Features
The flake ice machine is pre-cooling technology , a process used in vegetables, fruits, fish, etc, to quickly reduce them temperature, so they can be transferred to a refrigerated warehouse immediately for long term storage . Precooling is performed on site, using mobile machinery of Ice Cachanilla.
How it works?
Cooling with crushed ice or flake ice is simple, effective and fast. Cooling is not attributed to direct contact of the food with the ice , its attributed to the contact between the food and the resulting ice thawing seeping through cold foods . The ice has the advantage of delivering a huge cooling capacity quickly and maintain a constant temperature ( -0.5 to 0 ° C).
Ice is created by pouring water on freezing plates and it flows across the surface due to gravity during the freeze cycle . It flowed a liquid coolant at a temperature close to 0 ° F for a circuit that passes into the freezing plates, extruded through cuts and then the ice sheet falls , forming the so-called ice flake.
Benefits of precooling
It is recommend the removal of field heat by precooling process at a temperature and humidity level for optimal storage of fruits and vegetables so that they retain all their properties. The food quality will quickly deteriorate if field heat is not removed prior to transport .
The pre-cooling extends the life of food by reducing :
- The field heat .
- The respiration rate and heat generation by food.
- The rate of maturation of the foods .
- Humidity loss .
- Production of ethylene - ( gas generated during ripening foods ) .
What if you choose to store the product without pre-cooling ?
The product transpires all the time and brings field heat , so it will take much longer for this to reach their optimum storage temperature.
Also, refrigerated warehouses for extended storage have air circulation system that avoid it moving very fast in order to keep to a minimum the loss of water in the product . True, the cooling by forced air circulation in the cellars is cheaper but smooth consistency many fruits and some vegetables , may deteriorate during storage after being in contact with water .
Everything depends on the total cooling capacity of the equipment in the holds , if it reduces its efficiency in certain seasons or at different times of day, the optimal temperature still take no pre-cooling , putting life at risk product.