Mastering the Cold Chain: Unleashing the Power of Variable Deepchill® Forms

In the realm of maintaining the pristine quality and freshness of seafood, temperature control within the cold chain reigns supreme. One of the key strategies in optimizing the cold chain is utilizing advanced chilling systems that are both flexible and effective at every stage of the chain.

As its name implies, the cold chain process maintains the product at an optimally cold temperature, with regular ice being the conventional agent used across most stages. Yet, our research underscores inadequacy of regular ice in maintaining seafood freshness. Read more here and here.

Now the question is, how do we optimize the cold chain process? To answer this question, let’s start by introducing you to the concept of Variable Deepchill Forms and how the phenomenon is defined by different ice fractions.

Variable Deepchill® Forms

Ice fraction is the measurement of the concentration of ice crystals in a brine solution. This means different ice fractions can distinguish the consistency and form of the slurry.

Each step in the cold chain process has different cooling requirements depending on the environment and use. This is important because different ice fractions work best depending on those circumstances.

Deepchill® comes in a variety of forms depending on the ice fraction you need. No other cooling and preservation technology is as versatile and adaptable to your cold chain process. Its adaptability makes it a preferred alternative to traditional ice chiller systems and food processing chillers, delivering more precise temperature control across industries.

Navigating Deepchill® Forms and their Applications

The following table provides an overview of differences between Deepchill® slurry and Deepchill® Paste, and their applications.

	Deepchill® Slurry	Deepchill® Paste
Characteristics	A low to medium  concentration of crystals in a brine has a liquid consistency, which behaves similarly to refrigerated brine but with a much higher cooling capacity. This means that Deepchill® slurry is perfect for rapid cooling and is very easy to distribute, performing more efficiently than conventional slurry ice machines used in similar applications.	A higher concentration of crystals in a brine has a semi-solid and dense consistency of paste with a higher cooling capacity than slurry.
Application	Recommended for onboard or on-land post-harvest chilling and storage. Can be used in insulated and non-insulated tubs, chilling and bleeding tanks, fish holds, tanker trailers, conveyor-based tanks, etc. With medium fractions, it can also be used in smaller plastic boxes for chilled storage, or in waxed boxes packing shellfish.	Recommended for storage or packing fish for shipping to keep the products colder for much longer with an extended shelf-life. Can be used in insulated and non-insulated tubs, Styrofoam or other types of boxes.
Advantages	Rapid chilling with a high cooling rate. Medium slurry fractions are especially more effective in cooling high-temperature products (i.e., 25°C fish), and because of its high cooling capacity, a smaller Deepchill® to product ratio can be used, making the operational footprint smaller. Effective for storage of products for multiple days before processing.	Lasts longer in shipping and transit especially when used on Deepchilled products. Deepchill® crystals have a soft texture with full coverage, adding a layer of product protection and cushioning. Prevents fish from dehydration, as it still has some liquid properties and fully surrounds the product.

The Deepchill® Difference

If you’re looking for a cooling solution that adapts seamlessly into your process that takes into consideration the different ice fraction requirements, look no further because Deepchill® does just that and more.

Not only does Deepchill® provide different ice fractions to fit every stage of the cold chain process, Deepchill® also provides optimal cooling with high-tech temperature control to maintain the freshness, texture, flavour, colour, and quality of your product.

Unlike traditional flake ice makers, Deepchill® technology uses advanced food processing chillers to redefine industrial cooling efficiency. Learn how slurry ice outperforms flake ice makers.

Key Takeaway

Each stage of the cold chain, whether it’s chilling, storage, packing, and distributing, has different requirements in terms of cooling and ice fractions. When designing a Deepchill® cold chain solution, we take various aspects of your application and operation into consideration such as:

• Application
• Seafood volume, mass flow and temperature
• Apparatus or container type and material
• Potential heat losses and ambient conditions
• Length of time where cooling is needed
• Seafood species and their specific preservation requirements

By combining flexible chilling systems with advanced Deepchill® engineering, operations can achieve consistent product quality and reduced cooling losses.

This ensures that we provide an optimized solution that handles different stages of the cold chain and guarantees a Deepchill® Fresh product.

Call (905) 856-0400 or email us at [email protected] to discuss perfecting your cold chain process and see how Deepchill® can improve your operation.