Freezing Technology

7.2.1.4 Shrink packaging

         This type of packaging was introduced by the Cryovac company in 1948 as a protective package for frozen poultry. The saran-type film which was first used for this kind of packaging offered excellent protection against freezer burn, and loss of weight by desiccation. In the cryovac process, the whole bird, or a large piece of red meat is inserted into a plastic bag, air is removed by vacuum so that the bag is drawn in tightly against the bird, the bag is sealed by twisting and clamping and film is shrunk into a skin-tight wrap by dipping the package into hot water (about 90⁰C) for a few minutes.