Blast Chillers

A high-quality blast chiller will bring the core temperature of food down over a short period of time. It achieves this by rapidly circulating cold air around the produce. The forced circulation of air helps to uniformly distribute the cold temperatures, preventing hot spots where bacteria can thrive. 

While the health and safety of your customers are certainly important, the aim of blast chilling food is also to preserve the texture and quality of food. Placing food in a traditional freezer — which cools food slower than a blast chiller — will result in a greater amount of ice crystals forming. When the food is eventually defrosted, the increased liquid will drain the food of nutrients and taste. 

If preserving the quality of food is important to you — and it should be — a blast chiller is a far better option than a traditional freezer.

Your main priority is to serve up food that satisfies your customers every single time and never puts their health at risk. In order to avoid falling short of food during service, you might purchase and produce a little extra food just in case things prove to be that bit busier. Any additional products must be stored in the correct manner so that they can be safely used again.

A blast chiller is an ideal way to quickly safeguard the integrity of your food and preserve it in optimal condition for use again when you need it. A snap freezer quickly lowers the temperature of food whilst retaining nutrients and product quality. The extremely cold temperatures prevent bacteria from forming, meaning you can confidently serve food to customers knowing their health and safety are protected. 

A typical freezer cannot accept hot food straight from the oven, it needs to cool to room temperature first before being placed in the freezer. A blast chiller will accept hot food, straight out of the oven and cool it down in minutes, instead of hours.

In addition to maximising food safety, blast chillers also minimise food waste. By snap-freezing food, you can preserve more for later without compromising its quality. This reduces food waste and makes your kitchen that much more efficient!

Here at Restaurant Equipment Online, we have a range of these exceptional freezers available for purchase at the lowest prices. Our ability to offer extremely competitive prices and deliver quickly has made us one of the top commercial kitchen appliance e-retailers in Australia. With a variety of familiar brand names to choose from, you can expect to find the best blast chiller solutions for your business.

If you've never used a blast chiller before, you may be under the impression that it’s just a fancy sort of freezer. In reality, these are two different types of kitchen appliances that serve unique purposes.

A blast chiller is a type of refrigeration unit that is used to cool food rapidly. By circulating cold air around the food, a blast chiller can lower the temperature of the food more quickly than a standard refrigerator. This is ideal for foods that need to be cooled quickly, such as cooked meat or fish — think 60-90 minutes from hot out of the oven to frozen.

A typical freezer, on the other hand, is designed to maintain a consistent temperature below freezing. This is ideal for foods that need to be stored for long periods of time, such as ice cream or frozen vegetables. Using a standard freezer to cool hot foods can take hours, even overnight to bring the temperature down to the point where a blast chiller will take 1-2 hours.

Don’t settle for using a freezer in situations where a blast chiller would be more appropriate. Not only will a blast chiller increase the efficiency of your kitchen, but the quality and taste of your food. Blast chilling leads to smaller ice crystals forming from the water molecules in your food. While at first, this may seem like an aesthetic benefit, the reality is that larger ice crystals can spoil the taste and texture of frozen food, which makes for a much less appetising meal. Ice crystals form as the water in the food molecules freeze and grow into crystalline shapes. These crystalline shapes are sharp and pierce the food molecule membranes, causing them to be mushy when reheated. Blast freezing prevents this by freezing the water molecules too fast for crystals to grow,

While both types of units are important in a commercial kitchen, blast chillers are typically used more often because they offer more flexibility in terms of cooling times and other functions. Some blast chillers can also be used as hot or cold holding cabinets and even low temp (up to 75°C) ovens.

Using a blast chiller ensures food safety by minimizing bacterial growth, extends the shelf life of prepared dishes, and preserves the quality and flavor of food. It also allows for efficient batch cooking, reducing preparation time during busy periods.

Yes! Most commercial blast chillers are designed to be user-friendly. Removable racks, trays, and gaskets allow for easy cleaning, while self-cleaning features simplify maintenance. Regular cleaning and maintenance ensure the longevity and efficiency of the equipment.

Blast chillers operate with high-efficiency fans and compressors, which may generate some noise. However, modern models are designed with noise reduction features to minimize disruption in the kitchen environment, ensuring a comfortable working atmosphere.

Absolutely! Blast chillers consume less energy compared to traditional refrigeration methods due to their quick cooling cycles. They optimize energy usage by rapidly bringing down the temperature and minimizing exposure to the surrounding environment.

Absolutely! Blast chillers are versatile and can handle a wide range of food products, including cooked dishes, raw ingredients, sauces, soups, and even delicate items like fruits and desserts. They offer customizable chilling modes to suit different food types.

Yes! Many blast chillers offer additional functions like proofing dough, chocolate tempering, slow cooking, or thawing. This versatility allows for more efficient use of space and equipment, providing better value for money.

While commercial blast chillers require professional installation, they typically come with comprehensive manuals and guidelines to assist you. It's essential to provide adequate space, proper electrical connections, and ventilation for optimal performance.

When selecting a brand, consider factors such as reputation, customer reviews, after-sales service, and warranty options. Opting for a trusted brand with reliable customer support ensures product reliability, prompt assistance, and peace of mind regarding your investment.

It's crucial to select the proper size based on your kitchen's needs. Consider the volume of food you'll be cooling at once, as well as the type and quantity of pans or trays used. Ensuring sufficient capacity will maximize productivity and avoid overworking the machine.