Have you ever wondered how your favorite seafood is able to travel halfway across the country to your plate while staying fresh? Grabbing a cut of salmon, cod, red snapper, tuna, or halibut at a grocery store or restaurant is pretty easy. You’d never guess how much logistical effort goes into the transportation and preservation of your fish!

As part of the cold-chain, the seafood business relies heavily on the refrigerated storage industry. Cold storage units are absolutely essential to maintain quality and freshness in seafood. Generally, fresh fish stay in good condition for 8-9 days. From the moment a fish is caught, trapped, or netted, there’s a race against time to ensure this highly-perishable item reaches its destination.

Seafood Transportation 101

The most important thing to know about transporting seafood is that temperature matters. The colder the temperature you keep a fish, the longer its “lifespan” before it spoils. 5 to 10 degrees can make a huge difference in shelf-life.

Of course, there’s a huge difference between keeping a fish fresh and freezing it. Even though freezing a fish is far easier and gives it a much longer lifespan, it doesn’t retain the same desirability and quality after it’s been frozen.

To keep seafood fresh without completely freezing it, it usually must be kept somewhere between 28-41 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining a temperature on the edge of freezing is called “super-chilling.”

What Kinds of Refrigerated Units Are Good For Preserving Fresh Seafood?

There are a lot of cold storage units on the market. When choosing yours, you should consider factors such as temperature control, size, energy efficiency, and rental terms.

Precise and consistent temperature control is absolutely essential when transporting seafood. Luckily, recent innovations in refrigerated storage technology can give you exact control of temperature, to ¼ of a degree! Of course, be sure to do your research about temperature control before renting or purchasing a refrigerated unit–not all units are this powerful, or reliable!

If you’re transporting a significant amount of fresh fish, you may consider a 40-foot refrigerated container. If you’re working with less product, in order to save money and energy efficiency, consider investing in a 20-foot or 10-foot container. Asking the company you’re working with about the size that will fit your unique needs is always a good idea.

Why ARTECO for Refrigerated Storage for Seafood?

If you are looking for a refrigerated, walk-in portable storage container for your restaurant or business, look no further. ARTECO Refrigeration offers walk-in coolers and freezers in various sizes. We’ll work hard to meet all your short-term and long-term needs, providing fast, reliable, and affordable service at a day’s notice.