A Guide to Seafood Cold Storage Humidity Control: Ending "Freezer Burn" and Frost Build-up

Are you seeing dry, white, spongy patches on your frozen shrimp and fish, even though they are stored at deep-freeze temperatures? Are the cooling coils in your storage constantly covered in thick frost, forcing the compressor to run non-stop? These are two persistent "diseases" in seafood cold storage: "freezer burn" and frost build-up. Both originate from a single culprit: uncontrolled humidity.

This article will analyze the nature of these phenomena and introduce the only technological solution that can definitively solve them, helping businesses preserve seafood product quality and optimize operating costs.

1. Decoding "Freezer Burn" - The Enemy of Quality

"Freezer burn" is not caused by the product being burned, but rather a term to describe severe moisture loss even while frozen. This process occurs as follows:

• Cause: Due to the sublimation of ice. When the air humidity inside the cold storage is too low and unstable, the ice crystals within the product turn directly from a solid to a gas (water vapor) without passing through a liquid state.
• Consequence: The product loses a significant amount of water, resulting in a dry, spongy surface, color changes (fading), and a tough, fibrous texture when cooked. While not harmful to health, "freezer burn" severely degrades the sensory and commercial value of the product.

2. Why Conventional Condensing Dehumidifiers Fail in Cold Storage

Many businesses mistakenly believe they can use a standard industrial dehumidifier (condensing technology) to handle humidity in cold storage. This is a serious technical error.

A condensing unit works by cooling a coil below the dew point to condense moisture. However, in a cold storage environment where the temperature is always low (often below 10°C and can go below 0°C), the coil of the dehumidifier itself will quickly freeze into a solid block of ice. When this happens, airflow is blocked, and the dehumidification process fails completely.

3. The Specialized Solution: Dezenno Rotor Dehumidifier Technology from DeAir

The only and most effective solution proven worldwide for cold storage is the Dezenno Rotor Dehumidifier technology. This technology is based on adsorption, not temperature, making it the perfect "weapon" for this harsh environment.

DeAir's Dezenno product is manufactured in Vietnam to European standards, using a high-efficiency rotor and comes with full CO, CQ documentation. Controlling this environment is a crucial part of meeting international food safety standards, as recommended by organizations like the Codex Alimentarius Commission (established by FAO and WHO).