GROWING DEMAND FOR HIGH-QUALITY IQF SWEET CORN
Over the last few years, the IQF sweet corn market has witnessed gradual but continuous growth in the global IQF food market. High-quality IQF sweet corn is often preferred by traders and sold at higher prices. Traders from all around the world confirm that they are eager to pay 5% to 30% more for premium quality IQF products. Why have IQF products gained so much traction in general? Products that are frozen using IQF technology keep their natural appearance, texture, nutrients, and flavor. Not to mention, the IQF products have a longer shelf life and are convenient to store. By investing in the right IQF technology, producers’ success in processing sweet corn is guaranteed.
The OctoFrost provides the whole sweet corn processing line as follows:
Blanching
The stage of blanching cannot be overlooked because it deactivates the enzymatical activities that cause nutrients and texture losses in sweet corn. At the same time, an inexact control of the blanching temperature can lead to over-blanching. In the OctoFrost™ IF Blancher, however, the temperature control is precise and accurate within 0.5°C. This efficiently avoids over-blanching of the corn kernels, keeping them firm and crispy. The steam injection into the blanching water of the OctoFrost™ IF Blancher significantly increases energy efficiency which allows a higher capacity.
Chilling
Chilling should take place immediately after blanching. A quicker chilling ensures the correct core temperature of the product before feeding into the freezer, resulting in high yield and product quality. The ice-cold water in the OctoFrost™ IF Chiller that gently falls over the product in the IF Chiller immediately stops the blanching process. This preserves the product’s moisture, natural color, and vitamins.
IQF Freezing
In the OctoFrost™ IQF tunnel Freezer, the gentle fluidization with the optimal bedplates' movement preserves the natural shape of the sweet corn without any damage. The quick crust freezing in the IQF Freezer minimizes product dehydration, increasing yield and productivity.
IQF sweet corn maintains its natural appearance, texture, and shape when individually quick frozen in the OctoFrost™ IQF tunnel Freezer. The asymmetric movement of the OctoFrost™ bedplates and its optimal airflow create good product separation.
As consumers continuously seek convenience, the demands for not only IQF sweet corn but also other IQF products are increasing. Therefore, it is vital to use efficient technology which can meet the demands and maximize profitability.