Purpose of Food Freezing and Its Types: Learn More Here

1 month ago

Food freezing is one of the most widely used food preservation methods because it is practical and effective. This process is carried out by lowering the temperature below the freezing point to inhibit chemical and biochemical reactions as well as the growth of microorganisms that cause spoilage.

In addition to extending shelf life, freezing also helps maintain the taste, texture, and nutritional value of food products.Various products such as fruits, vegetables, processed meats, and ready-to-eat meals are now commonly available in frozen form.Interestingly, this method is divided into two main types—quick freezing and slow freezing—each with its own characteristics and advantages.

Learn more about the purpose and types of food freezing so you can choose the most suitable method.

Purpose of Food Freezing

Food freezing is the process of lowering the temperature of food materials below their freezing point so that part of the water content turns into ice crystals. The main purposes of food freezing are as follows:

1. Longer Shelf Life

Freezing allows food to be stored for a longer period without spoiling quickly. In fact, this method can help food last for years, typically when stored at freezer temperatures of around −18°C.

Also read: Differences Between Air Blast Freezer & Cold Storage—Important to Know!

2.Preserves Taste

Freezing helps maintain the taste of food during storage or transportation, especially rapid freezing methods such as cryogenic freezing, which preserve the natural quality and freshness of food.

3. Inhibits Microbial Activity

Freezing helps preserve food by suppressing microbial activity and slowing down chemical and enzymatic reactions that can damage nutritional content. Low temperatures reduce water availability, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth.

4. Easy to Reprocess

Food preserved through freezing is more practical to process again. Frozen products can be used directly by consumers without much preparation, such as cleaning or seasoning, and some are even ready to cook.

5. Easier to Store and Transport

Frozen food is more flexible for storage and transportation. For example, frozen fish can be neatly arranged in freezers, and frozen products can be distributed more efficiently, both locally and internationally.

Food Freezing Process

The food freezing process begins when the product temperature reaches the initial freezing point, which is when ice crystals start to form.The temperature reduction profile of food products differs from that of pure water due to the presence of solids that affect the freezing point.

Initially, the product undergoes supercooling, where the temperature may drop to about 10°C below the freezing point before water actually begins to freeze.During freezing, part of the water in the product turns into ice, while the concentration of solids in the unfrozen portion increases.

This process continues until the solids reach a supersaturated condition and begin to crystallize, releasing latent heat, until the temperature reaches the eutectic point.After that, crystallization of both water and solids continues until the product temperature approaches the desired frozen storage temperature.The proportion of water that remains unfrozen depends on the type and composition of the product as well as the storage temperature.

For example, at −20°C, approximately 88% of water freezes in goat meat, 91% in fish, and 93% in egg albumin.

Difference Between Freezing and Storage

In general, food freezing is the process of lowering the temperature of food below its freezing point so that the water inside turns into ice crystals. The goal is to slow microbial growth and enzymatic reactions.

Meanwhile, storage is the process of maintaining food under certain conditions (room temperature, refrigeration, or freezing) to preserve its quality and safety. Therefore, freezing is one method of food storage.

Types of Food Freezing

Food freezing methods are generally divided into two main types: slow freezing and quick freezing.

1. Slow Freezing

Slow freezing typically takes 3 to 72 hours at temperatures ranging from −15°C to −30°C. This process produces large ice crystals that can damage cell walls and cause fluid loss when the product is thawed.

2. Quick Freezing

Quick freezing is carried out in less than 30 minutes through the maximum freezing zone.

This process forms small ice crystals, keeping food cells intact, preserving taste and nutritional quality, and inhibiting microbial growth and enzymatic activity.

Quick freezing itself is divided into several types:

Quick freezing, for example by directly immersing food in a cold solution.
Rapid freezing, a faster freezing process with tighter temperature control.
Ultra-rapid freezing, the fastest method that maximizes the preservation of freshness and texture.

Quick freezing and its variations are the most recommended methods because they efficiently maintain cell structure and food quality during storage.It is important to note that maintaining food quality depends not only on the freezing method but also on proper storage and distribution. For industries that need to store large quantities of frozen food, efficient cold storage facilities are essential to maintain product quality.

One reliable solution is using professional cold storage service providers.This is where MGM Bosco Logistics comes in, offering blasting services at facilities in Sidoarjo and Makassar. These services enable faster and more efficient freezing processes for large volumes before products are stored in warehouses that optimally maintain freshness and quality.

MGM Bosco: An Efficient Cold Storage Solution for Your Business

Managing large volumes of frozen products requires a reliable storage and distribution system. Without adequate facilities, the risk of damage and quality deterioration increases, especially for perishable food products.

MGM Bosco Logistics provides cold storage services, refrigerated truck fleets, and integrated 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) services covering the entire logistics process.From cold storage management and transportation to real-time reporting, everything is handled through a customer portal. MGM Bosco Logistics’s cold storage facilities use environmentally friendly cooling technology, equipped with digital and automated control and monitoring systems.

Meanwhile, MGM Bosco Logistics operates more than 1,000 refrigerated trucks and over 5 transportation hubs across major cities in Indonesia to support product distribution. With ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, and Halal Indonesia certifications, MGM Bosco is committed to maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency at every stage of its operations.