Whether it&#;s to better your health or shed a few pounds, we all know that fruits and veggies should have a place in our diet.
Please visit our website for more information on this topic.
Fruits and vegetables have so many vitamins and other nutrients that our bodies need to be energized. Not to mention, they can help with factors like eyesight, skin clarity, and hair growth.
If you sell fruits and veggies on a regular basis, you understand how vital these foods are. If you&#;re selling fresh fruits and veggies, you may actually want to consider switching to frozen!
Keep reading to learn about what IQF foods are and why you should offer them as a supplier!
IQF stands for &#;individually quick frozen.&#;
IQF foods are foods that are picked at their peak ripeness and frozen to preserve all the nutrients they have. We all know that fruits and veggies are an essential part of our overall health, and IQF foods make them much easier to eat.
Now that you know what IQF foods are, what are the benefits of frozen fruits and veggies?
If you sell fruits or veggies to restaurant chains, fresh isn&#;t necessarily always the best.
Frozen fruits and veggies may actually work better for you, as they have tons of benefits.
When we think of frozen food, many of us think of frozen TV dinners that are packed with sodium. While frozen foods have gotten a pretty bad reputation, frozen produce may actually be better than their fresh counterparts.
Here are a few more reasons why frozen produce is the best.
Everyone has their favorite, or go-to, fruits and veggies.
Eating fruits and vegetables isn&#;t the most fun thing to do, so many consumers find their favorites and stick to them. The problem with this system is that some fruits and vegetables are seasonal.
This issue may turn companies away from buying produce from you if you don&#;t offer a wide selection year-round. If you aren&#;t offering the fruits and vegetables consumers want, your clients may go look for them elsewhere.
This is where IQF foods are a better alternative.
You can stock up on frozen fruits and veggies, and the consumers will not know the difference! IQF foods are always available, so you can stock your clients up with all the best-selling fruits and veggies, even if they aren&#;t available to buy or sell fresh.
This makes eating healthier so much easier and enjoyable for consumers, which is the goal, right? Who wants to force-feed themselves produce that they don&#;t like just because it&#;s in season? Nobody!
Many people don&#;t realize this, but the fresh produce actually loses a ton of nutrients by the time it reaches the consumer.
When you order an inventory of fresh fruits and veggies, the chances are it took days for them to transport. Over the days that they&#;re being sent to your client, precious vitamins and nutrients are lost. Plus, a consumer may not eat the produce until a few days after the shipment has arrived.
So, again, even more nutrients are lost.
If you factor in all the time that your produce has been sitting between travel and purchase, it&#;s kind of gross to think about! As a professional specializing in selling food, you want the best produce to give to your clients.
If they&#;re buying with the intent of getting the maximum amount of nutrients, it&#;s your job to deliver. While fruits and veggies are still healthy when shipped from your business, they&#;re much healthier when they still have most of their nutrients.
While it may sound crazy, frozen fruits and veggies actually have more nutrients than fresh ones! Well, that is, if you didn&#;t buy your produce from a farmer&#;s market or grow it yourself.
There&#;s science behind this to back it up.
When fruits and vegetables are to be frozen, they&#;re prepared and picked differently than produce that&#;s meant to be fresh. Frozen fruits and veggies are picked at their peak ripeness. Then, they&#;re flash-frozen in a nitrogen setting to preserve any nutrients that may get lost if they were to sit.
This method of preservation also stops any bacteria from forming on the food.
When we think of frozen food, we often think of the food we eat on a budget.
You can find an entire bag of frozen broccoli for the price you would pay for a couple of stalks. If you&#;re running a business by selling stock, you&#;ll want to factor in the price of your inventory when choosing your products.
This is where frozen produce wins.
Not only is fresh broccoli more expensive than frozen, but it doesn&#;t last as long either. When you purchase fresh broccoli, you have to make sure that it&#;s all sent quickly.
If you&#;re selling produce for restaurant owners to use, you&#;re likely buying in bulk. This gives you a very limited window to sell your stock before it must be thrown out. If you&#;re throwing out unused fruits and veggies, that&#;s money you&#;re throwing out as well.
Fresh fruits and veggies aren&#;t cheap in the first place, so this waste could really hurt your profits over a long period of time.
If you want to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your selection, but don&#;t want to splurge on produce that doesn&#;t last long, IQF foods are a great option.
It&#;s true that we often think of frozen food and turn our noses up at it, assuming it&#;s unhealthy or of less quality.
