with food comes with many special precautions. This
is because poorly cleaned, prepared, or stored food can encourage bacterial growth, which can cause foodborne illness. Not only can this see
your valued customers going to the hospital, but it will also lead to food
wastage and a reduction in your profit margins.
Then there’s also the damage to your business reputation and
the risk of liability. Blast chillers can rapidly cool your freshly prepared
food to keep it safe and bacteria-free until it must be served. Blast chillers
are designed with multiple shelves, which allow your staff to effortlessly
store multiple meals, drinks, and desserts.
2. Helps to Maintain Food Integrity
No matter how well you prepare your food, leaving it out at
room temperature for too long will see your dish lose its colour and flavour.
This happens when oxidation causes food particles to break down, which affects
the integrity and appearance of the dish.
Placing your food in a blast chiller will prevent this from
happening. When food is placed in the flash freezer, very little evaporation
takes place which also reduces the formation of ice crystals on and inside the
food. Therefore, your food will retain its texture and flavour and won’t become
soggy when defrosted.
3. Minimises Potential Food Waste
Any kitchen owner will agree that spending money on produce
and ingredients and then having to throw them away is more than mildly
annoying. Food becomes spoiled if it’s not stored at the right temperature or
experiences freezer burn.
Flash freezing your food or ingredients ensures that your
food is cooled without freezing, reducing the risk of ice crystals. This will
not only result in less money wasted but also ensure food safety.
4. Creates Opportunity for Bulk Buying
With the high cost of fresh produce and quality food
ingredients, many kitchen managers prefer to shop for ingredients daily or
weekly. This can be costly and time-consuming. Buying in small quantities can
also see you missing out on special promotions.
Opting to store your fresh ingredients in a blast chiller
will keep them fresher for longer. This, in turn, allows you to take advantage
of bulk discounts and can save you time when you don’t need to shop daily.
Another huge plus with being able to store food safely for longer also allows
you to keep seasonal dishes on your menu past the usual season cut-off.
5. Allows for More Flexibility
Preparing ingredients and different meal options can be very
time-consuming and often needs to be done as close to a meal service as
possible. This puts your kitchen staff under pressure and may result in unnecessary
shortcuts, which can affect the quality.
Since flash freezing keeps ingredients cool, your staff can
prepare ingredients and dishes in advance. Variable temperatures allow for the
preparation of everything from salads, desserts, ice cream, and regular menu
foods to be made long before they’re needed. This frees up your staff to focus
on other duties and deal with the meal service less stressfully.
Final Thoughts
Blast chillers are an effective way to reduce food waste and
increase overall efficiency in your busy commercial kitchen. Other top reasons
to invest in this nifty appliance include preserving food quality and reducing
bacterial growth. Opting for a reach-in blast chiller will make food storage
even more convenient. It’s a commercial or industrial kitchen must-have!
