Linde has detailed out the advantages of cryogenic chilling solutions for food processing through its white paper titled "High-Efficiency Cryogenic Chilling for Food Processing.”
The white paper said that chilling with food-grade cryogenic gases such as nitrogen (N2) or carbon dioxide (CO2), including CO2 snow, is a suitable alternative to mechanical chilling, dry ice, or top-chilling methods.
The company claims that cryogenic chilling systems can provide accurate temperature profiles, and help save time as compared to the manual loading of dry ice bags or carbon dioxide pellets into mixers, or packing ice into food boxes manually.
Cryogenic chilling systems are believed to work for both automated and batch chilling processes. For meat, poultry and seafood items, cryogenic systems can bring the products to the required equilibration temperature.
For the purpose, carbon dioxide snow generators and automated systems are used in place of dry ice and other manual chilling methods.
For baking and snack foods, cryogenic flour and dry-ingredient chilling systems are used either before or during mixing process. This is intended to aid temperature control for higher quality and repeatability.
Consistent temperatures are said to provide repeatable batch-to-batch dough quality, reduce mixer cycle times and improve downstream handling and extrusion processes.
Linde food & beverage head Mark DiMaggio said: "Recent advances in cryogenic chilling systems provide numerous advantages including improved productivity and repeatable quality.
"Because of the improved process repeatability and temperature consistency, cryogenic chilling plays an important role in food safety by maintaining strict temperature controls and hygienic conditions."
Cryogenic chilling solutions include bottom-injection mixer chilling, sauce cooling and dry ingredient chilling. Solutions for chilling with carbon dioxide include combo bin chillers, box chilling systems and CO2 snow generators.
Linde works with food processors to develop process solutions and also has a food team which conducts in-plant assessments. The company has a Food Safety Management System in place for all bulk carbon dioxide (CO2) plants and air separation facilities supplying the food & beverage industry in North America.