Yes, this is the case with meals that are loaded with sodium and preservatives. Frozen fruits and veggies are different though. It&#;s surprising to learn that frozen fruits and veggies are usually healthier than fresh produce you have delivered.
In the world of food preservation, two methods stand out: Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) and freeze-dried. Both techniques have their unique advantages and applications, but understanding the key differences can help you make informed decisions. Whether you're a home cook, a food manufacturer, or simply curious, this guide will walk you through the ins and outs of IQF vs freeze-dried methods.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Fortune Foods sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
The IQF Process: Speed and Precision
Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) is a method where each piece of food is frozen separately. This process involves rapidly freezing food items at extremely low temperatures, often using liquid nitrogen or cold air. The rapid freezing prevents the formation of large ice crystals, which can damage the food's cellular structure.
IQF is ideal for freezing smaller products such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, and even pasta. For instance,iqf frozen vegetables and fruits are popular for their convenience and quality. If you're looking for reliableiqf frozen fruit suppliers, check out our selection at Global Resources Direct.
The Freeze-Drying Process: Sublimation Sensation
Freeze drying, also known as lyophilization, involves freezing the food and then reducing the surrounding pressure to allow the frozen water in the food to sublimate directly from the solid phase to the gas phase. This process removes almost all the moisture from the food, making it lightweight and shelf-stable.
Freeze-dried foods are commonly used for snacks, emergency food supplies, and even space missions. Popular freeze-dried products include fruits, vegetables, meats, and even complete meals.
Texture and Taste: Fresh vs Crunchy
IQF: Maintains the original texture and flavor of the food, making it taste almost as fresh as the day it was picked.
Freeze Dried: Results in a crunchy texture that can be rehydrated. The taste is preserved, but the texture changes significantly.
Shelf Life: Short-Term vs Long-Term
IQF: Typically has a shorter shelf life compared to freeze-dried foods and requires constant refrigeration.
Freeze Dried: Can last for years without refrigeration, making it ideal for long-term storage.
Nutritional Value: A Close Call
Both IQF and freeze-dried methods preserve the nutritional value of the food. However, freeze drying may have a slight edge in retaining more nutrients due to the absence of heat during the process.
Cost: Budget vs Premium
IQF: Generally more cost-effective, especially for bulk purchases.
Freeze Dried: Tends to be more expensive due to the complex and time-consuming process.
For Home Cooks: Convenience is Key
If you're a home cook looking for convenience and quality, IQF is the way to go. The ability to use only what you need without defrosting the entire batch is a significant advantage. Plus, the texture and flavor are almost as good as fresh.
For Adventurers: Lightweight and Long-Lasting
For those who need lightweight, long-lasting food options, such as backpackers or emergency preppers, freeze-dried foods are the best choice. The extended shelf life and portability make them ideal for situations where refrigeration is not an option.
For Food Manufacturers: Quality and Efficiency
Food manufacturers often prefer IQF for its quality and efficiency. The rapid freezing process ensures that the food retains its original texture, flavor, and nutritional value, which is crucial for maintaining product quality. Many turn to trustediqf frozen vegetable suppliers to meet their production needs.
Both IQF and freeze-dried methods have their unique advantages and applications. Understanding the key differences can help you choose the right method for your needs. Whether you're looking for high-qualityIQF frozen fruits or long-lasting freeze-dried snacks, each method offers something valuable.
Ready to experience the benefits of IQF for yourself? Check out our selection ofIQF fruits and vegetables at Global Resources Direct and elevate your freezing game today!
Q: What are the main advantages of IQF over freeze drying and block freezing?
IQF preserves texture, flavor, and nutritional value better than freeze drying or block freezing. It also allows for easier portioning and quicker defrosting.
Q: How long can IQF and freeze-dried foods last?
IQF foods typically last several months to a year when properly stored. Freeze-dried foods can last for years without refrigeration.
Q: Is IQF more cost-effective than other freezing methods?
Yes, IQF is generally more cost-effective, especially for bulk purchases. It also reduces waste by allowing users to thaw only what they need.
Q: What types of foods are best suited for IQF?
IQF is ideal for smaller products like fruits, vegetables, seafood, and pasta. It's particularly effective for foods where maintaining individual pieces is crucial.
Q: How does the IQF process work?
IQF involves rapidly freezing food items individually at extremely low temperatures, typically using liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide. This quick freezing prevents the formation of large ice crystals, preserving the food's quality.
Are you interested in learning more about Iqf Fruits? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!