People often throw out spoiled foods and products every day. We often put them to waste whenever we fail to preserve and prolong their shelf lives. In 2020, Singapore generated food waste amounting to 665,000 tonnes, making up 11% of the country’s total waste.
In this case, people discard food contents more than usual. There is a vast food wastage that we need to reduce as soon as possible. Fortunately, different kitchen appliances can help us save the day!
Blast chillers and shock freezers cool down and freeze food to preserve them. They can prevent food spoilage, contamination, and bacteria growth.
If you want to find more information about these kitchen appliances, you better continue reading! This article will discuss blast chillers, shock freezers, their differences, benefits, and prices.
What Is A Blast Chiller?
A blast chiller is a commercial kitchen appliance that uses a cooling method to cool down food products quickly. It applies best to cook-chill applications. Furthermore, it is also perfect when you plan to use or sell food and ingredients within 24 hours or sooner.
Aside from that, blast chillers avoid temperature from getting into the danger zone (41°F to 140°F). Its goal is to prevent the chance of bacteria and pathogen growth in food products. Moreover, it also aims to keep the food’s texture, quality, and freshness.
In addition to that, this kitchen appliance also minimizes shrinkage or loss of moisture during cooling periods. It also cools down food quickly, so there is no need for defrosting and thawing raw food.
Blast chillers are perfect for making frozen desserts, such as sorbets and ice creams. It also applies best to chilling food to set them for preparations later. Lastly, it can also freeze or chill many batches of food rapidly for later production.
What Is A Shock Freezer?
A shock freezer is a temperature-controlled and insulated unit for preserving food for a longer time. It can freeze food products in a short period, at a temperature that stops bacteria from damaging the content. It slows down bacteria and pathogen growth and avoids contamination.
As stated earlier, this kitchen appliance preserves food but with higher quality. Furthermore, once you put your food in the shock freezer, you can move it to regular freezers for long-term storage.
Shock freezers are perfect for cooling or freezing many food products. It also applies best for storing frozen foods for a more extended period.
What Are The Differences Between A Blast Chiller And A Freezer?
There are five distinct differences between these appliances, even though they have similar goals. Please read the following comparisons below to know more about their differences.
1. Process
There is a significant difference between these appliances in terms of the process. When using blast chillers, you need to cook the food first and blast chill to 38°F. After that, you can refrigerate the food for storage and heat and serve it within a few days.
On the other hand, there are two processes in using shock freezers. These processes include:
- For cooked food – Shock freeze the food product to 0°F and put it in the storage for weeks or months. You can thaw it, re-heat, and serve it on your desired day.
- For raw materials – Start with shock freezing the food to 0°F and putting it in the storage until you need it. Proceed with thawing, cooking, and serving the dish.
2. Purpose Or Function
Blast chillers and shock freezers also differ in their function or purpose.
First, blast chillers aim to cool the food product rapidly by blowing cold air. It helps the temperature go down gradually to achieve the needed coolness for preservation.
On the other side, shock freezers chill and freeze food to keep them frozen over a long period. It aims to hold cooked or raw materials at below freezing temperature.
3. Temperature
A blast chiller has a temperature perfect for preventing bacterial growth. It can turn the temperature from 160°F to 38°F within 90 minutes. It helps the food product to escape the danger zone.
Meanwhile, a shock freezer can turn the temperature from 194°F to 0°F or lower within 240 minutes. It freezes the product to aim for prolonged shelf life in the storage.
4. Benefits
Both kitchen appliances have similar benefits and advantages. They tend to preserve food, prevent contamination, and save time.
Nonetheless, shock freezers have a significant advantage over regular freezers or chillers regarding temperature and speed. It can store food in lower temperatures compared to chillers.
5. Application
Lastly, the application of blast chillers and shock freezers may also differ from each other.
Blast chillers are perfect for serving as temporary storage. It allows people to move food and ingredients to storage with an ideal cooling condition. It can also help prepare different meals and dishes in events and meal services.
Shock freezers apply best to move food to frozen storage conditions. It can serve as an effective long-term solution for preserving food products. It can prolong the shelf life of the food using freezing temperatures.
Why Use Blast Chillers And Shock Freezers?
Here are the significant reasons why you should consider using blast chillers/shock freezers.
1. Enhances Food Quality
Blast chillers and shock freezers aim not to damage the food’s taste, aroma, and quality. They do not perform slow chilling processes, preventing the factors of damages. In this case, you can ensure that your food products will be of high quality.
2. Ensures Food Safety
These kitchen appliances have excellent compliance with the HACCP. They help food products to have low to no bacterial growth and contamination. Furthermore, they have temperature control for preventing the danger zone.
3. Reduces Food Waste
Blast chillers and shock freezers also help in waste reduction. They prevent leftovers and food spoilage. Also, they preserve food to make them still edible the next day.
Aside from that, you can still cook raw materials or food products prepared in advance. Since you can chill or freeze them, they do not get spoiled. In this case, there is a high reduction of waste.
4. Increases Shelf Life
Prolonging your food’s shelf life is possible with blast chillers and shock freezers. They can preserve food for several months. In that way, you can save time and have wiser purchasing strategies.
Since you can place your food inside these appliances for months, you can buy a large quantity of food. You can get raw materials during seasons when these products are less expensive than usual.
Moreover, you can prepare food in advance and make more dishes. This strategy applies best for events and catering to many people.
5. Enables A Wider Food Menu
As stated earlier, you can make different dishes in advance and put them on the chiller. You can also complete semi-finished meals that can help food preparations to be quicker. Also, you can worry less about speeding up the cooking process during rush hours.
In this case, you can prepare various dishes and meals. You can provide your customers or guests with many food choices. You can also add frozen desserts like ice creams!
6. Leads To Less Dehydration
Blast chillers and shock freezers can also stop moisture evaporation from food products. Thus, they prevent dehydration that can damage the food’s fragrance and flavor.
7. Prevents Shrinkage
In connection with the previous benefit, these appliances stop moisture and reduce water loss. In this case, you can prevent shrinkage or weight loss on your food or raw materials. Furthermore, you can raise your revenue to 7% if you sell your products by weight.
How Much Do Blast Chillers And Shock Freezers Usually Cost?
The costs for buying a blast chiller or shock freezer may vary depending on the unit, brand, and specifications. Aside from that, you can also find different prices in physical stores or online shops. You can also buy brand new appliances or used ones.
If you are currently typing “blast chiller price” or “shock freezer price” on your search engine, this article will give you a background of how much they cost.
For instance, blast chillers can start from SGD 3,000, while shock freezers can have a starting price of SGD 4,000. Nonetheless, please know that these prices are estimates and the lowest prices only. You can contact your supplier for more information.
Save Your Food And Prevent Food Waste Using Blast Chillers And Shock Freezers!
Choosing between blast chillers and shock freezers should depend on the purpose. You can consider the reason why you are buying them.
If you need to freeze food products, it is advisable to buy a shock freezer. Meanwhile, you can buy a blast chiller if you need temporary cooling storage for your food.
Using these kitchen appliances helps us reduce food spoilage and wastage. It allows us to consume meals even on the next day. In this case, we can also save time and money.
Fortunately, you can find and buy your blast chiller and shock freezer anytime. Here at Continental Equipment, you can always ask about essential information regarding shock freezer or blast chiller Singapore. We can provide you with the best tips in choosing your kitchen appliance!
