air-blast tunnel freezer

An air-blast tunnel freezer is a type of industrial freezer used for food preservation. It works by rapidly circulating precooled air, typically around -40°C, over food products to quick-freeze them. This method is efficient because it maximizes heat removal from the food's surface.12

Packaged foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and prepared meals are commonly frozen in these tunnels. The packages are loaded onto dollies or hand trucks and rolled into the freezer tunnels for rapid freezing. This process helps to reduce the growth rate of microorganisms and slow down chemical reactions within the food, thereby prolonging its shelf life.2