What are IQF Fruits?
Before delving into IQF Fruits, Let us understand what IQF means. IQF stands for Individual Quick Freezing. It is a type of freezing where the fruits and vegetables are frozen at extremely low temperatures, between -30°C and -40°C.
This freezing method ensures each piece of the fruits and vegetables is frozen individually without allowing them to stick together. Freezing at these temperatures prevents the formation of large ice crystals, which can damage the cell walls of fruits and vegetables.
Methods of freezing Fruits – Conventional and IQF
Conventional freezing involves freezing fruits and vegetables on a tray or a container and allowing them to freeze slowly. It is an inexpensive and straightforward method. However, it can result in the formation of large ice crystals that lead to the loss of colour, flavour, and texture of the fruit or vegetable.
IQF freezing involves rapidly freezing the individual pieces of fruit or vegetables in a blast freezer. This rapid freezing minimizes the formation of ice crystals, preserving the fruit’s nutrients. This freezing method is best suited for producing smaller products like fruits, vegetables, and fruit chunks to grow IQF-frozen fruits or vegetables.
Frozen fruits – Freezing methods
IQF is also called flash freezing, quick freezing, super freezing or cryogenic freezing. The name varies depending on the type of medium the freezing method uses. Most IQF frozen fruit suppliers use mechanical freezing due to low energy consumption and lower operating costs. ABC Fruits’s IQF plant has an automated freezing method that produces 5 tons of IQF frozen fruits.
Mechanical freezing: This method involves suspending fruits and vegetables in a stream of cold air, causing them to freeze individually and quickly. This type of freezing has evolved over the years to freeze the fruits with less damage, making it the most preferred freezing method.
Cryogenic freezing: This method utilizes liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide to flash-freeze fruits and vegetables at extremely low temperatures. This method is more efficient. However, using nitrogen makes it expensive.
Advantages and Benefits of IQF Fruits
- One of the most significant benefits of IQF Fruits is that they preserve the fruit’s freshness, colour, flavour, and nutritional value.
- Convenience: IQF fruit is easy to use and can be added to smoothies, yoghurt, cereal, and other dishes without thawing.
- Longer shelf life: IQF Fruits can be stored for up to 24 months from manufacturing at -18 °C without losing quality.
- Nutritional value: Since the products are frozen immediately after the harvesting process, IQF fruit retains all of its nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Preserve flavour: IQF fruits retain the flavour of fresh fruit. In some cases, they may be more flavourful than fresh fruits due to the preservation of volatile flavour compounds during freezing.
- Availability: Since the tropical fruits are seasonal, IQF fruits are available all round the year when stored under
- Reduced cooking time: IQF Fruits can often be cooked from frozen with minimal thawing, saving time and effort.
Applications of IQF Fruits
Food Service: IQF Fruits are widely used in culinary creations. It is also used in frozen desserts, smoothies, and salads.
Dairy: IQF fruits are a vital ingredient in ice cream and yoghurt, providing fresh and fruity flavour. IQF fruits can be added to ice cream in whole form and diced.
Processed food: IQF fruits are used in various processed foods, such as granola bars, breakfast cereals, and fruit snacks. IQF fruits are added to processed foods to provide them with a fresh and fruity flavour and texture.
Nutritional supplements: IQF fruits are used in various dietary supplements, such as smoothies, shakes, and powders. IQF fruits are a convenient and concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Freeze-dried products: IQF Fruits can also be used as a raw ingredient for freeze-dried products. It is also essential to use a freeze-dryer specifically designed for fruits, as these machines typically have a lower drying temperature that can help prevent browning.
Examples of IQF fruits