What is IQF Chicken? A Detailed Explanation

Chicken is a popular and versatile meat that people all over the world love. When you buy chicken, especially for places that serve food, like restaurants, IQF chicken is a common type you may see. But what does IQF really mean, and what are the benefits of IQF chicken? This article tells you everything you need to know about this unique way of freezing chicken.

What Does IQF Stand For?

IQF stands for “individually quick frozen. When you flash freeze food this way, each piece freezes on its own instead of all together in a mass or block.

For example, a bag of regular frozen chicken breasts would contain a solid chunk of chicken. But with IQF chicken breasts, each breast is individually frozen and loose in the bag.

How Does IQF Freezing Work?

The IQF process was invented by Clarence Birdseye in the 1920s after observing fish frozen instantly in icy waters He realized that fast freezing created smaller ice crystals that were less damaging to food

Here’s a quick explanation of how IQF freezing works:

• A blast chiller is a tunnel that quickly freezes food that is moved along a conveyor belt.

• The blast chiller flash freezes the food very rapidly by blasting it with cold air.

• Freezing the items individually means they don’t freeze together in a block

• The quick freezing minimizes the size of ice crystals that form. Smaller crystals do less damage to the cell structure.

• Therefore, the quality and texture is preserved better than with slow freezing.

Common IQF Foods

Many kinds of foods are quickly frozen one at a time to keep them fresh and high-quality. Some common IQF foods include:

• Fruits – blueberries, strawberries, mangoes, peaches

• Vegetables – peas, corn, green beans, peppers

• Seafood – shrimp, scallops, fish fillets

• Meats – chicken breasts, steaks, ground meat

• Dairy – ice cream scoops, cheese crumbles

Benefits of IQF Chicken

There are several advantages that make IQF chicken a good choice for food operations:

1. Easy portion control

• IQF items don’t clump together, allowing easy scooping of just the right portion needed. This helps reduce waste.

2. Faster thawing

• Individual pieces thaw quicker than a block of frozen chicken. This saves time in the kitchen.

3. Maintains quality

• Minimal ice crystal damage means better texture and moisture when thawed.

4. Versatile

• IQF chicken can be used in all kinds of dishes – entrees, sandwiches, salads, etc.

5. Longer shelf life

• Fast freezing restricts microbial growth better than slow freezing.

6. Convenience

• No need to portion and freeze raw chicken yourself. IQF packs make using chicken easy.

IQF Chicken vs Fresh Chicken

IQF chicken differs from fresh, unfrozen chicken in a few ways:

• Shelf life – Fresh chicken lasts just 4-5 days refrigerated while IQF chicken keeps 6-12 months frozen.

• Convenience – IQF chicken is ready to use whereas fresh needs preparation.

• Safety – No need to worry about cross-contamination from raw chicken with IQF.

• Waste – IQF allows taking just needed portions so less spoilage.

• Price – IQF chicken is often cheaper than fresh chicken.

While fresh chicken has merits like superior texture and flavor, IQF chicken offers more flexibility for many food service uses. Proper thawing and cooking helps minimize textural changes from freezing.

Different Types of IQF Chicken

IQF technology can be used on various chicken parts and products. Here are some common types of IQF chicken:

• Breast fillets – Skinless, boneless breasts. The most versatile cut.

• Tenders – Strips of breast meat, often marinated.

• Wings – Preferred for appetizers and snacks.

• Drumsticks – Offer kid-friendly fun.

• Thighs – Dark meat provides richer flavor.

• Leg quarters – Budget-friendly and ideal for braising.

• Ground chicken – Use in soups, chili, patties, etc.

• Formed patties – Shaped ground meat for convenience.

Having an assortment of IQF chicken products allows endless menu creativity!

Tips for Using IQF Chicken

Follow these tips when incorporating IQF chicken into your commercial kitchen:

• Allow chicken to thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best texture. Do not thaw at room temp.

• Use thawed chicken within 2 days for safety and quality.

• Bread or coat just before frying so coating doesn’t get soggy from thawing.

• Add IQF chicken at the end when making soups and stews to avoid overcooking.

• Adjust cook times since thawed meat may cook faster than fresh.

• Store any unused IQF chicken in original packaging and return to freezer immediately.

Finding a Reputable IQF Chicken Supplier

Not all IQF chicken is created equal. For reliable quality and safety:

• Choose a supplier that follows strict protocols for quickly freezing chicken.

• Make sure the processing facility is clean, sanitary, and has passed audits.

• Verify the supplier tests for pathogens and has quality control measures.

• Read reviews and inspect samples before purchasing inventory.

• Establish a relationship with rep to get assistance as needed.

Taking the time to find a trusted IQF chicken company is worth the effort for peace of mind.

The Bottom Line on IQF Chicken

Individually quick frozen chicken provides an affordable, safe, and versatile protein option for restaurants, cafeterias, caterers, and other food operations. Thanks to advanced IQF technology, each piece of frozen chicken maintains quality and nutrition better than conventional freezing. By following proper storage, thaw, and prep guidelines, IQF chicken can be an excellent addition to commercial kitchens looking to serve up delicious and cost-effective chicken dishes. Just be sure to source carefully from reputable suppliers.