As one of the ways to store chicken meat in large quantities economically, the theme of this article is how to operate cold storage and ensure what kind of temperature and condition can better reduce costs and increase efficiency.

1. Pre-Storage Preparation: Secure Quality at Source

  • ‌Sort by type‌: Separate chicken by cut (breast, leg, wing) and state (fresh/frozen).
  • ‌Clean & package‌: Remove blood, fascia; vacuum-seal in food-grade PE bags. Vacuuming blocks oxygen, slows spoilage, and ‌extends shelf life by over 30%‌.
  • ‌Pre-cool properly‌:
    • Fresh chicken: Chill at ‌0–4°C for 2–4 hours‌ to lower core temperature and prevent frost.
    • Frozen chicken: Ensure core temp is ‌below -18°C‌; sample-check before entry. Reject items.
Meat Cold Room

2. Cold Storage Environment: Precision for Long-Term Freshness

  • ‌Temperature control‌:
    • Keep frozen chicken at ‌-18°C to -23°C‌, with fluctuations no more than ‌±1°C‌.
    • Large swings cause freeze-thaw cycles, damaging texture and color.
  • ‌Humidity management‌: Maintain ‌90–95% RH‌.
    • Too low → drying; too high → mold.
    • Use smart cloud-connected sensors for real-time monitoring and automatic alerts.
  • ‌Ventilation & odor control‌:
    • Ventilate ‌1–2 times daily‌, 30 minutes each, to clear ammonia or hydrogen sulfide.
    • Place food-grade activated carbon bags inside; replace regularly.

3. Inventory Management: Efficient Turnover & Traceability

  • ‌Apply FIFO (First In, First Out)‌:
    • Log entry time, batch, and expiry date.
    • Store older stock in easy-access spots to prevent overstocking and expiration.
  • ‌Regular checks‌:
    • Weekly: Inspect packaging, color, smell.
    • Monthly: Test samples for total bacteria and E. coli to meet hygiene standards.
    • Isolate any issue immediately and start traceability.

4. Compliance & Safety: Meet Global Food Standards

  • ‌Follow HACCP & GMP‌:
    • Use Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to manage storage risks.
    • Comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP): Use corrosion-resistant, cleanable wall and floor materials; disinfect regularly.
  • ‌Build a traceability system‌:
    • Assign a ‌unique QR code‌ per batch, tracking from farm to cold store.
    • Enables quick source identification during recalls and boosts consumer trust.

OnlyKem as a professional cold storage manufacturer with over 20 years of experience in the refrigeration industry, we have customers from more than 100 countries worldwide. If you need cold storage, please contact us.

Tel：86-531-83175885

Cell（WhatsApp）：8613864087992

Email：sale@onlyref.com