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Blast Freezer Basics

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:42 GMT

What is a blast freezer?

Very simply, a blast freezer, or a shock freezer, is just a very cold freezer. These freezers rapidly bring down the temperature of temperature sensitive produce such as foodstuffs or fresh produce, bringing them down to the optimum temperature quickly. They are widely used in the frozen food industry for things like pre-prepared meals, vegetables or fish. A lot of commercial kitchens also use them for frozen food storage.

Why shock freeze?

When you freeze food or other products the water inside crystallises into ice. The longer the freezing process takes, the larger the ice crystals become. Larger ice crystals damage materials by causing things like cell bursting, which affects the quality and flavour of foods. Rapid freezing within a blast freezer causes the crystals formed to be very small, which does less damage and preserves food at a higher quality. Also, once the food is “blast frozen” it can be moved into a normal freezer for longer-term storage as long as this one stays cold enough for the food to stay frozen.

How does blast freezing work?

A lot of blast freezers use blower fans which force cold air across the contents of the freezer in order to rapidly chill it. Others can work in different ways depending on the design. Blast freezers can be equipped with trays which move about in order to position foods, and often include various compartments. An average freezer can normally handle foods at room temperature or even heated as long as the freezer is not over capacity.

Is blast freezing safe?

As well as the integrity, quality and taste of the food, blast freezing also has health and safety benefits. In extreme cold bacteria growth is slowed down. Provided that the food is handled safely and then put into the freezer immediately after preparation, there is a greatly reduced risk of contamination. This benefit to food safety is one of the reasons why blast freezing is very popular in commercial food preparation areas, as it greatly reduces the risk to customers and consumers.

CRS Portable Blast Freezers

Our portable blast freezers are immensely useful for all kinds of applications including food storage, and especially where a static freezer is not an option due to space constraints or planning permission restrictions.

We have freezers available to rent, lease or purchase in a variety of powers and capacities. Get in touch with our cold storage sales team to find out how we can help you with your shock freezer storage today.

What Is A Blast Freezer?

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:37 GMT

Simply put, a blast freezer is a freezer that is very cold.

Blast freezers are sometimes referred to as shock freezers. This type of freezer storage rapidly brings down the temperature of (usually) cooked or fresh produce, freezing it very quickly to lock in the taste and nutrition of the food for optimum quality for consumers.

They are widely used in the frozen food industry for ice cream, pre-prepared meals and vegetables or fish; however, as they are very adaptable to the needs of businesses, there is no limit to the industries that can benefit from a Blast Freezer.

Why use a Blast Freezer?

When you freeze food, the water inside crystallises into ice. The longer the freezing process takes, the larger the ice crystals can form. Larger ice crystals damage materials by causing phenomena like cell bursting, which affects the quality and flavour of foods.

Rapid freezing causes the formation of tiny crystals, which do minor damage and preserve food at a higher quality. Even more usefully, once the food is "blast frozen", it can be moved into a standard freezer for longer-term storage, as long as it stays cold enough for food at the correct temperature, of course.

How Do You Blast Freeze?

Many blast freezers use blower fans that force cold air across the freezer's contents to chill it rapidly. Others can work in other ways depending on the design. They can be equipped with trays that move about to position foods and often include various compartments for freezing.

An average freezer can typically handle foods at room temperature or even heated as long as the freezer's capacity is not overloaded. Put a lot of hot food in the freezer, and its temperature will rise, which will negatively affect its cooling capacity.

Safe Freezing with a Blast Chillers

Aside from the integrity, quality, and taste of the food, blast freezing also offers a health and safety benefit in that frigid temperatures slow down bacteria's growth. Contamination is significantly reduced if the food is handled safely and then put into the freezer immediately after preparation.

This benefit to food safety is one of the reasons why blast freezing is very popular in commercial food preparation areas, as it greatly reduces the risk to customers and consumers.

CRS can provide custom Blast Freezers to meet the unique needs of your company's requirements, including:

Internal person trapped alarm systems with fridge shutdown and battery backup
Control System with Pack Controlled and touch display
Remote diagnostics and alarms
Manual override controller and display
Sensor failure alarm
Person trapped alarm

CRS assists in improving the productivity of your business with Blast Freezers, which is not limited to a specific industry. For more information about tailored cold storage, speak to one of our professionals today!

Benefits of Blast Freezing in Commercial Catering

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:32 GMT

The commercial catering industry is highly competitive, and businesses are almost always held to a high standard.

Working in the food industry is not an easy task with so many competitors, but there are things you can do to ensure that the product is of a high quality to ensure you differentiate from competitors.

