Maturing is a crucial stage in the production of cheeses and cured meats because it has a significant impact on the characteristics and quality of the final product. This process, which can last for weeks or even months, requires specific environmental conditions of temperature, humidity and ventilation, fundamental for the development of the organoleptic characteristics of the products. A careful control of these aspects makes it possible to obtain cheeses with balanced texture and taste, as well as cured meats perfectly seasoned. However, to achieve optimal results, it is essential to have appropriate instruments, specifically designed for food contact and ensuring maximum hygiene.
Cheese and cured meat trolleys are essential to promote a uniform and controlled maturation, ensuring a rational arrangement of products and optimizing air circulation between the different units. Thanks to the use of high-quality materials, such as stainless steel, they ensure hygiene, resistance and ease of cleaning, while complying with the strict regulations of the food sector. In addition, they allow efficient logistics management, simplifying the transport and storage of products within the curing cells. Choosing the right trolley means therefore obtaining a more efficient and safe curing process, optimizing spaces and processing times.
Let’s see in more detail the characteristics and advantages of seasoning trolleys, and all the useful tips to choose the most suitable products for your company or business.
As we have seen, maturing trolleys are essential tools in the food industry, specifically designed to optimize the aging process of cheeses and meats. Made mainly of stainless steel, they guarantee high standards of hygiene, resistance and durability, therefore ideal for use in environments characterized by high humidity and controlled temperatures. The structure of the trolleys is designed to promote an even distribution of air, allowing a homogeneous aging and preventing the formation of unwanted mold or moisture accumulations that could compromise the quality of the final product.
These trolleys are generally composed of adjustable shelves, equipped with plastic grids or holed boards in plastic material, which allow the space to adapt to the different sizes of cheeses or cold cuts, thus optimising the load capacity without compromising the necessary ventilation. For cured meats, some models - such as the IFT three-tier seasoning trolley - are equipped with horizontal bars and rods with anti-slip stops, which allow products to be hung up in order to ensure uniform ripening on the entire surface. The trolleys are generally also equipped with resistant wheels, which facilitate the movement and handling of products within the curing cells or between different production areas, reducing the risk of contamination and improving operational efficiency.
In addition, the use of stainless steel ensures excellent corrosion resistance and facilitates sanitizing operations, since the material does not absorb odors and does not retain bacteria, as required by hygiene and health regulations in the food sector.
The use of trolleys for cheese and cured meats can bring numerous advantages to the dairy, salami and food industry, improving not only production efficiency but also the quality of the final product. Among the main benefits of using these tools are definitely:
Choosing the right seasoning trolley is a crucial aspect to ensure an efficient process that meets the quality standards required by the food industry. To select the most suitable model, several aspects must be considered, first of all the type of products to be seasoned. In general, cheeses need large and well-ventilated shelves, while cured meats require bars or rods to be hung, so as to ensure proper air distribution and uniform ripening.
Another important aspect concerns the material of which the trolleys are made. Stainless steel is the most recommended due to its corrosion resistance, easy cleaning and long life. This material also ensures full compliance with health and hygiene regulations and avoids bacterial contamination that could compromise the quality of the final product. The size and structure of the trolley must also be chosen according to the space available in the maturing cells and the production volume of the company. Modular trolleys with adjustable shelves are an optimal solution, as they allow the internal organization to be adapted according to production needs.
In order to facilitate the work of operators, it is essential to opt for trolleys that can be easily moved and allow easy handling within the plant without compromising the stability of the products. It is also important to check that the chosen trolley is compatible with the dimensions and environmental conditions of the curing chambers. The ease of cleaning and sanitizing is another important element in choosing. Models with smooth surfaces and no hard to reach corners facilitate the removal of organic residues and bacteria, reducing the risk of contamination.
Finally, consider the possibility of customization and adaptability of the trolleys to the specific needs of your company and the characteristics of the products that they will contain. Choosing customizable models with different shelf heights, and allowing to add tables and accessories of various sizes - such as those proposed by IFT - can make a difference in optimizing production processes.
IFT offers a range of AISI 304 food tray holder racks, designed to guarantee maximum strength, hygiene and ease of use. Thanks to the robust construction and the use of materials certified for contact with food, they are an optimal solution for the maturation of cheeses and cold cuts, ensuring compliance with current regulations and facilitating the handling of products within the curing cells.
The TAFO rack, for example, is particularly suitable for the production processes of dairy operations (in particular products such as asiago, montasio and tome), but it is also ideal for the storage and handling of other foods, including meat. The perforated shelves made of food-grade polypropylene, certified according to EC directives for contact with food, allow effective ventilation for uniform maturing. Thanks to the EPAL dimension, this trolley can be easily manoeuvred into the curing cells and is also suitable for truck transport.
The TGRA trolley is suitable for the seasoning of cheese and pecorino. Its compact structure makes it easily manoeuvrable inside the curing cells, optimizing the available space. The Pecorino Romano rack also allows flexible space management and facilitates transport, making it particularly suitable for the maturation of pecorino and other cheeses.
The stainless steel trolley for seasoning cured meats with three floors is equipped with support angles, rods with anti-slip and four swivel wheels to allow easy handling. For greater versatility, this model can be made in different sizes and with a number of shelves customizable according to production needs. In addition, it is also available with a stainless steel stick for cold cuts, which increases its functionality and adaptability to the different production processes.
To have more information about the trolleys or other solutions for maturing proposed by IFT, contact us!
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