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VIII. SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - EVEN-THAW MODELS
VIII. a - APPLICATION OVERVIEW:
The Even-Thaw is designed to thaw product at safe
temperatures. By keeping the cabinet temperature
from rising above 40
o
F, the Even-Thaw inputs small
amounts of heat while moving large volumes of air
around the product. This design allows the product
to thaw at temperatures that minimize bacteria growth.
When in Even-Thaw mode, the refrigeration system is
disabled and a second control adds enough heat to
keep the cabinet at the upper limit of normal refrigera-
tor temperatures. The rate at which the frozen prod-
uct absorbs heat gradually slows as it warms. During
the Even-Thaw process, the unit will continue to oper-
ate in this mode (refrigeration OFF, blower and heater
ON) until the product being thawed can no longer ab-
sorb the heat as fast as it is being put into the cabinet.
When this happens, the air temperature will slowly rise
to 40
o
F at which time the heater will turn OFF and the
refrigeration system will begin to cycle. As the refrig-
eration system begins to cycle the product continues
to thaw. Based on the product being thawed and the
way it is loaded, the end-user will have to determine
how much time it takes to thaw each particular prod-
uct.
VIII. b - PRODUCT LOADING GUIDELINES:
THE EVEN-THAW IS DESIGNED TO BE LOADED TO
CAPACITY FOR EACH EVEN-THAW CYCLE. When the
unit is cycling at refrigerator temperatures (approxi-
mately 36
o
to 39
o
f), load the cabinet with frozen prod-
uct to be thawed. If possible, remove all packaging
and place the product directly on aluminum sheet pans
for optimum heat transfer. While it is possible to Even-
Thaw product that is wrapped, it will be slower than if
it were unwrapped. At the very least the packaging
should be opened to allow air to circulate. Also, it is
not recommended to thaw product that is stored or
packaged in cardboard boxes. Product should be
placed on the pans in a single layer; each pan should
be filled with as much product as can arranged with-
out the pieces touching each other. The cabinet should
be loaded with as many pans as it will hold and still
allow air circulation on all sides of the pan.
VIII. c - STARTING AN EVEN-THAW CYCLE:
With the cabinet filled with frozen product and the
doors closed, the compressor will run until the air tem-
perature falls to its lower set point. The blower will
continue to run, circulating air across the frozen prod-
uct, which will lower the air temperature further. At
approximately 32
o
f, the unit will automatically switch
to the Even-Thaw mode, disabling the compressor and
enabling the heater. If the doors are not left open too
long during the loading stage, this automatic switch-
ing to Even-Thaw mode normally takes 5 - 10 minutes.
An amber light on the upper left hand face of the cabi-
net indicates Even-Thaw mode. Even-Thaw mode can
also be initiated manually by the start button located
between the green (refrigeration) and amber (Even-
Thaw) indicator lights.
VIII. d - CONCLUSION OF EVEN-THAW CYCLE:
The Even-Thaw cycle will end automatically (return to
refrigeration mode), when the air circulating in the
cabinet reaches 40
o
f. A green light on the upper left
hand face of the cabinet indicates refrigeration mode.
At this point the unit can be used as a holding cabinet
at refrigerator temperatures with no operator action
required. If the unit is needed for thawing additional
frozen product, all previously thawed product should
be moved to another unit.
VIII. e -
INTERIOR ARRANGEMENTS:
Traulsen reach-in even-thaw models are supplied stan-
dard with tray slides to facilitate thawing.
Roll-in even-thaw models are designed to accommo-
date two (2) 27” wide by 29” deep by 66” high roll-in
racks (measurements with wheels inboard of frame).
VIII. f -
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q. How much product can I load at one time?
A. As much as the cabinet will hold with individual
pieces flat on the sheet without touching each other,
and with space for air circulation between sheets. This
could be a hundred pounds or more per section.
Q. How long will it take to thaw?
A. It can vary greatly depending on the type of prod-
uct being thawed, packaging (if any), and size of the
individual pieces. Small “flat” pieces (chicken breasts,
fish fillets etc.) will thaw the fastest, while large “round”
items (whole fowl, hams or roasts) will be the slowest.
In any event the EvenThaw process is much faster than
thawing in a standard refrigerator, and much safer than
thawing at room temperature because the product
never exceeds 40
o
f.
Q. Will the EvenThaw work with a small batch?
A. Not very well. Heat will be introduced into the cabi-
net faster than a small batch of frozen food can ab-
sorb it, causing the EvenThaw cycle to end prema-
turely, and return to refrigeration mode. The product
will continue to thaw while in refrigeration mode, but
at a slower rate.
Q. Why is some product not completely thawed when
the EvenThaw cycle ends?
A. A partial load, large pieces or packaged product can
cause the cycle to end prematurely.
Q. Why does nothing happen when I push the
EvenThaw cycle start button?
A. The unit is too warm. The internal air temperature
must be in the normal refrigeration range to initiate
the EvenThaw cycle.