Quick freezing is at present the only process whereby virtually all the properties of most foodstuffs can be preserved. The important feature of this process is ultra-rapid freezing to very low temperatures (-30°C to – 40°C) designed to halt the activities of the microorganisms that cause decay and deteriorate foodstuffs.

In IQF, each piece is frozen individually using a technique of fluidization resulting in short freezing times of only 10 to 12 minutes, which would otherwise take at least 3 to 4 hours or even more in a blast freezer. This results in better texture and there is no lump/ block formation and the product is free-flowing. One does not have to thaw or defrost the whole packet to take out only a portion, and the rest will remain frozen till required again.

Market Opportunities

According to a recent Brandessence Market Research study, “The frozen potato market size has experienced a huge growth in the last few years with the potato products experiencing an incline of a tremendous growth rate and will be continuing to do so in the coming years. These sales are going to go further high in the domain of frozen fries considering the wider popularity it has in the accompaniment of the other fast foods. Furthermore, there is a demand for other potato snacks like slices, dices, and wedges, which has been growing. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the market getting a good amount of growth unlike the rest of the markets and that is because of the lockdowns being imposed and the people looking for simpler options to get their food supplies. Frozen potato chips and other products like nuggets are growing in demand due to this.”

The growth in this category is driven by a combination of urbanization, rising income, and the lowering of tariffs from the World Trade Organization on the export and import of frozen potatoes. Overall, the global frozen potato market will see growth in the coming years as better and more nutritional products come up, the experts added.

Increased Safety and Hygiene

Emerging technologies and customer expectations for safe, hygienic solutions in food production have consistently pushed FPS Food Process Solutions to find the best answers for their client’s demands.

You can read the rest of this article in your complimentary e-copy of the September/October 2022 Issue of Potato Processing International magazine, which you can access by clicking here.