Berapa suhu penyimpanan untuk seafood?

Suhu penyimpanan seafood yang ideal adalah sekitar -18 °C hingga -20 °C untuk menjaga kualitas dan kesegarannya.

Mengapa penting menjaga seafood tetap dingin saat penyimpanan?

Menjaga seafood tetap dingin sangat penting karena dapat menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri, memperlambat aktivitas enzim yang menyebabkan bau amis dan perubahan tekstur, serta membantu mempertahankan kesegaran sekaligus memperpanjang umur simpannya.

Seafood jenis apa yang harus dijaga suhu dinginnya?

Hampir semua jenis seafood perlu dijaga pada suhu dingin, seperti ikan, udang, dan hasil laut lainnya. Namun, beberapa jenis seperti kerang hidup bisa disimpan tanpa pembekuan, sedangkan ikan tuna lebih baik dibekukan dengan cepat agar tidak mudah teroksidasi dan tetap segar.

Apa saja jenis suhu cold storage untuk Seafood?

Jenis suhu cold storage untuk seafood terdiri dari ice storage yang menggunakan es untuk penyimpanan singkat, chiller dengan suhu 0 °C sampai 4 °C yang bisa menjaga kesegaran selama beberapa hari, frozen storage dengan suhu -18 °C sampai -25 °C yang cocok untuk penyimpanan jangka panjang, serta air blast freezer dengan suhu hingga -40 °C yang dapat membekukan seafood lebih cepat agar tekstur dan rasa alaminya tetap terjaga.

Seafood Cold Storage: An Effective Solution for Your Business Quality!

11 months ago

Fresh products require special storage methods to extend their shelf life. One important method that can be used is utilizing cold storage.

Cold storage is a specially designed room that maintains cold temperatures to preserve product quality. One of the products that requires cold storage is seafood. This article will discuss the benefits, types, and tips for choosing seafood cold storage. Read until the end!

Cold Storage for Seafood Storage

To support operational business success, many industries require cold storage, one of which is companies engaged in the food industry and selling seafood products. So, what is seafood cold storage?

Seafood cold storage is a storage room with a refrigeration system designed to maintain seafood quality. The temperature for fish and seafood cold storage ranges from approximately -18°C to -20°C. This equipment is commonly used at fish auction centers, seafood processing factories, seafood exporting companies, and by restaurant suppliers.

Benefits of Using Cold Storage for Seafood

The use of cold storage is very important in seafood storage methods because there are several benefits that can be obtained, including:

1. Minimizing the Risk of Bacterial Growth

Seafood is known to have high water and protein content. In addition, seafood comes from the sea, which is an open environment. Without proper handling, seafood can easily develop bacteria and spoil more quickly.

Therefore, low-temperature seafood cold storage is required. With consistently low temperatures, bacteria lose the ideal conditions needed to grow, so their metabolism can be inhibited.

2. Maintaining Freshness

Even after seafood dies, its body still contains active natural enzymes. These enzymes can cause fishy odors, soft textures, and color changes in seafood. In fact, seafood is highly favored because of its freshness, texture, and appealing taste.

However, there is no need to worry because seafood cold storage can slow down enzyme activity so that freshness can be maintained until it is ready to be consumed by customers.

3. Extending Product Shelf Life

Seafood is a commodity that cannot be stored for too long at room temperature. As explained in the previous points, bacteria can easily contaminate seafood and accelerate the spoilage process.

Therefore, seafood cold storage with stable low temperatures is needed to reduce the risk of seafood quality deterioration and significantly extend shelf life.

4. Reaching a Wider Market

If seafood quality and freshness last longer, the distribution process to wider areas becomes easier. The presence of seafood cold storage is very important in supporting profit growth and business expansion.

Types of Cold Storage Temperatures for Seafood

Here are several types of seafood cold storage that can be considered for your business:

1. Ambient/AC Temperature

Ice storage is a storage method using ice blocks. This type of cold storage is usually used by fishermen or traders who do not yet have modern storage facilities.

Ease of use and cost efficiency are the advantages of this cold storage type. However, ice storage cannot be used to store seafood for long periods because there is no system to maintain stable temperatures inside.

2. Chiller Temperature

This type of cold storage can maintain seafood temperatures within the range of 0°C to 4°C. Examples of chilled storage usage include storing fresh fish before processing in restaurants and maintaining shrimp temperatures in supermarket cooling displays.

If you need cold storage for short-term distribution purposes and want to maintain fish freshness without freezing it, chilled storage can be the right solution. However, this equipment is only reliable for storing seafood for 3 to 7 days.

3. Frozen Temperature

Freezer storage is a type of seafood cold storage with a longer storage duration compared to chilled storage, which can last for months. Therefore, it is not surprising that freezer storage is suitable for export purposes.

The temperature in freezer storage ranges from -18°C to -25°C so that seafood stored inside can freeze gradually. However, this slow freezing process actually causes the formation of large ice crystals that can damage seafood texture.

4. Air Blast Freezer

If freezer storage freezes seafood gradually, air blast freezers work the opposite way.

This equipment can freeze seafood quickly and prevent the formation of large ice crystals that can damage seafood texture. This is supported by the extreme temperatures inside, which can reach -40°C.

Although it is reliable for maintaining fish texture and natural taste, air blast freezers require considerable electrical power and investment costs.

Tips for Choosing Cold Storage for Seafood

To choose seafood cold storage that suits your business needs, consider the following tips:

Consider the intended usage: Understanding the intended use will affect the determination of the appropriate temperature and suitable features. Several purposes of seafood cold storage include temporary storage, long-term storage, and long-distance shipping.
Understand the characteristics of the seafood being stored: Different types of seafood have different characteristics and therefore require different handling. For example, shellfish stored alive do not need freezing, while tuna fish oxidize easily and therefore require rapid freezing.
Pay attention to storage capacity: Make sure to choose seafood cold storage with a capacity suitable for product volume, long-term planning, and operational workflow.
Choose energy-efficient equipment: Selecting energy-efficient cold storage can reduce operational and maintenance costs. Characteristics of energy-efficient cold storage include high-efficiency compressors, quality thermal insulation, and energy-saving or eco-mode features.

So, have you now chosen the most suitable type of seafood cold storage for your business? After selecting the right type, do not forget to maintain it properly because this equipment is an important investment for your business growth.

If you are looking for cold storage for fish or other seafood products, you can rely on MGM Bosco Logistics. We provide cold storage services equipped with automatic and digital temperature monitoring systems.

Not only that, we also provide refrigerated truck transportation services with advanced technology that cover several regions in Indonesia to support your product distribution needs. Contact MGM Bosco Logistics now to get complete information about MGM Bosco Logistics services!