Even during the coldest months of the year in the Upper Midwest, quality climate-controlled storage warehouses still operate with strict storage practices, maintaining exact temperatures and environments for frozen, refrigerated, and dry food products. At Minnesota Freezer Warehouse Company (MFWC), we offer comprehensive climate-controlled warehouse services for the import, storage, and export of goods from coast to coast and border to border. Our warehouses are located along major shipping lanes for quick processing of food products without any compromise to quality and safety. From cross-docking to blast freezing, our team of hardworking warehouse technicians offers complete, year-round climate-controlled storage in the Upper Midwest.
Freezing goods is one of the most effective ways to protect them from damage. And freezing at peak quality stabilizes that condition and greatly extends the products’ shelf life. However, even frozen goods can be damaged in some ways without proper handling. One of the most common issues with freezing goods and storing them is the potential of freezer burn.
How does freezer burn happen?
Freezer burn affects foods that aren’t properly packaged or are stored in inadequate climates. It occurs through the process of sublimation. Like dry ice, sublimation is the transfer of a solid to a gas without turning into a liquid in between. Continuing with the example of dry ice, it transfers as a frozen solid into a water vapor when exposed to room temperatures. This happens in a freezer when the water in food products are exposed to air flow slightly warmer than freezer temperatures (generally 0ºF or lower are considered freezer-grade temperatures). The foods don’t thaw because they are still in below-freezing conditions, but the frozen water sublimates into a vapor that eventually recrystallizes. As the water sublimates, it creates dehydrated foods, and as the vapor refreezes throughout the storage space, it leaves crystal deposits.
What does freezer burn do to food?
While freezer-burned foods are technically safe to eat, their quality is severely diminished. Freezer burn causes discoloration, dehydration, and completely changes the structure and taste of a food product. In our climate-controlled storage warehouses, we prevent any potential for freezer burn in customers’ products. First, humidity and moisture regulation stop any sublimation of frozen liquids that are present outside of the foods. Second, we maintain temperatures to keep any air flow at below 0ºF temperatures, which prevents sublimation of liquids present inside the foods. And finally, our storing practices, repackaging services, and blast freezing keep goods well packed with no exposure to warehouse air.
Thanks to our expert staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and long history in best cold storage practices, MFWC continues to offer high-quality, comprehensive climate-controlled storage in the Upper Midwest. Call MFWC at (507) 373-1477 or email us at info@mfwc-cold.com to learn more about our services and facilities.