What are the main advantages of blast freezing?

No matter what industry you work in, blast freezing holds some impressive advantages that can dramatically improve the quality of your food and, in turn, your profitability.

Waste reduction – Blast freezers reduce waste in two ways. Firstly, their reliable temperature control ensures that goods stay at safe temperatures of -18°C or below. Secondly, freezing at low temperatures ensures that food spoilage is kept to a minimum as bacterial development is halted more quickly.

Speed – Blast freezing allows you to cool and freeze larger volumes of food much quicker than using a conventional freezer, saving you time and money. Again, this process halts the spread of bacteria more quickly, resulting in food that is both fresher and safer to eat.

Smaller ice crystals – A by-product of the freezing process is that the formation of ice crystals is much smaller. These ice crystals can run the taste, texture, and appearance of goods, leading to lower-quality products. Microcrystals develop when using a blast freezer, making it a practical and popular solution in commercial catering.

When working in the catering industry, the quality and handling of the food should be the two most essential things achieved to the highest standards. If you want to ensure your company is known for its outstanding commitment to the freshest produce, then freezing and storing your food correctly is critical to the business.

What can I blast freeze?

Another great benefit of blast freezing is the variety of goods you can prepare and freeze in advance. If you’ve never experienced a blast freezer, you will be surprised at how many products you can store safely for months. The below list is some of the most popular edible products caterers choose to blast freeze.

Raw and cooked meat, fish and poultry

Similar to a regular domestic freezing unit, blast freezers are perfect for storing raw and cooked produce for later use, from oily fish like mackerel to hardier meats like prime beef joints. Additionally, blast freezers help extend the life of meat, fish and poultry substantially whilst not compromising on flavour or safety.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Whole and pre-cut fruits and vegetables such as berries, chopped carrots, broccoli and peas are all suitable for blast freezing if stored correctly. They can be thawed to be eaten or added to soups, smoothies and other cooked meals.

Baked goods

Other helpful ‘prepare ahead’ items for caterers include breakfast pastries, pies, canopies and savoury baked snacks. These are top-rated buffet foods and are often overlooked for freezing ahead. Like other goods, bakery products will freeze best if stored correctly.

Ready meals

Blast freezers are a fantastic way to store full, ready-cooked meals ahead of time. Ready-made meals can sometimes be necessary and often essential, mainly when serving large volumes of people daily. Blast-freezing ready meals is beneficial for caterers working for public organisations such as schools or hospitals as they can freeze and thaw full meals without losing all-important nutritional content.

The rest…

These are just a fraction of the most popular goods suitable for blast freezing. However, anything stored in a domestic freezing unit is suitable for a blast freezer. So, no matter what food your business serves, you can make blast-freezing work for you.

What type of blast freezer do I need?

Yet another great benefit of investing in a blast-freezing unit? The type of blast freezer you should invest in will usually depend on the size of your business, the volume of food you produce, and your future expansion plans.

Blast freezers come in various grades, from basic to the more sophisticated. Grade A blast freezers are a popular choice and best suited to commercial catering as they offer good protection, hygiene and temperature control for products.

Pre-constructed blast freezers are available in 10ft, 20ft and 40ft sizes, although larger sizes and bespoke designs can be provided if required. When choosing a blast freezer for your commercial catering company, it’s also important to consider future expansion. Whilst it’s easy to upgrade your storage, looking ahead could save you time and money and allow you to expand your range of products more rapidly.

Make it your own

All Grade A blast freezers operate at temperatures of -40°C to +10°C and come with hygienic, easy-to-clean, non-slip floors as standard. Portable units are available for companies requiring a blast freezer that can move with them. Choosing a portable unit means that wherever your business goes, your food can follow.

Contact us for more information about how CRS can support commercial catering, helping you to maintain high standards in the food industry. Call today and speak to our Blast Freezer specialists, who can consult you on the best solution for your business.

The benefits of a custom-built refrigerator

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:28 GMT

For industries that handle perishable products, commercial refrigeration is a crucial element. Professional cold stores not only help you meet with regulations that affect the handling of your products but also allow you to be more efficient by avoiding any unwanted wastage. However, not every business is the same – if you are thinking of investing in cold storage, but your requirements are quite particular, you may need to consider a custom-built refrigerator.

Here, we number a few of the main benefits of having a bespoke commercial refrigerator.

Additional access

While having a single door may be convenient for commercial kitchens with limited space, extra doors may be required for bigger spaces where the amount of produce handled is significant.

Having insulated doors is another feature you can request. Insulated doors are needed when working with temperatures below 8°C, but they can be fitted to any room.

