The Cold, Hard Truth: How Intershell's Blast Freezing Protects Seafood Quality

The Science Behind Superior Freezing: It's All About the Crystals

This isn't a slow chill you'd find in a regular freezer—it's a rapid, controlled process. Our powerful airflow and specialized equipment are designed to move the seafood through what's known as the "zone of maximum ice crystal formation" as quickly as possible. This crucial temperature range, typically between 31°F and 25°F, is where large, damaging ice crystals form. By bypassing it in a matter of minutes rather than hours, we ensure the structural integrity of every single cell. This advanced freezing method stands in stark contrast to conventional freezing and is the key to delivering a product that, once thawed, is remarkably similar to its fresh counterpart.

The magic of our blast-freezing process comes down to how we handle ice crystal formation and cellular integrity. Seafood, like all living tissue, is mostly water. When water freezes, it forms ice crystals.

In your household freezer (around 0°F):

• The freezing process is slow, often taking up to 24 hours.
• This slow process allows water molecules to migrate and clump together, forming large, jagged ice crystals.
• These large crystals act like tiny shards of glass, piercing and rupturing the delicate cell walls of the seafood. 
• When the seafood is later defrosted, these damaged cells can't hold their moisture. This leads to "drip loss"—that watery liquid you often see—and a product that is discolored, mushy, and has a noticeable change in taste. The natural juices and flavors literally leak out!

With Our -30°F Blast Freezing Process:

• The extremely low temperature and powerful airflow facilitate ultra-rapid freezing. The seafood's temperature drops very quickly. You may have heard this process referred to as "flash freezing" or "shock freezing." While there can be slight variations in the technology, the core principle is the same: freezing food as quickly as possible to preserve its quality and integrity.
• Water molecules don't have time to migrate and form large crystals. Instead, they freeze almost instantly in place, creating microscopic, uniform ice crystals.
• These tiny ice crystals cause minimal to no damage to the cell walls.
• When defrosted, the cellular structure remains largely intact, preventing moisture loss. This preserves the seafood's original firmness, succulence, vibrant color, and natural flavor profile, making it remarkably similar to a fresh product. And it's not just about flavor and texture. By keeping the cellular structure intact, our method also helps to preserve the seafood's full nutritional value, so you can be confident you're getting all the natural goodness with every bite. Beyond preserving quality, our blast freezing process is a crucial step in ensuring food safety. The rapid temperature drop inhibits the growth of microorganisms and enzymes that cause spoilage, ensuring our products are safe and ready to enjoy when you are.
  

Our No-Additive Policy: Purity and Transparency

We believe in the natural integrity of seafood from the moment it arrives at our docks to the final product. For seafood we process and freeze ourselves, we never use any additives, chemicals, or carbon monoxide (CO).

Why is this so important? The use of certain substances, especially CO in some seafood like tuna, can artificially enhance color, masking the product's true freshness or quality. We reject such practices to ensure transparency and prioritize natural quality, relying solely on the power of ultra-cold blast freezing.

While we do sell a variety of frozen items sourced from other vendors, we can't control their processing methods. However, we're committed to transparency: the details regarding ingredients, allergens, nutritional facts, and the brand name of these products will always be listed in the product descriptions.

At Intershell, based right here in Gloucester, Massachusetts, we believe that the best seafood is the most natural. Our investment in cutting-edge blast freezing technology and our strict no-additive policy are a testament to that belief. We're not just freezing seafood; we're preserving the unparalleled taste, texture, and natural purity of the ocean, ensuring that when you choose Intershell, you're choosing a product that is truly "fresh from frozen."