IQF or Individual Quick Freezing is the most effective preservation technique for delicate food items such as fruits. Flash-frozen is the term used for items that underwent IQF. With this technology, suppliers guarantee freshness, since freshly-harvested fruits can be processed right away through IQF to ensure optimum freshness.
Food and beverage entrepreneurs find the importance of partnering with a supplier that offers IQF fruits. If you own a smoothie bar and want to serve only the freshest strawberry smoothies and cocktails just in time for spring, a partnership with reputable IQF strawberry suppliers is a must.
If you want to learn more about IQF and how your food business will benefit from this technology, continue reading.
The history of flash freezing
IQF, also known as flash-freezing, has been an excellent means of food preservation since 1920. However, it was only during the late 80s that it became popular due to the growing demand for quality ingredients in the UK dining scene.
You can flash-freeze everything – vegetables, grains, meats, and seafood may undergo the IQF process that involves taking the temperature down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes.
One of the most beautiful things about IQF is that it induces the formation of smaller ice crystals, hence preserving food more efficiently. Large ice crystals may damage cells and fibres of food items, which may result in a mushy texture once thawed. This problem is effectively treated by choosing flash-frozen food from a reliable supplier.
The benefits of IQF flash-frozen foods
While it is not yet common for the majority of UK restaurants and pubs to use flash-frozen food items, there are a lot of benefits that can be derived from supporting this food processing technology. Here are some of them:
No preservatives
Flash-frozen items such as IQF strawberries do not contain preservatives, making them a healthy addition to any meal. Since the freezing process preserves their flavour and freshness, restaurant owners can benefit from it, by serving a more upscale menu using the finest ingredients.
Excellent nutritional value
This could come as a surprise for some people, but flash frozen fruits have the same nutritional value as their freshly-picked counterparts. They retain the same amount of macro and micronutrients, so you don’t lose anything even during the thawing process.
Reduce food waste
Another excellent reason why you should start integrating flash-frozen fruit juice and other fruit juice ingredients into your menu is that they help in significantly cutting down on waste.
You may not use imperfect vegetables that were flash-frozen to make stews or soups, where appearance does not offer any aesthetic value but deliver a host of nutrients and flavour to your clients.
Some suppliers use IQF technology as an effort to reduce food waste by flash freezing quality but not-so-good looking fruits and vegetables.
These excellent benefits should encourage you to look into suppliers that offer IQF food suppliers nearest you. If you have any more questions, these suppliers are knowledgeable. They can provide you with more reasons to switch to flash-frozen food items to incorporate into your cooking and beverage preparation.
