How to use rapid freezer- it can make a huge difference if you use it properly! -

For those of you reading this article, what kind of image do you have of" rapid freezer "?
Refrigeration technology is evolving day by day.
The conventional image of freezing that ``Frozen food = loses its taste'' and ``It can only be stored for a few months even if frozen'' is being reformed.

Nowadays, the technology called "rapid freezing" has become popular, and it is now possible to preserve food for a long period of time, from several years to several decades, in the same​ ​condition and freshness as when it was frozen.

Some people who are familiar with rapid freezer often think that if they use a rapid freezing machine to freeze food, they will be able to enjoy the taste of freshly prepared food when it is thawed.

However, this is not actually the case.
Even if they use the same rapid freezer, there are people who are able to utilize it effectively and others who are not.

So what exactly is the difference?

In this article, we will share some points for those who want to install rapid freezer in the future to make good use of it.

Also, some of you reading this article may have installed a commercial rapid freezer and are using it as directed, but are not getting satisfactory results. Is not it.

Could it be that you are using rapid freezer incorrectly in the first place? Should I consult the manufacturer about how to use it? There are many people who are reconsidering how to use rapid freezer, but there are actually important points that you should know in addition to how to use it.

This article is also useful for those who are already using rapid freezer.

-Recommended for these people-

• For those who want to adopt rapid freezer in the future
• People who have installed rapid freezer but are not able to utilize it effectively
• Is this method of rapid freezing really suitable? Those who are worried about

If you read this, you will know the important points on how to use rapid freezer!

How to properly use rapid freezer- 4 steps you need to know -

First of all, if you want to know the definition and types of rapid freezing, please see this article.
▶︎What's so great about rapid freezer?
At the beginning, I mentioned that there are people who are able to use rapid freezer well and people who are not able to fully utilize them.

So what is the difference?

In fact, the appropriate freezing method differs depending on the food.
If you do this incorrectly, you will not be able to reproduce the taste of the food after thawing it, even if you use rapid freezer correctly.

By performing rapid freezing using the optimal freezing method for the food, it is possible to preserve the deliciousness of the food.

Choosing the right freezing method is very important, but it's not the only thing.
In order to provide food in a delicious state, there are actually four important processes in addition to freezing, including the pre- and post-processes.

This time, we will introduce the four steps.

• 4 steps
• ①Material condition/pretreatment
• ②Freezing
• ③Storage
• ④ Thawing

①Material condition/pretreatment

First, the condition of the material and pretreatment.
​The quality of food is also affected by the condition of the material and pretreatment during rapid freezing.

No matter how good the quality of rapid freezer is used to preserve the food and the proper rapid freezing method, if the food is in poor condition or not properly pre-treated, the food may deteriorate. The original taste will be lost.

Therefore, pretreatment is one of the very important steps for rapid freezing.

What should be noted here is

• food freshness
• Is it properly packaged (vacuum packed)?
• Is dehydration treatment performed?

Such···

for example
For fish:
・Cut the fish and fillet it
・Keep it sprinkled with bread crumbs just before serving for frying.
Such

By performing this kind of pretreatment, it is possible to move on to the freezing process while maintaining the condition of the food.
This time, I introduced the case of fish, but there are pretreatment methods that are suitable for each ingredient.

​The condition of the food before using rapid freezer and the pretreatment method are also important factors in maintaining the quality of food.

②Freezing

Next, I would like to introduce the second process, freezing.
This is where rapid freezer comes into play.

It is important to use rapid freezer correctly according to the instructions, but the second key to making good use of it is to choose rapid freezer that is suitable for the ingredients and cooking method.

Here, we will introduce freezing methods and the types of freezing using rapid freezer that we recommend.

Air blast method (air freezing)
Air freezing is a type of freezing method that freezes food by blowing cold air onto the food, similar to a regular household freezer. While regular freezers have a temperature of around -18°C, air freezing type rapid freezer use colder air at around -30°C to -40°C to freeze food.
There are many types of air blast type rapid freezer, but the one we overwhelmingly recommend to our customers is the Artlock Freezer rapid freezer

• Reasons why we recommend Art Lock Freezer
• ・Micro-wind system allows for even freezing
• - Prevents food from drying out even when frozen naked
• ・You can freeze freshly fried or freshly baked dishes as they are.
• ・No need to defrost the cooler

It is suitable for these kinds of ingredients!

• Freshly made crispy fried food
• Kamaboko
• ohagi
• Osechi

etc···

If you are interested in Art Lock Freezer, please check the link below.

Liquid method (liquid freezing)
Liquid freezing is a type of freezing method in which food is immersed in a liquid such as alcohol that has been cooled to between -10°C and -35°C.

