What are the benefits of using frozen foods at restaurants? Explanation of rapid freezer that expand business possibilities
Did you know that more and more restaurants are using frozen ingredients and foods in the products they serve?
Restaurants have an image of serving freshly prepared food, so many people may be reluctant to use frozen food.
However, advances in freezing technology have made it possible to provide foods with a quality comparable to that of chilled foods, and now frozen ingredients and foods are even used in Michelin-starred restaurants that emphasize quality.
By utilizing frozen ingredients and food products, we are achieving effects such as `` resolving labor shortages'' and `` improving operational efficiency.''
Therefore, in this article, we will introduce the benefits of restaurants using frozen ingredients and food, current refrigeration technology, and examples of the use of rapid freezer.
If you are thinking about using frozen ingredients and foods, please refer to this.
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What are the benefits of using frozen foods at restaurants?
Advances in freezing technology have improved the quality of frozen foods, and the number of frozen foods that maintain the same taste and texture as freshly made food is increasing.
As a result, the demand for frozen foods has increased year by year, with stores specializing in frozen foods appearing, and frozen foods have come to be used in a wide range of places, including schools and hospitals.
So, here we will introduce the reasons why restaurants should also use frozen foods.
Improves work efficiency
By using frozen foods, you can greatly reduce the man-hours involved in preparing and serving meals.
Before serving food at a restaurant, the process of ``purchasing'' → ``processing (cutting, etc.)'' → ``cooking'' → ``plating'' → ``serving'' is necessary.
With the latest freezing technology, it is possible to freeze food in any state, including processing (cutting, etc.), cooking, and serving. Utilizing partially prepared frozen foods improves operational efficiency and helps alleviate labor shortages.
Leads to cost reduction
Improving work efficiency through the use of frozen foods reduces the burden on employees and the time it takes to perform tasks, making it possible to run tasks smoothly even with fewer employees. As a result, it is possible to reduce labor costs and utility costs for cooking.
Additionally, commercial frozen foods can be ordered in more units than regular frozen foods, and the price per item tends to be lower.
Therefore, in many cases, purchasing and using frozen foods will result in lower ``costs associated with purchasing, preparing, etc.'' than purchasing ingredients and preparing them in-store.
In this way, by successfully incorporating frozen foods into the cooking process, you can reduce various costs such as ingredient purchasing costs, labor costs, and cooking costs while making it easier for employees to work.
Can reduce food loss
Frozen foods can be stored for long periods of time while maintaining their original quality, and can be thawed and used only in the amount needed. Therefore, it is less likely that the freshness of the ingredients will deteriorate and the ingredients become unusable.
This makes it possible to reduce food purchasing costs by reducing food loss.
In addition, high-quality frozen foods can be thawed at a quality level that maintains the same freshness as the place of origin, and as long as you can set up operations to use them after thawing, it is possible to provide them with high quality and freshness..
Highly safe
Frozen foods are stored in an environment of -18 degrees Celsius or below, so there is no risk of bacteria or microorganisms growing. It also prevents food from spoiling, reducing the risk of food poisoning.
In addition, frozen foods can be stored for long periods of time without using preservatives while maintaining food quality. Additive-free or minimal additives can add to the appeal of your dishes, allowing you to target a wide range of customers.
In particular, there are many people who want to feed babies and children foods with fewer additives, so frozen foods are a big advantage for restaurants that target parents and children.
highly nutritious
When vegetables and fruits lose their freshness, their nutritional value decreases.
On the other hand, frozen vegetables and fruits are basically vegetables and fruits that are harvested during the season and immediately frozen before they lose their freshness, so they can be preserved in their freshly-picked, nutritious state.
In fact, fresh foods are not always more nutritious than frozen foods.
Another advantage of frozen foods is that they can provide vegetables and fruits with high nutritional value throughout the year, regardless of harvest volume.
What rapid freezing, which is essential for frozen foods?
rapid freezing is a technology that prevents damage to the cells of food by freezing food quickly, without sacrificing quality.
Advances in rapid freezing technology have made it possible to freeze foods that were previously impossible to freeze. Nowadays, an increasing number of restaurants, including Michelin-starred restaurants, are using rapid freezer.
rapid freezing also has the following advantages:
- High reproducibility of freshly made taste, flavor, and texture
- Food quality does not deteriorate during freezing, so additives are not required
- It can be stored for a long time with high quality, reducing food waste.
- Food is frozen evenly to ensure uniform quality
- Increased production volume by shortening freezing time
Because of these benefits, an increasing number of restaurants are now using frozen foods, including high-end restaurants that have not used frozen foods in the past. Additionally, an increasing number of restaurants are installing their own rapid freezer.
Reasons why restaurants should install rapid freezer
There are many benefits to installing rapid freezer in restaurants.
One is that you can freeze food prepared at the store. Freezing pre-cooked meals will speed up the next meal and allow you to focus on preparing other dishes.
In addition, since ingredients that can only be purchased fresh can be stored for long periods in stores, there will be fewer chances of food wastage.
Furthermore, the taste and texture of the food does not deteriorate even after thawing, so it is possible to start a new business such as selling food through an online shop.
For those who want to install rapid freezer, we recommend the `` Art Lock Freezer.''
This product is equipped with various sensors and AI technology, making it possible to freeze foods such as stir-fried and deep-fried foods, which were previously difficult, at an appropriate temperature without sacrificing quality. Furthermore, it automatically manages the optimal freezing temperature, so even piping hot dishes can be frozen as they are.
Here we will introduce examples of restaurants that have actually installed rapid freezer.
[Example 1 of introduction of rapid freezer] Significantly reduces preparation work!
Kakashi Co., Ltd. faced challenges as it took on a new challenge in the home delivery business.
The problem was that the company did not have enough human resources to manage its existing stores and prepare meals for home delivery.
As a result of introducing rapid freezer, we have been able to significantly reduce the time required to prepare food every morning, and even part-time staff can now easily prepare and serve food.
Furthermore, as anyone can now prepare meals on a plate, the shortage of human resources has been resolved, and labor costs have also been cut by reducing the number of shifts.
[Example 2 of introduction of rapid freezer] Expand sales channels to wholesale and mail order!
Ishihara Co., Ltd. was not able to provide soba noodles in time during the busy season, which led them to consider installing rapid freezer. However, the quality of the special soba noodles, which use almost no binder, deteriorates when frozen, so they were looking for a better way to freeze them.
After introducing rapid freezer, we have not only been able to preserve soba for a long time and provide it stably, but also expanded our sales channels such as wholesale and mail order, allowing many people to receive our carefully selected soba noodles.
Furthermore, the annual disposal loss of approximately 1.5 million yen has been completely eliminated.
Conclusion
Some people have the impression that frozen foods are of poor quality, but in recent years, freezing technology has advanced and it is now possible to freeze foods without sacrificing quality. Additionally, using frozen ingredients has major benefits, such as reducing waste and reducing cooking time.
Furthermore, if you install rapid freezer in your store, you can rapid freezing the food served in your store. It will also be possible to make appetizers in advance and sell them through mail order, which will not only improve the efficiency of cooking operations but also expand sales channels.
If you are interested in rapid freezing, please take a look at the materials.