IQF Fruit | Paradise Fruits

IQF Fruits are flash-frozen fruits. The English term “IQF” means “Individually Quick Freezing”. As the name suggests, the products are frozen individually and directly after harvesting. The food remains in constant motion during the process and is then quick-frozen. The IQF process only takes a few minutes. But what makes it special is that we process the products only a few hours after harvesting. This ensures that a maximum of freshness, vitamins, minerals and fibre are preserved. The colour and taste also remain unchanged. Individual Quick Freezing is one of the best and most effective methods to preserve food without any loss of quality.

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IQF fruit can be used in many ways. The fact that the fruits are frozen individually means that they can be easily portioned and thus defrosted in a short time, depending on the requirements. They are ideal as an added ingredient in muesli or smoothies. IQF fruit from Paradise Fruits can be perfectly into daily foods perfectly, such as muesli, cakes or ice cream.

There are numerous varieties of IQF Fruits in our portfolio. This includes strawberries, raspberries, sour cherries, black currants, red currants, elderberries, plums, bananas and apricots. We freeze and process our fruits in various diameters and shapes. We offer the fruits whole, as grits or in pieces. They are packed either in 25 kg or 20 kg bags, 10 kg cartons or 2.5 kg bags (4×2.5 kg). Have we sparked your interest? Book a no-obligation consultation with one of our experts today.

Imagine enjoying a juicy strawberry in the middle of winter or savouring fresh blueberries months after they’ve been harvested. How is this possible? Individual Quick Freezing (IQF)! 

This innovative technology freezes foods quickly and individually. No more clumpy, freezer-burned blobs; with IQF, each morsel is perfectly preserved, keeping its flavour, texture, and nutritional goodness intact. Join us as we explore how IQF keeps our foods deliciously fresh all year round.

What Does IQF Stand for in Food?

IQF stands for Individual Quick Freezing, which is a freezing technique that involves rapidly freezing each piece of food individually. This differs from traditional freezing methods, where food is frozen in larger batches. 

IQF technology is typically used for smaller pieces of food, such as berries, fruits, sliced or diced vegetables, meat, shrimp, and cheese. Items that have been frozen by IQF are usually referred to as individually quick frozen.

What’s the Difference Between Conventional Freezing and IQF?

Conventional freezing slowly freezes fruit and vegetables that are on a tray, pallet or container. Items are usually frozen in big batches, and it is an inexpensive and simple process. However, freezing food in this manner can cause large ice crystals to form in the food which has a negative impact on the flavour, texture and colour of the food. 

IQF freezing rapidly freezes individual pieces of fruit and vegetables. This is best for freezing smaller items like berries, fruit and veg chunks. By rapidly freezing the food, the formation of ice crystals is minimised, helping to preserve the colour, flavour and texture of the items. 

This flash-freezing process locks in the natural flavours and nutrients, preserving the peak ripeness of produce.

What’s the Difference Between IQF and Blast Freezing?

While both IQF and blast freezing are methods used to freeze food quickly to preserve its quality, they have distinct differences. 

IQF involves freezing individual pieces of food quickly. Each piece of food remains separate, making it easy to portion out exactly what you need. It is ideal for small or irregularly shaped items like berries, shrimp, or peas.

Blast Freezing involves food being placed in a blast freezer where extremely cold air circulates around it, rapidly lowering its temperature. It is typically used for bulk quantities, resulting in food items freezing together unless separated before freezing. Blast freezing is commonly used for larger items or packaged foods like whole fish, meat cuts, or prepared meals.

How Does IQF Work?

After harvesting, food items are washed, peeled, cut, or otherwise prepared as needed. The food is then frozen using one of two methods. 

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Mechanical Freezing

For mechanical freezing, food is placed in a stream of cold air that causes it to freeze quickly and individually. Food is frozen at extremely low temperatures, between -30°C and -40°C. The process has been refined over the years to limit the impact of freezing on the food so that the nutrition, taste and texture remain as good as possible. 

Cryogenic Freezing 

Liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide is used to freeze the food rapidly at extremely low temperatures. This method is very fast and effective for maintaining food quality. 

However, it is much more expensive than mechanical freezing, so most IQF frozen fruit suppliers use mechanical freezing due to lower energy consumption and lower operating costs. 

Once frozen, the individual food pieces are packaged for storage and distribution.

IQF Fruits and Veg at Projuice

All of our IQF fruits and vegetables are sustainably sourced and 100% traceable to provide you and your customers with only the very best. Our IQF fruits and vegetables are supplied by Crops. The fruit is cut and frozen within 2-4 hours of harvesting, which helps to preserve the natural flavours, vitamins and textures, ensuring you can consistently create great-tasting food and drink. 

Benefits of IQF

In contrast to fresh fruit, which may spend days to weeks in transit before reaching your plate, IQF frozen fruit undergoes the freezing process within hours of harvest. This flash-freezing technology captures the essential vitamins and minerals at their peak, ensuring that the frozen produce remains nutrient-dense. 

Quality Preservation

One of the most significant benefits of IQF is the preservation of food quality. The rapid freezing process used in IQF minimises the formation of large ice crystals, which are common in traditional freezing methods. Large ice crystals can damage the cell structure of food, leading to a loss of texture and flavour. 

By freezing food quickly, IQF ensures that ice crystals remain small, preserving the integrity of the food. This means that fruits, vegetables, seafood, and other items retain their original taste, texture, and nutritional value, making them more appealing to consumers.

Convenience

IQF offers unparalleled convenience for both consumers and food service providers. Since the food items are frozen individually, users can easily portion out exactly what they need without having to defrost an entire package. This is particularly beneficial for products like berries, fruits, or diced vegetables, where precise portions are often required. 

The ability to use only what is needed helps reduce preparation time and simplifies meal planning, making it an ideal solution for busy households and commercial kitchens alike. 

At Projuice, we use IQF fruit and veg to create our easy-to-use pre-portioned smoothie blends. They come in 150g single-serving packs that are ready to blend, helping to reduce product waste and improve consistency with servings.

Availability

Since fruit and vegetables are seasonal crops, IQF produce allows you to use ingredients all year round, while tasting the same as when they were harvested! This is particularly useful for tropical fruits and berries, which are harder to source fresh all year round. 

IQF fruits and vegetables allow you to serve a consistent menu, with all the ingredients available no matter the season. This should also help to keep prices consistent throughout the year too, as you won’t have to pay more for fruits when they’re not in season. 

Are you interested in learning more about Are Frozen Fruits And Vegetables As Good As Fresh? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!