Ever find yourself in the frozen foods section at the grocery store and wonder how they get the food to freeze individually rather than in a block of ice? A specialized piece of equipment is used in the food processing industry to rapidly freeze individual pieces of food. The equipment is called an IQF tunnel. IQF stands for Individual Quick Freezing. The primary purpose of an IQF tunnel is to freeze food quickly and separately, preserving the quality, texture, and nutritional value of each piece. Furthermore, the term "individual" in IQF refers to the fact that each piece of food is frozen independently rather than in a bulk or block.
Here's a breakdown of how they work and what they look like:
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Preparation of Food: The food is prepared and cut into individual pieces before entering the IQF tunnel. This could be anything from fruits and vegetables to meat or seafood.
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Loading the Conveyor: The prepared food is then loaded onto a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt moves the food through the IQF tunnel at a controlled speed.
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Initial Quick Freeze: As the food enters the IQF tunnel, it encounters a blast of frigid air. This rapid initial freeze is crucial for the IQF process. It forms a thin layer of ice around the surface of the food, helping to retain the moisture and prevent the pieces from sticking together.
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Fluidization: In some IQF tunnels, the food is subjected to a process called fluidization. This involves using fans or vibrating mechanisms to keep the individual pieces of food suspended in the freezing air. This prevents them from clumping together and ensures that each piece freezes independently.
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Final Freeze: The food continues to move through the tunnel, undergoing a more gradual freezing process. This ensures that the entire product reaches the desired internal temperature for long-term storage.
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Quality Control: Throughout the process, there may be sensors or cameras that monitor the quality of the frozen product. This could include checking for proper freezing, size consistency, and overall product integrity.
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Exit and Packaging: Once the food has completed the IQF process, it exits the tunnel and can be immediately packaged. Because the pieces are individually frozen, they can be easily separated for packaging, and consumers can use only the desired amount without thawing the entire batch.
Images from Genemco
IQF tunnels are efficient and widely used in the food industry because they allow for the preservation of the natural texture, flavor, and nutritional value of the food while extending its shelf life.
Next check out our blog: How To Choose The Best IQF Tunnel For Your Business
Genemco.com
