In a restaurant, bakery or any food business, your priority is to keep food fresh and safe when you are running these businesses. Blast chiller assists you to do just that. This is a high-powered machine that is used to cool food fast and safely keeping food fresh and avoiding the rising of bacteria. This article will tell you all about the blast chiller, its working, advantages and why your kitchen must have this equipment.
What is a Blast Chiller?
A blast chiller is a commercial kitchen food service item used to rapidly cool hot food. Blast chillers lower the temperature of food quickly unlike the ordinary refrigerators that do the cooling slowly. To illustrate, they are capable of reducing food at 70 o C to 3 o C (158 o F to 37 o F) within the span of not more than 90 minutes. This rapid chilling prevents multiplication of bacteria and also maintains the food texture, flavour and nutrients.
The two common functions of most blast chillers include:
- Blast Chilling: Rapidly brings cooked food to refrigerator temperature.
- Shock Freezing: This is a Process of freezing food within a short time so as to make it last longer.
How Does a Blast Chiller Work?
Blast chiller A blast chiller is a commercial kitchen equipment that rapidly cools hot food with the help of very cold air and high-powered fans. The machine blows high speed cold air around the food thus the cooling process is very effective. Other more sophisticated models will incorporate the use of enhanced sensors to check the core temperature of the food and regulate the process of chilling automatically.
The process of cooling down goes like this:
- You put the hot food in the blast chiller.
- The blast chilling or shock freezing cycle is initiated by the machine.
- Food is surrounded by cold air which is circulating fast.
- In a limited period, the temperature reduces to safe levels.
This rapid chill prevents food penetration into the so-called danger zone, a range of temperatures between 5 to 60 C (41 to 140 F) within which disease-causing bacteria multiply rapidly.
Why Your Kitchen Needs a Blast Chiller
In case you are concerned about the quality of food, its safety, and its efficiency, then a blast chiller is something you can not do without. Here’s why:
1. Prevents Bacterial Growth
Safety of food takes the first priority. Blast chiller is used to cool food at a rapid speed, which does not allow the bacteria to develop. This makes your food safe to your customers.
2. Saves Time and Money
A blast chiller helps you to prepare food in bulk and keep it aside. This will imply that you do not need to prepare small amounts on a daily basis. It conserves your time, efforts and energy.
3. Keeps Food Fresh
The rapid cooling prevents loss of texture, flavor, color and nutrients of food. Your foods will also be as delicious when reheated.
4. Reduces Food Waste
Since blast chillers extend shelf life, you do not need to waste food. It is possible to organize meals more efficiently and not to waste spoiled food.
5. Meets Health Regulations
Blast chillers are important in a kitchen because health inspectors prefer to work in a kitchen that has these appliances as they assist in adhering to food safety standards. A blast chiller demonstrates your concern regarding hygiene.
Ideal Places to Use a Blast Chiller
Blast chiller is an item that is most suitable in various food businesses. An example or two would be:
- Restaurants and Cafes: Chill food that is going to be used later.
- Bakeries: Chill pastries, cakes, and dough without compromising quality.
- Hotels and Catering Services: Cook food ahead of time and keep it safe.
- Hospitals and Schools: Ensure high-levels of hygiene.
- Frozen Food Businesses: Flash food and packaged it to sell.
Types of Blast Chillers
Blast chillers come in varieties, based on the size and features:
1. Undercounter Blast Chillers
These are space saving models that can be fitted under the counters and are most suitable for small kitchens. They are able to cool small quantities effectively.
2. Reach-In Blast Chillers
These medium sized units have a larger capacity and they are ideal in medium sized restaurants.
3. Roll-In or Roll-Through Blast Chillers
They are found in large kitchens and catering operations to cool large volumes of food. Roll in trays or trolleys can be rolled in to have a quick processing.
4. Modular Blast Chillers
These modular units are flexible so you can add to your chilling system as your business demands.
How to Choose the Right Blast Chiller
Blast chiller Vs Blast chiller When choosing a blast chiller to equip your kitchen, here are a few factors to keep in mind:
a. Capacity
Consider the amount of food that you require to cool at a time. Select a size that suit the production level of your kitchen.
b. Speed and Power
See the rapidity with which the blast chiller is able to cool food. An effective model will be a blast chiller and shock frozen.
c. User Friendly
Recent blast chillers are provided with electronic displays and presets. Choose one which is consumer friendly and simple to work with.
d. Energy Efficiency
Select the models that are energy saving and yet offer a powerful performance. The efficient chillers curtail the electric expense as they are energy saving.
e. Cleaning and Maintenance
Stainless steel interiors and removable racks are easier to clean so look out to purchase those. properly taken care of blast chillers will serve longer and perform better.
Tips to Use a Blast Chiller Effectively
For the best performance, do the following tips:
- It is always better to cut large quantities into small and then chill.
- Quick cooling can be done by using shallow containers.
- Do not stuff the blast chiller.
- Ensure that hot air is able to move around freely inside.
- Insert core temperature probes in food to check the temperature.
- Keep the unit clean by performing regular clean ups to ensure hygiene and performance.
The Future of Food Cooling
Blast chillers are gaining significance in the cloud kitchens and meal prep companies and frozen food services with their popularity. They are also becoming smarter because of the use of technology. Most of them are now Wi-Fi enabled, have automatic cycles and power saving modes.
When you invest in a good blast chiller, it will demonstrate your business cares about food safety, efficiency and customer satisfaction. It provides you with the competitive advantage in the food business.
Conclusion
Blast chiller is not a mere device that can be found in the kitchen, but it is a game-changer in your food business. It assists you to cool food faster, store food safely, minimize wastage, and serve food of higher quality. Do you own a restaurant, bakery or a catering service? A blast chiller will enhance your kitchen performance and increase the confidence of your customers.
Choose the smart option now. Blast chillers are an option that can upgrade your kitchen and make you feel the difference in food safety and quality.
FAQs
What is the purpose of a blast chiller?Â
Blast chiller is used to quickly lower the temperature of hot food to safe levels to avoid bacterial growth. It aids in maintaining the quality, texture and nutrients of food.
What is the difference between a freezer and a blast chiller?
A freezer is used to cool food gradually whereas a blast chiller is used to cool food rapidly. Blast chillers are most suitable for food safety and maintenance of freshness.
What temperature is blast chilling?
Blast chilling typically lowers food temperature from around 70°C to 3°C (158°F to 37°F) in under 90 minutes to meet safety standards.
How fast does a blast chiller cool?
Blast chiller A blast chiller is able to reduce hot food to refrigerator-safe temperatures in 90 minutes or less, depending on the portion size and model.
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