Having a tailor-made commercial refrigerator will allow you to choose the most convenient type of access to improve efficiency within your business.

Tailored sizing

The size is, in most cases, particular to each business. The amount of produce you regularly manage and the space you have within your premises are two of the main problems businesses from every industry regularly face.

Cold store units can be tailor-made to utilise the space effectively. Whether you need an extra cold room to support your current refrigeration units or a more global solution to deal with demand, a tailor-made refrigerator could help you optimise the area that you have available.

Specific flooring

Flooring is another feature you can get customised when ordering a bespoke commercial refrigerator.

Cold rooms can normally be supplied with or without an insulated floor. Insulated floors are essential when you need to operate at temperatures below -2°C. They are also recommended for cold rooms situated on intermediate floor levels where temperatures are below 5°C.

Your staff will follow different procedures depending on the products that they work with and the nature of your business. Specific flooring is needed under certain temperature conditions, and it has a huge impact on convenience and efficiency.

Ancillaries

When you customise your commercial refrigerator, you will be given the opportunity to enhance the unit with other options. Some of these will include lighting or extra shelving units.

These features can help your staff operate more efficiently and are a benefit that you should not sub estimate when ordering your bespoke solution.

From refrigerated containers to fast-acting blast freezers, bespoke solutions can easily adapt to your business needs. At CRS, we provide tailor-made cold rooms that are built to customer specifications, with energy efficiency and durability in mind. If you are interested in knowing more about our custom-built refrigerator solutions, get in touch, and our team will help you.

Food cold storage could help in preparation for the unavoidable EHO visit

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:18 GMT

Recently it has emerged that even the most famous of restaurants and household names cannot hide from the environmental health officer. A famous Birmingham restaurant has been tarnished with a zero rating after the local environmental agency inspection. A nil score is only given to restaurants that are a potential concern to the public and are in need of urgent improvements. It is likely that this score was due to a poor level of hygiene including food storage and cleanliness amongst other factors.

This set to have huge implications on the steakhouse and grill restaurant. Such low ratings really could prove disastrous to any business who is hit by such ratings. However, the popularity of the restaurant has little value to the health inspectors; who are far more concerned with the health and wellbeing of the public visiting the premises than the reputation of the business or its owner.

What will health inspectors look for?

As part of an environmental health inspection, the agency’s staff will look at a number of different elements. One of the biggest aspects will be the cleanliness of the facilities and equipment along with ensuring the correct cleaning chemicals are used. With the cleanliness of the premises comes the lookout for tell-tale signs of pests including rodents and roaches. Poorly stored ingredients including the likes of flour sacks being left on bare floors, could attract four legged creatures – making for a less than respectable score. Poor cleanliness is also a major cause of food contamination and bacterial infestation. Poorly cleaned equipment and appliances could lead to cross contamination – making for a nasty surprise for the unsuspecting customer.

What can food cold storage do?

Food cold storage units could help reduce the risk of bacterial contamination thanks to the additional storage space. Many cold stores offer specialist racking options to ensure foods are kept off of the floors and also allow for cooked foods to be stored above raw meats – or better still could allow separate units for raw and cooked produce. Food cold storage units including those supplied by CRS Mobile Cold Storage offer stainless steel interiors, making them extremely easy to clean and keep well maintained.

Getting it right and earning that window sticker circled with a 5 really could be the best advertisement for your catering business!

If your are looking to improve your premises health and hygiene with better food storage solutions and are considering buying or renting a food cold storage unit, please visit the website meat cold storage or vegetable cold storage section of our website. Alternatively if you would like to speak to a member of the team to discuss your storage needs and how food cold storage may help improve the environmental health of your business, please speak to a member of the team by calling the support line on 0800 085 2298.

Keep food safe for serving with a blast freezer.

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:13 GMT

From storage through to waste disposal, all of these rules have been put in place by an authorising body to not only ensure the safety and protection of customers using such food establishments but also help owners and employees when working by giving the specific guides that must be followed.

One of the most common results of poor food safety is the growth of harmful bacteria on cooked food products. This can be caused for a number of reasons for example, if the product is poorly covered or stored incorrectly - making its surface a prime target for insect landings. It is well known that bacteria require an ‘optimum temperature’ to multiply. A food product must be cooked to above 140 degrees Celsius to be deemed ‘safe’ as the possible bacteria has been killed. However, this does not mean that it is then immune from new bacteria growth, especially when left to cool.

