Why Are Flake Ice Machines Commonly Used for Seafood Industry, And How Do You Choose The Right Flake Ice Machine?

The aquaculture industry generally uses flake ice machines as preservation equipment, mainly based on the unique ice type and high cooling efficiency. The ice flakes produced by flake ice machines are thin, loose and fragmented, with a contact area much larger than traditional ice cubes. They can quickly and rapidly reduce the temperature of seafood products, effectively inhibit bacterial growth and maintain freshness and nutritional value to a greater extent.

Icemedal ice flake machine adopts internal scraping ice blade technology, where water is evenly sprayed onto the inner wall of the evaporator to form an ice layer. The spiral ice blade cuts the ice layer into thin slices of 1.5-2.5mm.

The Key to Choosing a Flake Ice Machine in the Aquaculture Industry

Ice quality and temperature:

The ice temperature of the specialized ice flake machine for seafood products should be ≤ -5 ° C, or even lower (such as -8 ° C). The lower ice temperature, the better cooling effect and the longer the preservation time.

Dryness requirement: A "dry flake ice machine" must be selected. The moisture content of the ice should be less than 5%. Dry ice flakes do not clump, have good fluidity and can evenly cover the fish, avoiding the phenomenon of "boiling fish in water".

Ice thickness: The optimal thickness is 1.5-2.0mm. If it is too thin will stick easily and if it is too thick, it will cool slowly.

Hygiene and materials:

The core material should be food grade stainless steel: 304 stainless steel must be used, 316/316L stainless steel is recommended (especially for seawater or highly corrosive environments).

Design hygiene: The internal structure should be smooth and free of dead corners, easy to thoroughly clean and drain. It is best to have CIP online cleaning function.

Refrigeration system:

We prefer internationally renowned brands such as Bitzer and Refcomp compressors because they are more stable and reliable in humid, high load continuous operating environments.

Food Processing plant/dock: With a stable water source, water-cooled is preferred for high efficiency, stable ice production and long service life.

Fishing boats/water scarce areas: Use air-cooling saltwater ice machine,but ensure that the installation location has excellent ventilation.

Icemedal flake ice machines often use automated control systems, which are easy to operate and produce varying amounts of ice, meeting the preservation needs of different scenarios.

In addition, the flake ice machine also has the advantages of energy conservation, environmental protection and stable operation, which can effectively reduce the operating costs of the seafood preservation /aquaculture and fishery industry.