Does your restaurant require frozen food or are you concerned about freezer-safe packaging? This article will provide you with an overview of frozen food packaging. We shall discuss the significance of frozen packaging and how to select the best one in the upcoming article.
Why is packaging important for frozen food?
Frozen food is any type of food that has been preserved by freezing. This process involves quickly lowering the temperature of the food to below freezing, typically around -18°C (0°F). This stops the activity of bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause food to spoil. So, when it is packaged, the packaging need to satisfy both the requirements of freezing and protecting the food inside.
Not all the type of packaging can be used with frozen food. It’s important to select the right type that is safe to use in freezer, have ability of withstand the low temperature.
What Do You Pack Frozen Food with?
When selecting packaging for frozen food, it’s crucial to select right materials that meet all the requirements.
- The type of delivery packaging items appropriate for each type of business
- How food packaging affects the environment
Functional requirements of food packaging for frozen food
To able to keep food in frozen, packaging has to meet the requirements of food protection, ability of preservation and convenience as following:
- Protection from spoilage and off coloring
- Easy to fill
- Easy to seal
- Easy to store
- Moisture blocking and resistant
- Made of FDA food-grade substrates
- Strong
- Doesn’t become brittle and crack at low temperatures
- Resists grease, oil, and water
Common Frozen Food Packaging Materials
When it comes to materials that can be used to make packaging for frozen food, there are several types. Each of them has its own temperature resistance with advantages and disadvantages. Following is a table that shows the difference between them:
|
Material |
Properties |
Temperature Resistance |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
Polyethylene (PE) film: |
Flexible, transparent, moisture barrier, low cost, recyclable options available |
Up to -40°C (-40°F) |
Affordable, easy to use, lightweight |
Not puncture-resistant, prone to tearing |
|
LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): |
Flexible, good for impact resistance |
Up to -40°C (-40°F) |
Flexible, good for shock absorption |
Not as strong as other PE derivatives, limited barrier properties |
|
HDPE (High-density polyethylene): |
Rigid, strong, good barrier properties |
Up to -60°C (-76°F) |
Strong, durable, excellent barrier |
Can be expensive, not as flexible as other PE derivatives |
|
EVA (Ethylene vinyl acetate): |
Flexible, good for sealing, some microwave-safe options |
Up to -30°C (-22°F) |
Flexible, good sealing properties, microwaveable options |
Not as strong as other PE derivatives, limited temperature resistance |
|
PET (Polyethylene terephthalate): |
Rigid, clear, good barrier properties, shatterproof, recyclable |
Up to -40°C (-40°F) |
Clear, good barrier, recyclable |
Can be expensive, not microwave-safe |
|
Cardboard and Laminated Paper: |
Sustainable, recyclable, printable, customizable, good for branding |
Up to -18°C (0°F) |
Eco-friendly, customizable, affordable |
Not as strong as plastic, susceptible to moisture, limited temperature resistance |
Type of Packaging Used for Frozen Food
To be suitable with types of food, the packaging for frozen food is designed in different form. Here are some popular types of them:
- Tube and Trays: Made from HDPE or PP, this type can be used for various frozen foods.
- Containers and Cups: Can be made from PP, PS or paperboard. This type is suitable with yogurt, dips and frozen desserts.
- Boxes and cartons: This type is made from paperboard. This makes it suitable for pizzas, frozen dinners, …
- Films and bags: Usually made from PE or PP, the films and bags work well with vegetables, fruits and snacks.
- Pouches: the pouches for frozen food are made from multi-layer films. This flexible packaging are great to frozen sauces or liquid-based foods.
- Aluminum Wraps: this is a excellent choice for wrapping meat, poultry and sea food.
What are the problems with frozen food packaging?
As the other food packaging, packaging for frozen food has raised many concerns relating to environment and people health.
Environment Issues
- Plastic pollution: A significant portion of frozen food packaging is made from plastic, contributing to plastic pollution in landfills and oceans. This plastic can harm wildlife, disrupt ecosystems, and break down into microplastics that enter the food chain.
- Limited recycling: Many types of plastic used in frozen food packaging are not widely recycled, leading to increased landfill waste. This is especially problematic for multi-layered films and pouches, which are difficult to separate and recycle.
- Carbon footprint: The production and transportation of packaging materials contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This includes the energy used to extract and process raw materials, manufacture the packaging, and transport it to food producers.
- Resource depletion: The production of plastic packaging relies on fossil fuels, which are a finite resource. As demand for frozen food continues to grow, so does the need for more packaging, leading to depletion of these valuable resources.
People health
- Potential for leaching: Some chemicals used in packaging materials, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, can leach into food and pose potential health risks. These chemicals have been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, and other health issues.
- Loss of nutrients: Certain packaging materials can allow for the loss of nutrients during storage, reducing the nutritional value of frozen food. This is particularly concerning for foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Increased chemical exposure: The use of additives and preservatives in frozen food, combined with potential leaching from packaging materials, can contribute to increased exposure to chemicals for consumers. This raises concerns about the long-term health effects of these chemicals.
- Consumer confusion: Labeling information on frozen food packaging can be complex and confusing, making it difficult for consumers to make informed choices about the environmental and health impacts of the packaging.
What are the packaging considerations of frozen foods?
Nowadays, because eco-conscious awareness and concerns relating to environment and human health is rising drastically. The best packaging for frozen food has to satisfy not only the functional requirements but also the sustainable factors. For business, it’s also important to consider the cost and branding factors.
- Functional requirements: Depending on type of food, your business should choose the right materials for packaging.
- Sustainability: while plastic is harmful and leads to different negative consequences, paperboard products are ideal option for business that want to take action towards sustainability.
- Cost: the cost varies on each type of packaging for frozen food. Your business can buy in bulk or take advantages of discount to get the best price.
- Branding factors: according to your business purpose, you can choose the custom printed packaging or plain packaging. Custom logo can help your business enhance your brand image or boosting customer relationship.
At Kimecopak, we offer the paper cups that are freezer-safe. These containers are made from high quality paper and available in various sizes. They are suitable with different kind of food including all hot, cold, wet and dry food. This makes them perfect for soups, noodles, liquid-based foods or frozen foods like ice cream, sorbets, etc.
Futhermore, with our exclusive offers for long-term partner including saving from 5-7%, fixed price in 6-month, free storage and scheduled shipping, your business don’t have to be worry anymore about balancing sustainable practice with budget. For more information, contact us via email halo@kimecopak.ca or our hotline: +1 204-891-1417 and Kimecopak Facebook Fanpage.
Frequent Asked Questions
How do you properly package food?
Use airtight containers or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. For liquids, leave headspace to allow for expansion.
Is it better to freeze food in bags or containers?
Both can work, depending on the food. Bags are better for irregularly shaped items, while containers are better for stacking and storing liquids.
How should foods be wrapped for storage in the freezer?
Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or freezer paper, removing as much air as possible. For extra protection, use freezer bags or airtight containers.
What container material should never put in the freezer?
You can look for plastics labeled with #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, or #5 PP. These are generally considered safe for freezing.
What plastic is safe for freezing?
You can look for plastics labeled with #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, or #5 PP. These are generally considered safe for freezing.
