Frozen food offers an opportunity for an enterprising entrepreneur to create and distribute food products that will keep for a considerable amount of time -- with proper handling. Many foods that retail in the frozen food section of a grocery store, such as fish and berries, are so perishable in their fresh state that freezing them makes them available during times when it might otherwise be impossible to enjoy them. But not all foods are ideal candidates for the freezer section. Freezing can change the color, flavor and texture of foods, sometimes making them unappealing.
Use air-tight packaging that will protect your product from freezer burn, and a label with detailed instructions for thawing and reheating. Address a variety of scenarios, such as using a microwave or a conventional oven, or thawing ahead of time versus moving the item directly from the freezer to the oven.
Use a blast freezer to freeze foods rapidly, and a walk-in freezer to store them once they are frozen. Implement systems for bringing materials to your facility as fresh as possible, and processing and packaging them in a minimum amount of time.
Develop a transport system that enables you to deliver your frozen food products to retailers and distributors without thawing it. Use a freezer delivery truck, or coolers and dry ice. Pack orders ahead of time so you will spend a minimum amount of time opening and closing your transport freezers.
Establish a product line appropriate for a frozen food business. Choose items that are still appealing after freezing and thawing. Focus on items with high value relative to the space they occupy, because freezer shelf space tends to be limited and expensive. Experiment by freezing and thawing prototypes to determine how well they hold up in the freezer over time.
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