Frozen bakery products has become a real global trend in the bakery industry. In Ukraine, we have long been accustomed to ready-made puff pastry and semi-finished products, however, frozen bread and other baked goods still remains something truly new. We have been actively developing a frozen products line at ‘Rumianets’ since 2021. Fast freezing technique makes it possible to deliver top-quality, tasty bread not only to any corner of Ukraine, but beyond its borders as well.
We asked our technologists and engineering service to tell us about quick-frozen method and shock freezing technique, our equipment, and special features of the TM ‘Rumianets’ frozen products line. We invite you to a virtual tour of our frozen products shop.
Quick-frozen & shock freezing technique
The main task of quick freezing is to extend the shelf life of ready-to-go or semi-finished products without losing their taste, quality and nutritional properties.
The bottom line of quick freezing is taking a pre-proofed dough or 80-100% finished product and subject it to rapid cooling. The temperature of the product drops rapidly, and the liquid contained in it turns into small ice crystals. As a result, the cell membranes of the product are not ruined, so the texture, taste and composition of the product are preserved.
The method of quick freezing involves cooling of the products during 2-3 hours and is performed according the following scheme:
- from t.+16℃ to 0℃ – cooling phase and preparing for freezing
- from t.0℃ to -10℃ – liquid crystalline phase
- up to t.-18 ℃ – full freezing of the product
According to shock freezing technology, the temperature reduction scheme is similar, but at the last stage the product is frozen at the temperatures below -18℃.
Bread and other baked goods frozen using quick or shock freezing methods are able to keep freshness for up to 180 days. And most importantly here is that up to 90% of all useful nutrients contained in products are preserved within this time.
Equipment
In our production we use modern high-tech equipment to freeze the products. We currently have a special freezing chamber in the production area and a workshop equipped with freezing units in the logistics center. Freezing equipment quality plays an essential role as it ensures the correct process of quick freezing and the following proper storage of the products. Freezing units installed in our production are purchased form reliable European manufactures, in particular Gunter (Germany), Tecumseh (France), etc.
The logistics of frozen products also requires compliance with specific conditions. Such products are delivered by special refrigerated vehicles that maintain the required temperature rate during transportation.
Frozen product line of TM ‘Rumianets’
Quick freezing methods allows you to produce and freeze products at different stage of readiness. For instance, there are currently three types of fast-frozen products in the assortment of TM ‘Rumianets’:
- Frozen ready-to-go products (need to be defrosted only). For example, donuts or Zavyvanets (long rolls).
- Frozen pre-baked products, 90% readiness (need the final touch in the oven). Our line of frozen bread belongs to this category. All products of TM ‘Rumianets’ are made using natural ingredients, that is the reason why craft breads are highly valued by our customers today. Almost all kinds of our bread are made with scalded flour and live sourdough starters. In order to produce such loaf from scratch you need to spend at least 5-6 hours and have highly-qualified staff. While it takes you only 10-15 minutes in the oven to bake 90% ready-made frozen bread.
- Frozen pre-proofed products (require baking). This category of products is particularly popular in HoReCa segment. Croissants are the best example. Nowadays, coffee shops prefer to treat their customers with baked-in-place croissants and the use of half-finished products significantly optimizes this process.
You can find a full list of our frozen products in the catalogue.
Here are a few benefits of frozen technology in bakery industry:
- minimal investments are needed in equipment and additional premises for the production of bakery products;
- the opportunity to expend your assortment/menu with delicious baked goods “fresh from the oven”, which is rapidly gaining popularity;
- frozen products of top-quality and unique recipes;
- a wide range of craft bakery goods made with advanced recipe provides you with opportunity to choose exactly the products that will best match the concept or gastronomic preferences of your coffee shop/store;
- preventing waste, since the products can be prepared in accordance with daily demand and sales.
The main thing is that there is always a fresh bread loaf on the shelf of your store. There’s nothing quite like the irresistible aroma and taste of freshly baked bread!
