Introduction to Frozen Strawberries
Frozen strawberries refer to a fruit product made by quickly freezing fresh strawberries through low-temperature quick-freezing technology for long-term preservation. They retain the natural flavor and nutrients of fresh strawberries while addressing the issues of strong seasonality and perishability of fresh strawberries, making them a widely popular convenience food ingredient worldwide.
Production Process
- Select raw materials: Choose fresh strawberries with moderate ripeness, no damage, and no pests or diseases (common varieties include "Akihime" and "Benihoppe").
- Washing and removing impurities: Rinse strawberries with running water to remove surface soil, residual pesticides, and debris.
- Stem removal: Remove strawberry stems manually or mechanically to keep the fruit intact.
- Rapid freezing: Spread strawberries in a single layer on trays and place them in a quick-freezing chamber at -35°C to -40°C. The core temperature is reduced to below -18°C within 30 minutes (rapid freezing minimizes ice crystal damage to cells, preserving nutrients and texture as much as possible).
- Packaging and storage: The frozen strawberries are quickly transferred to a cold storage facility below -18°C for long-term storage. Packaging usually uses moisture-proof and oxygen-barrier vacuum bags or individual small packs.
Key Advantages
- Nutrient retention: Quick-freezing technology locks in active components such as vitamin C, dietary fiber, and anthocyanins, with significantly less nutrient loss compared to traditional freezing or room-temperature storage.
- Convenience: No need for washing or cutting; directly usable in baking (cakes, cookies), desserts (ice cream, jams), beverages (milkshakes, fruit tea), or eaten raw (thawed as fruit salad).
Application Scenarios
- Bakery industry: Used in strawberry cakes, tarts, cookies, etc., to enhance flavor complexity.
- Catering and desserts: Served as ice cream toppings, yogurt mix-ins, or used in strawberry mousse, jellies, etc.
- Ready-to-drink beverages: Blended into smoothies, added to fruit tea or hot drinks (e.g., strawberry latte) for natural fruity aroma.
- Home kitchen: Thawed for direct consumption, or used to make homemade strawberry jam, dried strawberries, etc.
Quality Tips
Store at a stable temperature below -18°C; avoid repeated thawing and refreezing (which affects texture and nutrients).