Warning Signs of Fish Spoilage

A top priority for commercial fishermen is preserving their catch. Since they may not be returning to port immediately but moving on to other fishing spots, refrigeration and a well-insulated hold are vital in the effort to keep fish fresh. SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC understands the importance of preventing fish spoilage, and we manufacture and install industrial cooling systems designed to customer specifications. In the commercial fishing business, proper cooling of the seafood product can mean the difference between expected profit and economic disaster. The warning signs of spoilage can typically be detected through the senses of sight and smell, but there are also other warning signs of fish spoilage.

Assessing the Quality of Fresh Fish and Warning Signs of Fish Spoilage

The term “quality” refers to the appearance and freshness of fish or the degree of spoilage that has occurred during the time of transport from sea to land. Though quality is something an individual can determine through sight and smell, food researchers have developed parameters that form the basis of an assessment tool known as the Quality Index Method (QIM). The various parts of a fish, such as the skin, eyes, and gills are rated. The QIM assigns a score of zero for very fresh fish and the numbers, or demerits, pile up as the fish deteriorates. Characteristics such as dull skin, cloudy eyes or a musty, sour odor are among the signs of fish spoilage. The QIM assessment has been used for many years by European and Nordic countries to evaluate how many days caught fish such as cod, herring, and flounder can be kept on ice while still remaining safe to eat.

Guarding Against Fish Spoilage

The hold of a commercial fishing vessel must be properly chilled in order to preserve the catch. Many types of insulation are available—polyurethane foam, fiberglass, cork board, even wood shavings—and SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC can provide the accompanying cooling system depending on the kind of insulation selected, the size of the craft, the amount of space available, and the type of fish being caught. With the entire customized system in place, fishermen can go about their business, confident that there is ample protection against fish spoilage. The refrigeration equipment, coupled with the proper insulation, will maintain the correct temperature inside the hold.

Icing Down the Catch

Fish of good quality should have bright, shiny skin. Their eyes should be clear, their gills characteristically colorful, and they should carry a fresh, seaweed sort of smell. To ensure that they maintain good quality from the moment they are taken from the sea until the day of their delivery for packing and transport to a final destination, ice will be an important preservative. Ice, however, has its own issues. Since it is often handled with human hands, bacteria can invade the ice container, speeding up the spoilage process. SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC offers ready-made clean ice that is available in several forms. Also available are icemakers that will produce ice continually as well as water filtration systems designed to ensure that the water used for the preservation of the catch is kept clean and organism free.

Different Kinds of Cooling for Best Preservation

Fish of different sizes have different needs relative to cooling methods. Small fish such as sardines and anchovies tend to spoil easily because they have few layers of protection. However, their small size allows for fast cooling. Medium-sized fish such as salmon, cod, or tilapia are less likely than smaller fish to spoil quickly and they stay cool longer than large fish. Meanwhile, large fish should ideally be gutted or filleted to make the cooling process more efficient. At SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC, we understand these different requirements and stand ready to equip the commercial fishing industry with the ice, ice-making equipment, and refrigeration products they need to ensure the integrity of each valuable catch.

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Top 5 Signs You Need a New Industrial Freezer

Business owners typically don’t spend a lot of time each day thinking about their industrial freezers. However, if something were to go wrong in an industrial food or product setting, there could be the potential loss of thousands of dollars of inventory as well as downtimes while repairs are made. It makes sense then for wary owners to be on the lookout for signs that freezer equipment is about to fail. At SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC, we’ve gathered this helpful list of warning signs to help business owners understand when it may be time to invest in a new industrial freezer.

Decreased Efficiency

Even when a industrial freezer is technically still working, it might not be operating in the most efficient manner. Fortunately, there are some obvious indicators when this is the case. Owners or employees might notice that there is a significant amount of ice accumulating on the walls, contents, or compressor unit inside the freezer. Or, there may be certain areas where the temperature seems higher than the rest of the compartment. If someone opens the door for an extended period of time, an inefficient freezer will have trouble getting back to the appropriate temperature quickly.

Temperature Failures

Beyond anomalies such as these signs of operational inefficiency, there may be downright obvious clues that an industrial freezer is reaching the end of its service life. Large fluctuations in overall temperature, such as periodic thawing, is a major issue that must be addressed immediately. Similarly, industrial freezers that are exposed to high exterior temperatures may struggle to maintain the necessary freezing temperature on the interior.

Structural Deterioration

Industrial freezers, especially those at high-capacity facilities, can take a beating. Though the walls are likely to get banged up and the door dented, there are some major structural damage issues that could be warning signs for equipment that needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. For example, door seals are one of the first parts of the freezer to show wear. The door gets the most traffic, so it is the most vulnerable to damage. Seals on the panel joints can also start to fail, which may let warm outside air into the freezer compartment. Wall damage that’s heavy enough to pierce the metal surface and expose the insulation underneath is a major cause of concern as well.

Costly Maintenance

Most pieces of equipment need service now and then, although regular maintenance should help cut down on visits from the repairman. However, there comes a point at which doing more and more frequent – and costly – repairs simply isn’t worth it anymore. At some point, it makes more financial sense to replace the industrial freezer instead of continuing to pour money into repairs. This may especially be the case as the freezer gets older and the parts become more expensive or, worse, obsolete and unavailable.

Insufficient (or Over-Abundant) Space

Finally, not every person in the market for a new industrial freezer is in that situation because of equipment failure. A business owner who is planning a major expansion or who wants to switch from reach-in freezers to walk-in freezers may be considering investing in a new unit. Many companies simply outgrow their freezer storage capacities or change their inventory so that the current freezer is no longer suitable.

However, it’s also possible for the opposite problem to exist. An industrial freezer that remains mostly empty can burn a great deal of extra energy and even have reduced efficiency compared to a fuller freezer. That’s why some businesses that have scaled back, made other arrangement, or changed their business models may be better off downsizing than pumping money into a unit that is too large.

SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC Provides Customizable Industrial Freezers

At SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC, we know that purchasing a large piece of industrial equipment such as an industrial freezer is a major investment. We believe these warning signs can help owners and managers be vigilant and on the lookout for inefficient operation, signs of failure, or structural problems in their current units. Though repairs might be an option for the shorter term, there may come a time when the financial outlay for a new commercial freezer is more logical than continued repair bills. By taking the time to check on the operation of freezers in their facilities, companies can avoid downtime and inventory loss.

SEMCO/SEMCOLD LLC is committed to providing our customers with custom built industrial freezers and other freezing and cooling equipment that meets their needs, budget, and timeline. Contact us for more information about what industrial freezer is right for your business.

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