3 replies to this topic

[JennyT]

Good morning,

 

I am running a trial at my facility looking at mixed temperature loads for short network runs in chilled reefer units. I am finding that when I temperature probe some frozen products they are not -18C even though they have been stored for 1+ weeks in a temperature controlled freezer (-22C to -18C on average). My assumption is that these products, bread rolls for example have a low moisture content so there is less water to freeze. 

 

Can anybody point me in the direction of how I can prove these items are fully frozen even if they read -12C on my thermometer?

 

Thank you in advance,

Jenny

[Scampi]

Do you run your product through a blast chiller prior to placing in the holding freezer?

 

What does your plan say your product is held at? The fact that your freezer temp is -22 to -18 does not mean that your product will be...............cardboard is a fantastic insulator, so if you are probing finished rolls that have been place in cartons then stacked on pallets, they will never chill to -18 regardless of how long they have been in there. You need to get your product below -18C BEFORE its placed in cartons

 

I'm assuming you calibrate thermometers regularly?  You'll also notice that your label says "keep frozen", it does not say keep frozen at -15C or below.....

[Charles.C]

Good morning,

 

I am running a trial at my facility looking at mixed temperature loads for short network runs in chilled reefer units. I am finding that when I temperature probe some frozen products they are not -18C even though they have been stored for 1+ weeks in a temperature controlled freezer (-22C to -18C on average). My assumption is that these products, bread rolls for example have a low moisture content so there is less water to freeze. 

 

Can anybody point me in the direction of how I can prove these items are fully frozen even if they read -12C on my thermometer?

 

Thank you in advance,

Jenny

 

Hi Jenny,

 

I assume the probe is a needle type thermocouple ?

Is the reefer unit fully loaded ?

Do you mean the thermometer never reads lower than -12degC at the product core anywhere ?

What does yr probe indicate in the air ?

Is yr probe/freezer indicator externally calibrated at -18degC ?

 

Need a bit more context.

 

"Fully" frozen is a subjective terminology. "Hard frozen" is a popular shipping alternative.

[JennyT]

Hi Scampi,

 

We are not producing this product, simply shipping it, it already arrives hard frozen from the vendor but I cannot get the product to read -18C. If I probe frozen peas for example i can easily get a reading of -18C. Yes, thermometers are calibrated weekly.

 

Hi Charles,

 

The probe is an IR probe, it easily measures air temperature within the freezer and on other products, as I mentioned above I can read frozen peas at -18C but not any item that has a low moisture content.

 

Thank you both for your support in trying to answer this question.

 

Jenny