A BREATH OF FRESH AIR - INNOVATIVE CRYOGENIC SOLUTIONS FOR READY MEALS
Ready meals form one of the most dynamic areas in Britain’s packaged food market, rising to a retail value of £1.93bn in 2006. But while sales of chilled convenience foods such as salads and refrigerated ready meals are booming, the frozen sector has stagnated in recent years. Consumers can view frozen products as inferior in quality compared to chilled ones, making them ‘the last resort’, rather than the first choice option. But with efficient and versogenic freezing and chilling solutions, frozen food processors can now overcome this stigma. atile cry
Quality and convenience with IQF
The nation’s interest in good food has increased the demand for more complex, restaurant-style recipes within the ready meals market. The resulting challenge for manufacturers is how to create high quality products while maintaining an affordable price and convenient preparation. Innovative cryogenic equipment offers a solution. Air Products’ Freshline® cryogenic freezing systems mix free-flowing food products, such as meat, seafood, vegetables and pasta while enrobing individual pieces with sauces or herbs. At the same time, each dish is fast frozen into convenient pre-measured portions that are ready to heat and serve. The quick freeze process ensures food’s inherent nutritional and textural quality is maintained. Using liquid nitrogen (LIN), these freezers allow ultra-rapid temperature reduction for optimum moisture retention. In turn, this technology results in a greater yield – particularly important for a high-value product like prawns, salmon or duck.
Unlike traditional freezing methods, Air Products’ cryogenic solutions save time by mixing, coating and freezing simultaneously. This cost- and time-efficient process allows manufacturers the flexibility to expand their product range with more innovative, consumer-friendly dishes. Mushrooms coated with herbs, paella, shrimp in Cajun sauce and chicken in a barbeque marinade can all be created using up-to-the-minute cryogenic systems.
Fresh for longer
Ready-to-cook products such as oven-ready and microwavable meals are increasingly popular with consumers who want to save time after long hours at work. MAP-packed foods are top sellers not only because they need little or no preparation, but also because of their relatively long shelf-life. Air Products provides an effective solution for processors and packers in this sector. By using the Freshline MAP gas selector, for example (http://www.airproducts.co.uk/MAP)they can obtain detailed information about the gas mixes needed to develop high performance packaging solutions, specific to their products.
“Technologies such as cryogenics are increasingly valuable for food manufacturers looking to profit from the growth of the ready meals market”, comments Emma Guthrie, European marketing manager, Food and Industrial Cryogenics.
“The simultaneous freezing and coating process offered by the Freshline range allows manufacturers to create high quality meals that appeal to demand for more exotic flavours while exceeding consumers’ (high) expectations.”
Editor’s note:
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.
For further information, please contact:
Air Products on 0800 389 0202
or E-Mail: APBulk UK
or visit www.airproducts.co.uk/food
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