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Frozen pastry cakes

Nitrogen for Foods

A highly-efficient gas for food and beverages processors

Seventy-eight percent of the air that we breathe is composed of nitrogen. Gaseous nitrogen is widely used for its inert, non-reactive properties. Liquid nitrogen is used for its cryogenic properties enabled by its extremely low boiling point (-196°C/-320°F).

Our food grade nitrogen and nitrogen enabled food processing equipment are compliant with many relevant safety, quality compliance and hygiene legislation.

Whichever the quantities of food grade nitrogen you may need, from a single cylinder to packs of cylinders, liquid bulk or onsite generation, we have the capability and know how to supply you.

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Air Products is a World-Leading Nitrogen Supplier

  • Global manufacturer of nitrogen
  • Reliable supply of industrial gases
  • Excellent record of meeting on-time needs
  • Industry leader in safety
  • Technical support when you need it
  • World-class customer service

Increased throughput high speed quality freezing or chilling

Quickly freeze or chill any type of food product. With cryogenics, a shorter cool or freeze time equals a shorter process time thus more units in the same amount of time.

Higher yield less waste extended shelf life

Nitrogen is often used in modified atmosphere packaging to remove the oxidative oxygen or moisture present around a food product for a longer shelf life. Quick cooling/freezing allows more of your product to retain quality by preventing dehydration and crumbling by firming the product faster.

Moisture retention, package pressurization

By using extremely cold nitrogen to reduce the temperature of your food, you will be exposing the food to the dry air for less time. A faster freeze means less moisture loss. Nitrogen is often used to pressurize a package or bottle and prevent its collapse.

Liquids de-aeration texture retention

Cryogenics shortens the crystallization of water that occurs when food freezes allowing for a better quality thaw and retained texture. Nitrogen is also used to remove unwanted dissolved gases from liquids for improved further processing or shelf life extension.

Retained taste and flavor safety prevention

Freezing or cooling quickly using cryogenics secures the fragrances and flavors in the food better. Nitrogen is used to inert storage areas containing flammable elements or to protect from dust explosions. 

Ask the Expert

Justin Ruggiero

Justin Ruggiero

Food Applications Specialist, Americas

“How can I better understand my nitrogen usage?”

Measuring the quantity of liquid nitrogen (LIN used during food freezing and chilling is vital to remaining operationally competitive. Unlike other materials, LIN can be troublesome to measure continuously, so it’s important to implement a daily LIN use tracking program. This data provides a benchmark against which to measure your LIN use. The amount of LIN used continuously is less telling than the changes in use as time progresses. Did the new startup operating procedure make the freezing process more efficient? Did changing from an insulated pipe to a vacuum-jacketed pipe really save costs this year? Questions like these can be answered in pursuit of continuous improvement if LIN is tracked daily.

How do you get started on tracking your LIN usage? Air Products’ Food Technology Specialists connect customers to the cost side of using LIN with daily tracking tools while providing the support and training to improve usage. Air Products’ Freshline® solutions reflect our continuing commitment to the food industry, providing a single point of reference for customers.

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Why Use Liquid Nitrogen to Freeze or Chill your Products?

Liquid nitrogen, because of its ultra-cold temperature, allows food to be chilled or frozen in much less time than mechanical air blast freezing. It is the fastest freezing method known for individually quick frozen (IQF) foods. Which means more product processed in the same amount of time.

Product quality:

  • The extremely fast freezing process allows the water within the product to freeze into much smaller ice crystals, reducing the damage made to the product’s cell walls. This means a better preservation of your product’s texture, taste and moisture levels.
  • Our precise and repeatable fast chilling equipment will help you achieve a consistent end result for faster further processing and improved product quality.

Footprint: liquid nitrogen-based systems take up less space than other systems…up to half the space — in many cases.

Flexibility: nitrogen enabled freezing or chilling systems are up and running quickly and can deal with varying volumes.

Cost: equipment rental possibilities allowing minimal investment cost.

Freshline® Food Services

We don't just supply gases and equipment, we want to help you succeed every step of the way. This is why we also are world leaders in food industry innovation, run trials for you on-site or in one of our laboratories, offer consultancy including process evaluation and optimization, analytical services and training support.

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Wondering about Quality and Compliance?

We care deeply about safety and quality. Our gases and equipment comply with all relevant food legislation.

More Information

Learn more how nitrogen can enhance your food applications.

Schedule a free value analysis with one of our food experts.

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Nitrogen Supply Options

CryoEase® Microbulk Solutions

A convenient and cost-effective solution for larger operations. CryoEase® tanks are available in a range of sizes. The CryoEase® service simplifies your gas supply by eliminating the need to handle cylinders, stock taking and ordering.

Bulk Supply

Delivered by truck and stored on your site either as a liquid in cryogenic tanks or as a gas in high-pressure tubes based on your volume, desired pressure, purity level, flow rate, and operating pattern.

APEX Temporary Emergency Gas Services

Short-term or emergency industrial gas supply for start-ups, peak demand periods, planned or unplanned maintenance activities, and plant or pipeline turnarounds.

PRISM® Membranes

PRISM Membrane separators generate gas onsite for applications like nitrogen generation, air dehydration, hydrogen recovery, biogas upgrading, and the generation of oxygen enriched air.

On-site Nitrogen Gas Generation

On-site gas generation helps sustainability-minded customers lower their carbon footprint, boost energy efficiency, increase throughput, enhance end product quality, and improve environmental performance

Cryogenic Air Separation Plants

Air Products currently owns and operates over 300 air separation plants in over 40 countries worldwide, in all types of applications. In addition to our own plants, we have sold, designed and built over 1000 air separation plants globally. 

Pipeline Supply

Located in major industrial locations around the world, pipelines offer customers with large product demands a range of benefits, including reliable, safe and flexible supply in a cost-effective way.

SDS Library

Our Safety Data Sheet (SDS) library allows you to search and find the SDS you need--in the language you select.

SDS Library

Download Our Free Gas Converter App

Convert weight and volume measures for argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG).