Tag: Stainless Steel in the Food Industry

Stainless Steel in the Food Industry

Stainless Steel In The Food Industry

Why stainless steel is popular for the food industry?

  1. Corrosion resistance
  2. Easy fabrication
  3. Easy to clean
  4. Heat resistance
  5. Maintains freshness

 

With the various applications that we often associate this resource with everyday materials and household products, stainless steel in the Philippines is the most widely used metal in the country. But did you know that stainless steel is commonly used in the food industry? Stainless steel has played a huge role in transporting and producing food in factories and other food-related institution. Let’s find out why this amazing metal is so popular:

 

Corrosion Resistance

When it comes to metals and the food industry, stainless steel is the best choice for packaging food or beverages in metal containers. Stainless steel in the food industry can be found in various processes; from food manufacturing to packaging. In the Philippines, stainless steel products are often used when handling food, like knives, pots, forks, and spoons.

The reason for this is because stainless steel has a natural ability to resist the effects of corrosion. Due to the presence of chromium in stainless steel, the effects of oxidation don’t cultivate or promote the steel to rust. Instead, it passively forms a barrier on the surface of the stainless steel that enhances its resilience against corrosion. You don’t have to worry about corroded steel making contact with food when stainless steel is used.

 

Easy Fabrication

Easy Fabrication

A major benefit of stainless steel is its ease of fabrication. Steel designers can enjoy the extensive boundaries of design when crafting something made of stainless steel. Its ease of fabrication plus many other qualities is another reason for stainless steel to be the top choice for the food industry. With stainless steel, it’s possible to achieve a perfectly smooth fabricated surface that is free of cracks, crevices, and a jagged exterior. This prevents the buildup of bacteria and the cultivation of harmful microorganisms.

You may notice that the design of stainless steel containers, vats, and tubing in the food industry are often made with no sharp joints, few angles, and less channeling parts. Expert craftsmen are involved with the fabrication of these as the welds need to be expertly crafted with no broken areas. Sharp angles and hard corners are strictly avoided due to those designs being susceptible to cracking under stress and other structural issues.

 

Easy to Clean

Knowing that most stainless steel materials in the food industry are designed with smooth surfaces and no angled areas, that means that stainless steel in the food industry is easy to clean. As a result, stainless steel can dramatically prevent any harmful bacteria from sticking on the surface of the metal. It isn’t difficult to decontaminate and sterilize stainless steel; which is why, alongside many other reasons, it’s the best choice of metal that is used in the food industry.

Apart from the food industry, you can easily find stainless steel countertops and food-related appliances. Why are these good choices? Because it’s non-porous and cleanup is a breeze. You don’t have to vigorously wipe the surface of stainless steel to keep it clean. Simple strokes with a rug and milk soap will do the trick.

 

Heat Resistance

Heat Resistance

In the food industry, temperature changes are a constant variable in the process of producing any form of food consumables. This is prominent in the beverage industry. The shift from cool to extreme heat and back to room temperature happens every minute. There is no better material to handle these sporadic temperature changes than stainless steel.

For many other metals, elevated temperatures will rapidly deteriorate the quality of the metal, making it prone to the effects of oxidation. At temperatures reaching 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, stainless steel can still effectively resist corrosion. You’ll notice that a production line in the food industry where products are heated involve the use of stainless steel contraptions and machinery. Another great property of stainless steel under the effects of elevated temperatures is its ability to maintain its shape and structural rigidity. Not easily cracking, warping, breaking, or buckling.

 

Maintains Freshness

Because stainless steel containers don’t leach any contaminants, it’ll preserve a food’s freshness for days, weeks, or even months. Naturally, stainless steel provides chemical and bacterial neutrality. How else does stainless steel maintain the freshness of the food or beverage stored? When it comes to cooked food and goods that contain additives, naturally, these foods or goods will produce some amount of alkalis and acids, which could slowly deteriorate the quality of some metals. Stainless steel is naturally inert to the deteriorating effects of acids and alkalis.

 

Key Takeaway

The use of stainless steel in the food industry has helped us preserve and transport food with minimal to no complications. We can see these in syrup tanks, wine containers, knives, spatulas, and evaporator tubes. Though a simple and common metal material, its benefits make it one of the best resources that helped shape the way the food industry works and ultimately, the way we live.

6 Reasons to Use Stainless Steel in the Food Processing Industry

6 Reasons To Use Stainless Steel In The Food Processing Industry

What are 6 reasons to use stainless steel in the food processing industry

  1. Easy to clean
  2. Resistant to chemicals and corrosion
  3. Durability
  4. Sustainability
  5. Compatible with heat
  6. Easy fabrication of the material
  7. Material stays neutral with food items

 

 

Stainless steel is one of the common metals used in a lot of things like copper and aluminum for manufacture, transportation, and presentation applications. Stainless steel is widely used in food and beverage processing industry depending on the grade of the selected material tested by stainless steel suppliers in the Philippines. Many food processing and beverage manufacturers made a switch into using stainless steel in their production methods. Here are the reasons why your stainless steel makes a popular choice in the food processing industry.

 

 

Easy to Clean

Effective cleaning is essential in maintaining the quality of material and its process which helps in avoiding corrosion in the future. Stainless accessories are easy to sterilize and the material last longer, unlike other metals, there are no pores that can harbor germs and bacteria. It can be easily wiped off the mess and it is not easily susceptible to bacteria. Food workers can work with ease because of its low maintenance. Cleaning crevices and surfaces free from cracks are the easiest in maintaining clean and smooth stainless steel.

 

 

Resistant to Chemicals and Corrosion

There a lot of variations of stainless steel grades and each grade will tell you how it reacts to chemicals and corrosions. It means that even heavy bleaches and other stainless steel cleaners can still be used on stainless accessories and equipment without breaking the material down. Stainless Steel has outstanding resistance to corrosion and attack from a wide range of chemicals. Various grades of 304, 316, and 409 are extensively used for their excellent resistance to chemicals and corrosion.

 

 

Durability

Durability

Stainless steel by nature is by far one of the most durable materials in the market. It is favored because of its low maintenance that is preferred in many commercial uses. It is prone to damage and resistant to corrosion as well. If being careful, stainless steel is most likely to undergo a few professional maintenance repairs. Stainless steel is certainly a strong material to take a few pressure without showing any noticeable damage. Stainless steel can be stable over time while maintaining its properties and aesthetics while producing no effect among its surroundings. While other materials may lose effectiveness over time, stainless steel can retain both functionality and appearance over a long period of time.

 

 

Sustainability

Stainless steel products are the best value in a long and the good thing about using the material it is 100% recyclable. Many manufacturing companies are concerned about the environmental impact and using stainless steel is one way of mitigating some of the impacts during the process. Most environmentally friendly products are corrosion resistant and have exceptional durability and stainless steel meets its criteria in providing long service life and reduces waste of resources.

 

 

Compatible With Heat

Compatible with Heat

Stainless steel is a useful property not only in the food processing industry but also working with heavy machinery in different industries. It is able to hold higher temperature pressures without altering in different ways while still holding its shape. The most common reason stainless steel is used because of its high-temperature properties where high-temperature oxidation is necessary and other applications are required making it beneficial to their high-temperature strength and resistance at elevated temperatures.

 

 

Easy Fabrication of the Material

With its easy formability and weldability, there are many ways stainless steel is easily fabricated. It requires special attention in preventing scratches or dents. With the right techniques, it can be easily cut, welded and formed into many shapes especially with the more modern metal-working procedures which is why food grade stainless steel is made suitable to make small tools for different appliances like professional knives and spatulas, food mixers, beer kegs and industrial ovens used in the food processing industry.

 

 

Material Stays Neutral With Food Items

Material Stays Neutral with Food Items

One benefit why food and beverage manufacturers choose stainless steel in their production is that stainless stays neutral to the food items. It will not change its color, taste, and smell of any food or beverage. It prevents contamination and maintains freshness of the food items. The common grade of steel used in food processing and packaging applications is grade 316 or “Food Grade Stainless” meaning it is low carbon content and resistant to salt exposure for any process that required salt or saltwater in their products. Not all steel materials are food grade so make sure to choose the right material for your production process.

 

 

Key Takeaway

Stainless steel suppliers in the Philippines and elsewhere will tell you the many advantages of stainless steel in the food and beverage processing industry. It’s important to know what kind of steel and selection of the best material to use when it comes to equipment. Stainless steel is an optimum choice in exceptional maintenance to all food processing, packaging, and storage from using the different tools and surfaces.