READY MEALS

READY MEALS : STERITECH WILL PUT EVERY EFFORT TO HELP YOU TO CHOOSE A GOOD HEAT TREATMENT SOLUTION !

The pasteurization/sterilization system is paramount for ready meals products. These generally include additional groups of food components (such as cooked meat or fish, vegetables and/or starchy foods). The ready meals must be as much appetizing in the plate and they are in the mouth, or as hown on the packaging. And a wrong pasteurization/sterilization solution can quickly jeopardize all the work of your R&D team …

Ready meals requiring heat treatment are made of two product categories :

The heat-sterilized ready meals in cans or containers : raviolis, meat and beans stew, lentils with garnish, traditional meals, sauces, garnishes… fresh cooked or caterers meals : ready meals with vegetables and meats or fish, pizza pies…

LONG OR SHORT DLC (BEST-BEFORE DATE) : THE CRITERIA TO GUIDE YOU IN THE CHOICE OF A SOLUTION
Cooked ready meals are generally canned and must be sterilized for preservation and consumption over 2 to 3 years. The Water Spray and Air/Steam back-pressure processes are fully effective to preserve flavors and the nutritional qualities of such products.

Fresh ready meals are pasteurized with a rather short DLC (best-before date). This kind of food is generally packaged in small containers, with 1 to 3 compartments according to the number of ingredients, or in flexible pouches. The process recommended in this case is heat treatment in static mode. STERITECH Water Spray process with back-pressure is fairly suitable for these products, but our Air/Stream process with back-pressure makes it possible to shorten the pasteurization cycle, while providing even more water and energy savings.