Frozen and refrigerated are the two ways in which food is preserved

Mondo Gastronomy Updated on 2024-01-31

In our daily lives, in order to maintain the freshness and extend the shelf life of food, we often use both freezing and refrigeration. Although they are both for the purpose of preserving freshness, their principles and scope of application are different. This article will explain the difference between frozen and refrigerated for you in detail.

1. Refrigeration

Refrigeration is the storage of food at a lower temperature than room temperature to slow down the growth of bacteria and microorganisms, thereby extending the shelf life of the food. The temperature of refrigeration is usually between 0°C and 10°C.

1. Preservation principle: Low temperature can slow down the growth rate of bacteria and microorganisms, but it cannot kill them. Therefore, refrigerated food needs to be consumed regularly to avoid bacterial multiplication and spoilage of the food.

2. Scope of application: refrigeration is suitable for fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy products and other perishable foods. These foods can maintain their freshness for a longer period of time under refrigerated conditions.

2. Freezing

Freezing is the storage of food at a temperature well below 0°C to quickly reduce the temperature of the food and inactivate bacteria and microorganisms, so as to achieve the purpose of long-term preservation. The freezing temperature is usually below -18°C.

1. Preservation principle: Freezing can quickly kill bacteria and microorganisms through low temperature, so that the food can remain fresh for a long time. After thawing, frozen food needs to be thoroughly heated to an internal temperature of more than 75°C to ensure food safety.

2. Scope of application: Freezing is suitable for long-term preservation of food, such as frozen meat, seafood, frozen vegetables, ice cream, etc. These foods can last for months or even longer in frozen conditions.

3. The difference between freezing and refrigeration

1. The temperature is different: the temperature of refrigeration is between 0 °C and 10 °C, while the temperature of freezing is below -18 °C.

2. The principle of preservation is different: refrigeration is to preserve freshness by slowing down the growth rate of bacteria and microorganisms, while freezing is to preserve freshness by killing bacteria and microorganisms at low temperatures.

3. The scope of application is different: refrigeration is suitable for short-term preservation of food, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, etc.;Freezing is suitable for long-term preservation of food, such as frozen meat, seafood, etc.

4. Different thawing methods: refrigerated food can be eaten directly or refrigerated and thawed, while frozen food needs to be thoroughly heated to an internal temperature of more than 75 °C before it can be eaten.

IV. Conclusion

Freezing and refrigeration are two common ways of food preservation, and they each have different preservation principles and scope of application. Understanding the difference between freezing and refrigeration can help us better preserve food and ensure food safety. In daily life, we need to choose the appropriate preservation method according to the type of food and the preservation needs. At the same time, regular cleaning of refrigerators to ensure the hygiene of freezing and refrigeration equipment is also an important measure to ensure food safety.

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