Importance of refrigeration systems in the food industry

Have you ever thought about the processes food goes through before it reaches your mouth? For example, cold storage is fundamental to slowing the growth of germs that cause product spoilage, and there are devices such as CO2 evaporators that guarantee their maximum safety. If you want to learn more about refrigeration systems in the food industry, keep reading this post.

To achieve the goal of preventing food loss due to damage caused by bacteria and to preserve it in optimal condition, it is necessary to have a suitable refrigeration unit. Furthermore, it is important to maintain control over the temperature that each product requires to preserve its best conditions.

Refrigeration systems in the food industry are necessary from the production phase, and thanks to them, the shelf life of food can be increased. This need to maintain the cold chain also extends to the processing and storage stages, but it varies depending on the nature of the products.

Relative humidity in food preservation

Relative humidity in food preservation is another aspect to consider in this field, as it exerts a strong influence on cold storage. The concept is understood as the relationship between the partial pressure of water vapor and its saturation pressure at a given temperature.

In this regard, it is necessary to pay attention to high relative humidity levels, as they promote the growth of microorganisms, particularly when food is stored at high temperatures. Additionally, water evaporation and the weight loss associated with it decrease with decreasing vapor pressure. Let’s look at an example to clarify this:

Microorganisms have the ability to reproduce slowly at a relative humidity of 75%, but this leads to high weight losses. However, at values between 90% and 95%, weight loss is minimal, and the growth of bacteria is only controllable with a storage temperature close to 0°C.

What are the effects of refrigeration on food?

To better understand refrigeration systems in the food industry and the preservation by refrigeration of the food we have on our plates every day, let’s look at one of the most well-known and common examples:

Effects of refrigeration on meat

Cold preservation of meat helps maintain its main properties for a long time. In its raw state and at a temperature of -18°C, it is a food that can last in good condition for up to 15 months, and if vacuum-packed, its duration could be extended to two or three years.

This temperature causes ice crystals to form, which prevent microorganisms from absorbing liquid water for their metabolism to function. Regarding commercial use, preservation is carried out in a completely different way.

It is common to freeze meat at -30°C with high air velocity so that the product’s muscle fiber does not break. In this way, the food is able to stay fresh for up to 7 days, but it is recommended that no more than 3 days pass from the time it is placed in a supermarket refrigerator.

Do you remember when we talked about having correct temperature control? This is one of the reasons.

What is an industrial refrigeration system?

Refrigeration systems in the food industry are devices that are based on thermodynamic principles and are designed to facilitate the release of unrecoverable heat into our environment. They can be differentiated by their design or by their basic operating principle, whether using water, air, or a combination of both.

One aspect to highlight is that the environmental effects of these devices vary according to their configuration, but the purpose is always to increase total energy efficiency and reduce emissions to water. In this sense, CO2 evaporators from Inditer are the best alternative on the market for responding to environmental challenges.

Environmental aspects of refrigeration systems

These refrigeration systems in the food industry that we market are part of a line designed to protect the environment, complying with the highest safety standards for use in refrigeration and preservation chambers, among other storage and production applications.

Having quality equipment prepared to control the cold chain allows us to maintain all food in an optimal state of preservation and commercialization. This function they fulfill is an advance in terms of sustainability and environmental care, as it allows us to reduce the generation of polluting waste.

Additionally, it should be added that CO2 is a natural refrigerant widely used today in these processes and is spoken of as a promise for the future.

How does a refrigeration system work?

Refrigeration systems in the food industry, and in general, work by causing the refrigerant circulating inside to evaporate, thus changing from a liquid to a gaseous state. This is what causes it to cool down and fulfill its function. It is similar to the effect you can experience by putting a drop of alcohol on your skin and feeling the cold during its evaporation process.

To maintain the operation of a refrigeration system, the gas needs to return to its liquid state again via the compressor. If it functions correctly, the gas should be hot and under high pressure. The next step is for it to cool in the condenser, thus returning to a liquid state to restart the process.

We hope this post on the importance of refrigeration systems in the food industry has been useful to you. Remember that at Inditer, we are at your disposal for any domestic, commercial, industrial, and automotive refrigeration system services.

Do not hesitate to contact us by calling 957 664 142 or by filling out the form on our website. We will be happy to analyze your case in a personalized way and advise you by offering the best solution on the market.