Performance evaluation of a low-cost cold storage system using animal products

Animal products such as chicken, fish and beef are highly perishable and easily deteriorate thus, requires proper storage to maintain their quality and shelf life. It is known that shelf life of chilled fresh animal products can be extended by various packaging solution such as vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging. However, a freshness of chilled meat is strongly influence by temperature. The storage system incorporated temperature control. This provides insights into the performance and effectiveness of the low-cost storage system for animal products by evaluating temperature stability. The findings of this study will contribute to a sustainable and affordable storage system that will minimize animal product losses as well improve the quality. This research work deals with the performance evaluation of a low cost smart storage system, the smart storage system allows to be setting to a desired temperature within the range of 55 °C to – 17 °C with a capacity of 20 kg. The animal products (chicken, catfish and beef) was frozen with the temperature of 0 °C with two-hour interval record taken for 16 hours for each of the products in pieces and whole, while the DE frozen was carried out for 12 hours with an interval of two hours record taken. The result of the products in wholes was compared with the pieces during the frozen and DE frozen. It was revealed that chicken in whole and pieces weight reduced after 16 hours of frozen by 0.06% and 3.9% respectively, catfish in whole and pieces weight increase after 16 hours of frozen by 0.11% each and beef in whole and pieces weight reduced after 16 hours of frozen by 0.09% and 2.87% respectively while chicken in whole and pieces weight increase after 12 hours of DE frozen by 0.06% and 0.26% respectively, catfish in whole and pieces weight increase after 12 hours of DE frozen by 0.23% and 0.57% respectively and beef in whole and pieces weight reduced after 12 hours of DE frozen by 1.11% and 3.39% respectively. The storage was found to be suitable for the selected animal products and highly recommended for small and middle scale animal frozen sellers or producers.