fruits and vegetables in a chiller

It’s common knowledge that fruits and vegetables should be placed at a low temperature to preserve their freshness and longevity. That’s why cold storages are very crucial, especially if you run a fruits and vegetable business.

In this article, we will discuss some of the most important things that you should know about properly storing your fruits and vegetables. This will ensure that you will only distribute fresh products, and no products will be wasted.

Why Do You Need to Use Cold Storage Units to Stock Fruits and Vegetables?

As mentioned, cold storage units are crucial in storing fruits and vegetables because they can preserve the freshness and longevity of the products. If the fruits and vegetables are not in cold storage, they are more likely to develop dangerous bacteria and deteriorate over time. Placing them at a low-temperature unit can halt the growth of pathogenic bacteria, minimising the risk of spoilage.

What Are the Most Popular Units for Fruits and Vegetables?

If you want to buy or rent cold storage for your fruits and vegetable business, you can opt for blast freezers and chillers. Both are the most popular type of cold storage for fruits and vegetables, and they are highly customisable according to the kinds of fruits and vegetables you have. If you are a caterer or have a small business space, you can choose different sizes of cold storage, such as mini chillers or mini blast freezers to fit your business’s needs.

What Is the Ideal Temperature of Cold Storages for Fruits and Vegetables?

One of the benefits of having cold storage is that some units have highly customisable temperatures. Customisation is crucial because not all fruits and vegetables have the exact temperature requirement. The temperature will depend on several factors, such as crop maturity, the season of harvest and the crop origin, so it’s essential to know these to set the required temperature properly.

As a guide, cool-season fruits and vegetables like kale and sprouts require around 0-2°C temperature. On the other hand, warmer-season fruits and vegetables like cucumber and tomato require around 7-10°C cooling temperature. It’s crucial to learn more about the fruits and vegetables themselves because low temperatures significantly affect them.

What Are the Best Practices in Storing Your Fruits and Vegetables?

To preserve your produce and prolong its freshness, you need to know the best practices to store them properly. Here are some of the best practices of storing your fruits and vegetables:

  • Separate the Fruits and Vegetables When Storing Them – It’s crucial to store your fruits and vegetables separately because most fruits produce a hormone called ethylene once they begin to ripe. Ethylene can speed up the ripening process of other fruits and vegetables, resulting in an unexpected ageing process. If you store fruits and vegetables together, you’ll most likely have increased food wastage.
  • Avoid Overstocking Your Cold Storage – Don’t overfill your cold storage units because this may raise the internal temperature and speed up the product’s deterioration. If the fruits and vegetables don’t get the temperature they need, bacteria can grow, resulting in food spoilage.
  • Know the History of Your Produce – Again, it’s crucial to know the history of your product so you can set the temperature right.

Conclusion

Aside from having the best cold storage units for your fruits and vegetables, it’s crucial to maintain your products by putting them in a suitable storage package and correctly placing them in the cold storage unit. By doing this, the fruits and vegetables will get enough air, and the temperature will be appropriately distributed on each product, resulting in a preserved and prolonged freshness.

Are you looking for a chiller rental in London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex? London Climate Hire has got you covered! Our fleet of commercial chillers is one of the most efficient equipment in the industry, designed and fully packaged to deal with the rigours of hire. Get in touch with us today!