new trends on the frozen food market IQF cheese

The cheese market is experiencing an increased demand for frozen category particularly from the convenience and ready-meals sectors. Furthermore, with the increasing popularity of frozen cheese, the overall demand for this category is likely to grow at a strong CAGR of 6% between 2022 and 2032, totaling around US$ 17.4 Billion by 2032.

In recent years, cheese consumption has taken off in China with a double-digit growth (~18% YOY) showing very strong potential for the category. China is also one of the fastest growing markets for frozen and chilled cheese. It is estimated that by 2032, the Chinese chilled and frozen cheese market will reach US$1.35 billion. High disposable income, introduction of new type of products and a rising demand for convenience foods will further drive the growth of the country’s frozen and chilled cheese market in the coming years – and the local producers are making deliberate efforts to capture this potential.

Producing Premium IQF Cheese

IQF is emerging as the most efficient and a superior freezing method for cheese. Cheese that is IQF frozen will have minimal textural change unlike cheese that is frozen using older technologies, like cold storage freezing. While you can freeze just about any type of cheese, softer cheeses like young cheddar and mozzarella can be frozen either cubed (balls in the case of mozzarella) or shredded. The firmer varieties, such as cheddar, gouda and Swiss, are generally considered to be easier to freeze due to their stable structure. Also, it’s worth noting that cheese that is IQF frozen doesn’t require pre-treatment with an anti-caking agent. These are important aspects to be taken in account by processors at the start of their journey.

The Importance of Using an Optimal IQF Freezer 

With multiple large customers producing premium IQF cheese, BJZX has learned that there is no room for compromise when it comes to product quality and food safety for a profitable cheese freezing business.

Processing cheese comes with some of the highest demands in terms of food safety and cleanability of the equipment. The BJZX™ IQF tunnel is designed to meet and exceed the most stringent requirements in this field.

Moreover, product quality, high yield and energy efficiency are other important aspects that every cheese processor takes into account when choosing the right IQF technology for their business.

Guaranteed Food Safety

BJZX™ IQF tunnel Freezer is designed as an easily accessible hermetic unit with rounded corners and sloping surfaces for thorough and efficient cleaning. Easily exchangeable and cleaned outside the freezer - the BJZX bedplates decrease downtime without compromising food safety. In combination with an effective Clean-In-Place (CIP) system, it helps processors maintain high food safety standards. The free-standing monoblock housing allows easy cleaning under the freezer as well.

Mozzarella Cleaning System

Shredded mozzarella particularly poses additional challenges in terms of cleanability – as it is a sticky and hard-to-wash off any equipment it gets in contact with.

In order to meet the most demanding requirements of cheese processors, BJZX has developed a dedicated Mozzarella Cleaning System. This system is an add-on to the standard CIP system, and it is comprised of a much stronger cleaning agent that dissolves the sticky mozzarella leftovers from all the surfaces. Additionally, the system features a recirculating water system that filtrates the cleaning water and continue to use it for rinsing the freezer. This function has considerably reduced cleaning time, water usage and improved cleaning results at some of largest mozzarella processors in the world.

Energy Efficiency

The BJZX™ frequency inverter-controlled motors allow optimal adjustment of airflow and air pressure to avoid product overblow, product damage, and formation of fines; this prolongs time between defrost, improves product quality and ads significant energy savings for cheese processors. Some of the BJZX™ customers freeze cheese for up to 5 days without defrost.

The decrease of fan speed is also allowed by the open structure under the bedplate and no obstructive parts that can divert and slow down the airflow. The ability of decreasing the fan speed, results in energy savings as high as 30% while preserving a premium product quality.

Natural Appearance

The “browning effect” is a common issue some cheese processors face when freezing cheese. With the BJZX IQF Freezer this issue is completely avoided due to the efficient quick crust-freezing and effective fluidization which takes place in the freezer. The browning effect is a result of a too slow freezing process, while in the BJZX Tunnel the quick crust-freezing preserves the natural color of the cheese and ensures minimal dehydration of the products resulting in premium product quality.

High Yield

The BJZX IQF Freezer design is based on years of experience, scientific methods and thorough testing. The complex aerodynamics in the freezer, together with the unique octagon shape of the freezer, significantly improves the air circulation, reduces product dehydration and prevent snow formation in the freezer. The product dehydration with the BJZX tunnel is below 0.5%, while with other freezing technologies it can reach as high as 10%. Minimizing product dehydration, the BJZX IQF technology helps cheese processors to say profitable and competitive with a high-value product.

Many of the largest IQF cheese processors worldwide have chosen BJZX IQF technology for their business. Get in touch with us and learn more about how BJZX IQF technology can help you establish a successful IQF cheese business.