Maintaining blast chillers is important from a safety standpoint since temperature consistency is key for HACCP reporting. Operators can take specific steps to prolong the service life of these units and keep systems in safe operating condition.
Blast-chilling food reduces the temperature of cooked product quickly, but this process also helps maintain safe product temperatures throughout the preparation cycle. In addition, this quick-chilling method maintains product temperature, minimizes the potential of overcooking and extends product life.
While refrigeration equipment is designed to keep menu items at food-safe temperatures, blast chillers quickly draw down the temperature of menu items to food-safe temperatures.
Essentially souped-up freezers, blast chillers are most often used by large institutions like hospitals, which need to produce and store food in high volume. They’re also high-dollar pieces of equipment that need to be well-maintained to work at peak efficiency.
Maintaining blast chillers is important from a safety standpoint since temperature consistency is key for HACCP reporting.
The menu will help determine if a foodservice operation requires a blast chiller and, if so, the appropriate size. More delicate food like bakery items may be better suited for a softer, more gradual chill process, while meat and other heartier products can withstand a hard chill that brings food temperatures down to an almost frozen state more quickly.
Featured Products
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SkyLine Chill Blast Chiller-Freezer 102
Electrolux Professional
This blast chiller can take 220 pounds of food from 195 degrees F to 37 degrees F in less than 90 minutes, according to the maker. Features include a high-resolution, touch-screen interface that translates into more than 30 languages; a cooling fan that operates at 7 different speeds and timer that can manage up to 20 different cooking cycles. The fan stops within five seconds of the door opening.
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Randell BC Series Blast Chillers
Unified Brands
Randell BC Series Blast Chillers have touch-screen controls and an auto-launch cooling feature. A color-coded probe identification system ensures proper probe placement. Reach-in, work-top and undercounter models are available. The three models come standard with a front-mounted USB port for retrieving recorded data for HACCP program documentation.
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