When it comes to the topic of blast freezing or blast freezers, one of the most commonly asked questions is, “What is the temperature of a blast freezer?“

In order to answer this question, we must first understand what kind of blast freezer we are dealing with and what kind of product we are freezing. Today, we will be taking a look at how different types of blast freezers are used to freeze and preserve different types of products as well as the various means through which blast freezing is made possible in the modern day food production industry.

We will also be taking into consideration the temperature at which most blast freezers operate as well as the preferred blast freezing temperature for different products, whether it be meat or poultry, fish or vegetables and even bread and fruits. Is there really a perfect blast freezer temperature? Let’s find out.

Blast Freezer : A Quick Definition 

Simply put, a blast freezer is a specialized freezer that allows your food or product to be frozen rapidly over a short period of time. The blast freezer temperature varies. The benefits of this method of freezing are many and varied. However, it can be argued that the biggest benefits to be achieved from this method of freezing is faster production/storage of products and higher quality freezing due to rapid and finer ice crystal formation. 

By rapidly cooling the product at speeds much faster than your conventional freezer, blast freezers can reach very low temperatures in short periods of time. This leads to the formation of extremely fine ice crystals within the product which causes minimal damage to the cellular structure of the product and maximizes product weight on defrost as weight is not lost to drip loss.

Drip Loss : What is it?

Drip loss is the process by which products lose their weight and moisture during the defrosting process. This causes severe losses in profit when shipping inventory because the delivered product is not as heavy as the original frozen product. This is caused due to the internal damage caused by large ice crystal formation during the slow freezing process in conventional freezers. In short, the slower the freezing process, the larger the ice crystals formed and the more damage caused to the product resulting in higher drip loss ratios.

Temperature of  a Blast Freezer : How low can it go?

The temperature of a blast freezer can vary from -10 Degrees Celsius (14 Degrees Fahrenheit) to -120 Degrees Celsius (-184 Degrees Fahrenheit) . The effective freezing temperature of various blast freezers vary depending upon a variety of factors. Factors such as the size, weight and thickness of the product matter greatly when it comes to the process of freezing because the temperatures measured are core temperatures and not external temperatures. 

In addition to these factors, the type of product also matters.  This is because of physiological and biological differences between various products.

For example, it takes a shorter amount of time to flash freeze fruits or vegetables compared to certain kinds of meats because the skins for fruits and vegetables are generally easier to permeate.

Similarly, the fat content in fish and in various meats also influence the freezing time as well as the corresponding drip loss ratios.

What is the optimal temperature of a Blast Freezer ?

The optimal temperature for a Blast Freezer is the temperature best suited for processing and freezing your product. Often, it is important to test the product you wish to freeze beforehand so as to figure out the best temperature range for your product. Depending on whether you wish to freeze meat products, dairy, fish or vegetables, the temperature range required for achieving the desired results may be vastly different.

There is no point in purchasing a blast freezer that achieves temperatures of -120 Degrees Celsius (-184 Degrees Fahrenheit) if the product you wish to freeze has an optimal freezing temperature of -40 Degrees Celsius (-40 Degrees Fahrenheit). As such, it is important to first recognize, test and understand the proper temperatures for freezing various products and then making a well informed and calculated decision.

How do you know the best Temperature for a Blast Freezer?

The best way to know the right temperature for your blast freezer or product is to consult with a specialist. At Flash Freeze, we have freezer specialists with years of experience catering to a global clientele spanning every industry from food production to catering and restaurants to health care and medicine. 
If you wish to purchase your very own blast freezer but find it confusing as to where you would like to start, our freezer specialists will be more than happy to support you and help you find the product that is best suited for your business and your needs.

If you would like to book a one on one Skype or conference call or just want to shoot us a message, feel free to reach out to us through our contact page.

Feel free to browse our dedicated flash freezing range here as well as more information about Flash Freezing.