When you are choosing a fruit ingredient, the format can have a big impact on storage, handling, production efficiency, and final product quality. Canned fruit and IQF both have clear advantages, but they are suited to different applications.
What is canned fruit?
What is canned fruit?Canned fruit is packed from fresh, heat processed, and sealed for long shelf life. It can usually be stored at ambient temperature, which makes it a practical choice for businesses that need easier storage, dependable supply, and a product that works well in reprocessing.
What is IQF?
IQF stands for Individual Quick Frozen. The fruit is frozen quickly so the pieces stay separate, making it free flowing, easier to handle, and use in production, whilst also providing greater control for defrosting volumes.
When canned fruit is the better fit
Canned fruit is often the right choice when ambient storage, shelf life, and consistency matter most. It works well in applications such as patisserie, dessert manufacturing, retail repacking, and products that will be reprocessed. This makes it the ideal choice for procurement-led food manufacturers and their procurement managers and buyers. Canned fruit is particularly good for those in industries working in patisserie, dessert, bakery and fruit compotes, or fruit-in-alcohol and sauces.
When IQF is the better fit
IQF is often better for applications where portion control, free-flowing handling, and shape retention are important. It is a useful format for manufacturers who want to reduce waste and use only the amount they need in each production run. Buyers and NPD in this space will be particularly concerned with handling, portioning and fresh-like performance (retaining nutritional values), and it suits a variety of end users across desserts, sauces, bakery, drinks and prepared foods.
How to choose the right format
The best option depends on the application. If you need storage convenience and a stable format for reprocessing, canned fruit may be the better choice. If you need a flexible ingredient that is easy to portion and closer to fresh in appearance and flavour after thawing, IQF may be the stronger option.
How Andina Ingham can help
Andina Ingham supports both procurement and NPD teams by helping them choose ingredient formats that suit the end application, storage needs, and production process. Our friendly and knowledgeable team offer practical ideas and ongoing support as a standard part of their service-led offer.
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Call our experts now on 01732 453 333 to discuss your requirements or use the contact form.
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