All the professional equipment designed for food refrigeration that we have selected for you – such as refrigerated counters and tables, blast chillers, fridge cabinets and freezers, ice-cream machines and counters, display cabinets for patisseries, pizzerias, sushi bars, soft drinks and much more, are essential items for blast chilling, refrigerating, freezing or maintaining the low temperature of foods that need to be stored in cold environments to preserve their organoleptic properties.
Refrigeration, freezing and blast chilling
Refrigeration, freezing and blast chilling are the main methods used by chefs and professional cooks to preserve food, delay the inevitable spoilage of raw ingredients and prevent the growth of bacteria harmful to humans.
Refrigeration is a method of food preservation that involves keeping products at a low temperature without freezing the water contained within the food. To achieve this, food is kept at a temperature ranging between 0°C and 10°C.
As well as temperature, the storage environment must also be taken into account, particularly humidity: an unsuitable space can lead to undesirable consequences such as the loss of the product’s characteristics, the growth of harmful microorganisms, wilting or browning. Keeping appliances perfectly clean will ensure proper air circulation inside the chambers or along the walls, which is essential for the appliances to function correctly.
Freezing is a food preservation technique that aims to preserve food by significantly lowering the temperature of the product. It involves two stages: nucleation, during which ice crystals form, and growth, which allows the crystals to become larger and larger. To freeze food, it must be brought to a temperature between -18° and -25°C: these figures ensure maximum safety in the preservation of all types of food, whether raw or cooked. Furthermore, it is important to note that, on an industrial scale, the temperature is only considered to have been rapidly lowered if it can be maintained at around -30°C to -50°C: this is when, by definition, rapid freezing or deep-freezing of food occurs.
Rapid cooling is a specific procedure carried out using a machine, known as a blast chiller, which enables food to be cooled rapidly: in around 90 minutes, the internal temperature of the food drops to around 3°, which is ideal for proper storage. The rapidly induced cold has a bacteriostatic effect, preventing germs from multiplying. The product can also be deep-frozen in order to preserve the food’s organoleptic properties.
This preservation technique is used to:
- Lower the temperature of cooked food before freezing it;
- Rapidly lower the temperature of raw food to avoid health risks;
- Minimise the risk of bacterial contamination of the product;
- Preserve the food’s natural properties, preventing them from being lost over the course of hours or days;
- Prevent food from spoiling quickly and easily, and the resulting waste of money and food.
Energy label: what it is and when it is compulsory
The Energy Label is a document that informs consumers about the characteristics and energy consumption of each model of domestic appliance manufactured for sale. In Italy, as in other European countries, the regulations on energy labelling have undergone some changes and are now mandatory only for the following appliances placed on the EU market: refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, electric ovens, electric lamps, air conditioners, boilers and heating systems. For all items, however, which are intended solely for the display of products and not for their storage, the label is not required.
What professional refrigeration equipment can I find on Ristoattrezzature?
On Ristoattrezzature, you can purchase hundreds of functional, top-quality items for refrigerating and freezing food, such as:
- Blast chillers
- Refrigerated and Freezer Cabinets
- Refrigerated counters and back-of-house units for bars, ice-cream parlours, pizzerias, fishmongers, self-service outlets and butchers
- Wine cellars
- Cold drink dispensers
- Slush machines
- Ice cream and soft-serve machines
- Ice makers
- Refrigerated tables
- Display cabinets for tasting samples and drinks, ice cream, pastries or sushi
- Proofing cabinets
- Refrigerated waste bins
- Wine Cellars/Refrigerated Barrels
- Drink stations
- Refrigerated wall units
Would you like to receive information about Ristoattrezzature’s professional equipment?
Contact us now to make your dream of fitting out the venue you’ve always wanted a reality. Shopping at Ristoattrezzature has never been easier or more secure!