There are many types of liquid-type rapid freezer, but the one we proudly introduce to our customers is Re-Joice Freezer rapid freezer

• Why we recommend Re-Joice Freezer
• ・The thermal conductivity of liquid* is approximately 20 times higher than that of air, allowing for speedy freezing.
• ・Because the liquid comes into contact with the entire food, uneven freezing does not occur.
• ・You can also make custom-made rapid freezer

*Thermal conductivity is a value that indicates the ease with which heat is transferred through a substance.

It is suitable for these kinds of ingredients!

• Thick meat/fish
• rice
• ohagi
• Thick side dish

etc···

Liquefied gas method
With the liquefied gas method, food can be frozen instantly by spraying liquid nitrogen gas at -196°C or liquefied carbon dioxide gas at -79°C onto food.

Special method type
There are types of rapid freezer that do not apply to the air blast method, liquid method, or liquefied gas method. That's it. The special method type freezes food by applying forces such as magnetic flux, electromagnetic waves, and vibrations to the food in an environment that allows freezing. This principle suppresses the growth of ice crystals that form within the cells of food. As a result, food can be frozen and preserved without damaging the cells and preserving its quality.

This time, we introduced some foods that are suitable for this food, but in general, this frozen type is suitable for this food! It does not mean that.
The freezing method you should choose will vary depending on the pre- and post-production operations, such as what kind of container you want to freeze the food in and the stage of cooking.

In order to fully experience the benefits, it is very important to decide which type of rapid freezer to use.
If in doubt, please feel free to contact us before purchasing.

③Storage

After rapid freezing, the next step is to store the food.
When storing food in the freezer, care must be taken not to reduce the quality of the food.
​Freezer burn is a cause of deterioration in the quality of frozen foods.

"Freezer burn" is a phenomenon that occurs when food is stored in a freezer for a long period of time, resulting in loss of taste and texture, and change in color.
As a result, the original taste of the food is lost.

It is said that there are two causes of "freezer burn".

• Causes of freezer burn
• ①Drying
• ② Oxidation

①Drying
When you freeze food, the moisture in it is removed and it becomes dry. This makes the food dry and reduces its quality.

② Oxidation
As moisture is removed through drying, air enters the areas where the moisture was removed and oxidation progresses. Oxidation causes proteins to deteriorate, causing rancidity*, oil stains, and discoloration.

Freezer burn occurs due to food drying and oxidation, leading to a decline in food quality.

*Ranking: A change in quality that occurs when the fats and oils in food are oxidized by oxygen.

• Points to keep food from deteriorating
• ・Frozen storage at a temperature below -18℃
• - Store food so that it does not come into contact with air
  Example: vacuum packaging
• -Eat food early to shorten its shelf life

By controlling these points, you can prevent quality deterioration.

④ Thawing

The last thing that matters is how you unzip it. In order to prevent the quality of rapid freezing food from deteriorating, it is important not to cut corners until the final thawing.
There is not just one type of defrosting method, but there are two main types: slow defrosting and rapid defrosting. There are three methods for slow thawing: room temperature, low temperature, and running water.

• How to unzip
• slow thawing
• - Thawing at room temperature: Just take it out of the refrigerator! Simple unzipping method
• ・Low-temperature thawing: A thawing method that takes time to thaw food in the refrigerator.
• - Thawing under running water: A thawing method in which frozen food is placed in a plastic bag, sealed, and exposed to running water.
• rapid thawing
• ・Microwave thawing: A thawing method that applies heat all at once in a microwave oven.

for example,
If you thaw the rice naturally, the starch will deteriorate and the rice will become dry. If you want to thaw rice that has been rapid freezing, we recommend heating it all at once in the microwave.

For raw meat and fish, it is recommended to thaw at a low temperature rather than in the microwave, as applying too much heat can cause dryness, dripping, and uneven thawing.

As you can see, thawing methods need to vary depending on the food.
By choosing the correct thawing method for the food, you can preserve the flavor of the food before freezing.

It is very important to pre-process, freeze, preserve, and thaw food using methods that are appropriate for the food.

Summary - Learn how to use rapid freezer

In this article, we have explained that freezing methods differ depending on the food, so it is important to choose the appropriate freezing method.

By performing the four steps of pretreatment, freezing, preservation, and thawing under the correct conditions for each ingredient, it is possible to provide food in a high-quality state.

Some people may want to rapid freezing food, but are wondering how to pre-process, freeze, store, and thaw their own food and products.

If so, please feel free to contact us.

Our office is located near Shinagawa, and you can see the actual rapid freezer in our showroom. There, we conduct freezing tests on our customers' products and support them in selecting the appropriate rapid freezer for their operations.

We look forward to your inquiries and consultations regarding rapid freezing!