Advanced Freezing Solutions for Pet Food

Types of Pet Food

Pet food comes in various forms, including dry kibble, wet canned food, freeze-dried options, and fresh or frozen meals designed to mimic a natural diet. Within the frozen pet food segment, there is a growing demand for soft, meatball-like portions that offer high nutritional value and a more natural texture for pets. OctoFrost’s crust-freezing and freezing solutions are specifically designed for this segment, ensuring that these delicate, soft portions maintain their shape, texture, and quality throughout processing. By quickly crust-freezing the surface, our technology prevents deformation and stickiness, making handling, freeze drying or packaging, and storage more efficient while preserving the integrity of the product for pet owners seeking premium frozen pet food options.

Crust Freezing before Freeze Drying

The OctoFrost Impingement Freezer is an excellent solution for crust freezing soft food products before freeze drying, ensuring they maintain their shape and structure throughout the process. By rapidly freezing the outer layer, our technology provides a protective firm surface that prevents deformation and sticking during handling and sublimation. This is especially beneficial for delicate, soft products like meatball-like pet food portions or other high-moisture foods. With precise airflow control and efficient freezing, OctoFrost helps optimize freeze-drying results while preserving the integrity and quality of the final product.

IQF Freezing Pet Food

Challenges in IQF Freezing Pet Food

With the rise of new trending frozen pet food types, such as soft, meatball-like portions, processors face several key challenges, including stickiness and appearance damage. Maintaining an appealing appearance is crucial, as pet owners seek high-quality, natural-looking food for their pets.

• Lump Formation: Sticky meatballs often stick to each other during freezing.
• Dehydration: Slow freezing can cause moisture loss, reducing yield and quality.
• Appearance Damage: Traditional freezing methods can leave burn and belt marks or uneven surfaces, affecting visual appeal.

OctoFrost Solution

The OctoFrost IQF Freezer provides innovative features for freezing soft pet food, ensuring natural appearance, good separation, and high-quality results. Key benefits include:

• Fluidization Technology: Provides even airflow and gentle crust freezing, ensuring perfect product separation.
• Multiple Freezing Zones: Tailored settings for different pet food types reduce dehydration and enhance overall quality.
• Hygienic Design: Joint-free construction and easy-to-clean bedplates meet the highest food safety standards.
• Energy Efficiency: Frequency-controlled fans reduce energy use by up to 30%, improving operational efficiency.