Regulation states that cooked foods must not sit between 120 degrees Celsius and 65 degrees Celsius for more than two hours. Between these temperatures, bacteria is able to grow most rapidly making it a ‘danger zone’. Therefore, leaving a cooked food product to cool of its own accord can become hazardous within any food establishment. Blast cooling or blast freezing is a process that rapidly reduces the temperature of food products even through to the core. Both methods, ‘blast’ cool air over a cooked product to lower the temperature. Blast freeze equipment, uses extremely cold air to help freeze a product inhibiting the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.

If you are looking to improve health and safety within a food establishment and would like to view a wide range of blast freeze products that will be able to improve food cooling safety, please browse our site and visit our blast freezers page or food cold storage page for more details. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a member of the team to discuss your blast freeze equipment options, please call 0800 085 2298 where a knowledgeable team member will be happy to help.

Freezer Storage and Bad Bacteria

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:09 GMT

When buying and preparing food in our own homes, meat and fish products need to be stored correctly and safely to ensure that they are in the best condition possible when we come to consume them. This is no different for those working in the food and drink sector, as many products must be chilled or frozen whilst being stored in their respective warehouses, before reaching the supermarket or restaurant.

Correct freezer storage is important wherever you are but especially so when serving the public as the rules and regulations regarding health and safety are much stricter, and keeping your customers safe should be your top priority.

Unpleasant bacteria can begin to develop at a very low temperature and multiplies quickly when meat, fish and poultry are stored incorrectly – which is why many choose freezer storage over regular refrigeration.

There are several different types of bacterial infection that a person can contract if eating fresh food that has been stored incorrectly, all of which may cause serious health issues if a customer has a weakened or underdeveloped immune system. Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli are just some of the most common bacteria that can develop in raw animal products but there are many more that can go on to develop into equally alarming illnesses.

Alongside proper freezer storage, it’s also important to teach your staff about the importance of good hygiene. Some bacterium, such as Staphylococci, lives in the noses and throats of humans and can be easily transferred from a carrier without proper protection. When working with food products that are going into frozen storage, it’s crucial to always wear masks and gloves to protect food from human contamination.

Many people are unaware of how quickly bacteria can spread therefore education, united with quality freezer storage is the perfect combination to keep your customers safe and your business reputable. Appropriate freezer storage will help to eliminate some potential cross-contamination threats too, as high-quality storage units are made from easy to clean materials that keep the spread of bacteria to a minimum. Alongside this, many frozen storage units can freeze thousands of kilograms of fish, poultry and meat in a 24 hour period, ensuring there’s minimal time for any of that bad bacteria to develop.

No matter what area of the food industry you’re in, investing in good quality freezer storage will ensure that both your business and your customers are protected from all of these easily avoidable incidents.

Why choose Commercial Refrigeration?

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:24:03 GMT

If you work in the food industry, then you’ll know all about the many benefits of commercial refrigeration. As well as there are being many different laws and regulations to abide by, you want keep your stock fresh and plentiful, so that customers know they can trust you and your food products.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current cold store or are brand new to commercial refrigeration and are looking for the right storage unit for your business, there’s never been a better time than now to see what’s out there. Just like businesses, commercial refrigeration units come in a range of different shapes and sizes and from the absolute smallest containers, to a more heavy duty cold store there’s something for everyone.

One of the most popular features of a top range cold store is ease of access and safety. For businesses that need constant access to large numbers of produce, easy open doors are a must. A simple feature such as this can cut the amount of time loading and unloading takes by a considerable about, leaving you more time to get on with other important tasks.

Non-slip floors are also another great advantage of opting for commercial refrigeration with a higher end specification. With sleek aluminium interiors, cold stores can often get slippery, creating a huge hazard for your staff. Non-slip allows your staff to work quickly and efficiently, without the added worry of slippery accidents.

Worried about lock-ins? Internal release systems and man trap alarms are a great way to keep staff safe inside large storage units and will make sure that no one ever gets caught out whilst cleaning, repairing or checking produce.

If you want to keep track of your stock more efficiently, upgrading your commercial refrigeration unit can help with that as well. Opt for a top of the range cold store with multiple independent refrigeration systems to not only divide up your stock more effectively but avoid cross contamination too.

Alongside this, accurate electronic temperature control will ensure that your stock is always at the temperature it needs to be, reducing the chances of profit losses through product spoilage. Electronic displays also allow you to keep a better check on temperature throughout the duration of the products time in the cold store unit, giving you complete peace of mind.

If you’re interested in upgrading your cold store or simply want to know more about commercial refrigeration contact CRS Mobile Cold Storage today on +44 (0) 1525 87 27 27.

What Can I keep in a Blast Freezer?

