flash freezing demonstration strawberries (long-term storage)

Continuing from last time, this time we will be experimenting with pre-processing and thawing strawberries.

In particular, we will report the results of a comparison focusing on differences in freezing quality due to different freezing methods.

Here are the main conditions for the experiment.

• Ingredients selection: Freshly harvested strawberries (Tochiotome)
• Freezing conditions: 1 piece with the stem removed or cut in half
• Freezing method: Artlock freezer, liquid freezing
• Storage method: [Vacuum] 99%
  [Period] 3 months
• Thawing method: Thaw at room temperature (observe progress until complete thawing)

The samples were frozen using an Artlock freezer and a liquid freezer, and the pretreatment, freezing, and thawing conditions were compared.

As in the previous case, we selected strawberries that were as similar in size and shape as possible in order to reduce noise in the results due to differences other than the experimental conditions.

Freezing in Artlock Freezer

This time as well, we will start by freezing it in the Art Lock Freezer.

Freezing pretreatment ~ Freezing

Since it was vacuum packed after freezing, there were no drips even at 99% vacuum.

Next, freeze it in a liquid freezer.

Freezing in a liquid freezer

Freezing pretreatment ~ Freezing

To prevent food from coming into contact with antifreeze, vacuum pack the food before immersing it in the liquid.

Because fruits undergo oxidation, it is desirable to freeze and store them with as much air removed as possible, so samples frozen in a liquid freezer were subjected to a strong vacuum in the same way as samples frozen in an Artlock freezer. It collapsed and drips were visible.

The drips generated in the vacuum before freezing were frozen.

Comparison of Artlock freezer and liquid freezer

Storage (3 months) ~ Thawing

Strawberries frozen using an Artlock freezer and a liquid freezer were stored for 3 months, and the state before and after thawing was compared.

You can see that strawberries frozen in a liquid freezer become transparent after thawing. In addition, when frozen strawberries are completely thawed, the ones frozen in the Artlock freezer also drip, but there is a clear difference in appearance and taste.

sensory evaluation

• The liquid frozen 99% vacuum had no flavor and was thin.
• The Artlock Freezer had more of the original strawberry taste, including sourness and sweetness.

Even strawberries frozen in an art freezer will drip if they are completely thawed.

However, the strawberries frozen in the Artrock freezer retained their original strawberry taste, such as sourness, sweetness, and flavor, in terms of "intensity of flavor" compared to the strawberries frozen in the liquid freezer.

On the other hand, as mentioned in the previous article, to enjoy frozen strawberries even more deliciously, we recommend eating them in a semi-thawed state.

freezing machine	liquid freezing machine	ARTLOCK Freezer
sensory evaluation	tasteless and weak	I felt sweetness, sourness, etc.

The amount of drippings depends on the ripeness and variety of the strawberries, but we think that strawberries frozen in a liquid freezer lose their flavor because drippings were produced during the vacuuming process before freezing.

Conclusion

We recommend eating frozen strawberries only when they are partially thawed, but in this test, we found that there is a difference in taste between the liquid freezer and the Artlock freezer even when the strawberries are partially thawed.

By freezing strawberries in the Artlock Freezer, we were able to experience the flavor of the strawberries, which is more like a fresh strawberry than with other freezing methods, and we were able to verify that the sweetness and sourness are reproducible.

At Daybreak, we carry frozen strawberries and a variety of fruits that are frozen in Artlock freezers.

This time we tested the fruit until it was completely thawed, but we actually recommend using it frozen, processing it, or half-thawing it as frozen fruit and eating it as is!

For more information about smoothies and processing, please contact Art Rock Food below.

*The photo below shows a strawberry mix, a 100g package, and a mix using strawberries.

You can easily make smoothies by mixing it with liquid in a blender.