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:23:59 GMT

If you are looking for a safe, quick and effective method of cooling down your food, Blast Freezers offer the perfect solution for your catering establishment.

Blast Freezers are most used in hotels, big restaurants, fast-food restaurants, canteens, resorts and catering. They are designed to freeze food and beverages (up to -18°C), allowing you to store processed meat for up to two months and salads and desserts for up to 1 year.

Here are some foods that benefit from being kept in blast freezers:

Fish and Seafood

The Japanese have been using blast-chilling shock freezers for years to preserve the quality of freshly caught fish that they want to use for sushi.

Many hotels and restaurants freeze clams, oysters and mussels and allow them to cool in the refrigerator. With a blast freezer, you can serve the shellfish raw on the half shell, with the blast freezer locking in the quality and tastes of the shellfish, extending its lifecycle for consumption and ensuring consumers are not disappointed with a limited supply during peak times.

Wine and Beverages

There’s nothing quite like a glass of wine for two when eating a meal. Blast freezers are ideal for cooling down those bottles of wine and beer from room temperature within a short space of time.

With space optimisation key for many establishments, finding the right balance of having the right products available in reachable refrigerators can be difficult. Especially in peak times and during the warmer weather, refrigerated beverages can become quickly sought after and sold out.

Using a blast freezer to cool beverages is the ideal solution. It expands the storage capacity, can keep bulk numbers of drinks cool and can quickly cool new beverages added to the chiller to ensure consumers are left satisfied whilst in your establishment.

Baked Goods

Blast freezers are also great for quickly cooling down baked goods after they come out of the oven. Rapid cooling of the food helps it retain the crisp texture of its crust and allows consumers to eat them at its optimal temperature.

Rapid cooldown is excellent for baked pasta dishes that you want to make ahead with sauces and braises. The constantly circulating cold air and shallow containers help cool down cooked foods more quickly and efficiently than the traditional freezers.

Homemade Pasta

Some chefs use air-dry, a refrigerator or a blast freezer when making homemade pasta. Blast freezer allows chefs to reduce the waiting periods between mixing, shaping, and baking. This reduces oxidation in the dough so that the finished baked goods have a pure, sweet, buttery flavour.

Ice Cream

Blast freezers are commonly used for ice creams and sorbets. The fast process ensures that smaller ice crystals translate into smooth, creamy textures that melt in the consumer’s mouth and help bring out the sweetness and flavour.

CRS offers effective solutions for various food sectors with the latest cold storage technologies that comply with food-related standards. Speak to one of our experts today to learn more about our custom Blast Freezers.

Saving Space and Energy with Commercial Freezers

marketing@coolworld-rentals.com (Coolworld Rentals) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:23:55 GMT

When working in the catering industry finding the right type of storage for your company’s needs can be frustrating. Sometimes the options can be overwhelming and deciding what’s best can seem like an impossible task. Commercial freezers are available in a number of different sizes and your decision will ultimately depend on the size of your business and the amount of food stuffs you are looking to hold.

There are many advantages to buying or renting a commercial freezer, and understanding why there are beneficial to your business will help you to make a better and more informed decision when buying or renting.

Commercial freezers are built to withstand a far more demanding schedule. Unlike freezers used in the home, commercial units are used constantly throughout the day and in much higher temperatures. Due to this, the freezers are built in such a way that they can keep their temperatures at the correct level far better than a domestic unit, through higher quality insulation and in-built cooling fans.

The most important thing to consider when opting for a freezer is where the unit is going to sit. If placed correctly, commercial freezers can save valuable space in the working area, although it is important to ensure ease of access alongside this. For much larger commercial freezing units can be placed in outdoor spaces, freeing up valuable space inside of your building.

As commercial freezers must withstand larger amounts of heat loss, accurate temperature control is another great benefit that you can expect from a unit. With digitally controlled thermostats, keeping check on your produce is simple, efficient and ensures that your goods stay at their best. The ability to easy monitor and control the temperature of your freezer is also beneficial to your profitability. High quality insulation teamed with accurate temperature readings will ensure that energy waste is kept to a minimum – saving you money and lowering your impact on the environment.

Depending on the type of commercial freezer you opt for, you can also avoid the hassle of planning permission as most units are regarded as portable and do not require the same permissions to be built. If you’re looking to quickly expand the amount of storage you have, this is the perfect way to do so and could help put your business in a more advantageous position with minimal aggravation and expenditure. Whatever your cold store needs, there’s a commercial freezer solution out there for you.

Contact CRS Mobile Cold Storage on 0800 085 2298 for more information on commercial units, including commercial freezers and cold stores.