As a popular snack food, biscuits have become a popular choice for daily snacks and holiday gifts because of their crispy taste and diverse flavors. In order to ensure that biscuits do not lose their original flavor and crispness during storage, it is particularly important to choose the right packaging. Among many packaging materials, tinplate cans have become a common choice for biscuit packaging due to their unique physical and chemical properties.
So, how long can biscuits be stored in tinplate packaging cans? This article will explore this issue from multiple angles, including the material properties of tinplate, the environmental conditions for biscuit storage, and the impact of packaging technology on biscuits.
What are the characteristics of tinplate materials?
To discuss the shelf life of biscuits in tin plate cans, we must first understand the material properties of tinplate. Tinplate refers to a low-carbon steel plate with a thin layer of tin on the surface. Due to its good corrosion resistance, high strength, and good sealing, it is widely used in the field of food packaging and is particularly suitable for long-term storage of food.
Moisture-proof performance
During the storage process, one of the biggest enemies of biscuits is moisture in the air. Moisture will reduce the crispness of biscuits, making them soft and losing their original taste. Tin plate cans have excellent moisture-proof properties, which can effectively block the intrusion of external moisture and maintain a dry environment inside.
Blocking oxygen
The presence of oxygen will accelerate the oxidation of fat in food, causing the biscuits to have a rancid or peculiar smell. The sealing of tin plate cans can effectively isolate oxygen and prevent the occurrence of oxidation reactions, thereby extending the shelf life of biscuits.
Light resistance
The oil in biscuits is prone to photooxidation under sunlight, causing deterioration. Tinplate cans are opaque and can well block the influence of ultraviolet rays and protect biscuits from light damage.
Physical strength and pressure resistance
Compared with plastic bags or paper packaging, tinplate cans have high physical strength and can provide good protection during transportation and storage, preventing external extrusion or collision from damaging biscuits, and ensuring that biscuits remain intact after long-term storage.
How long can biscuits be stored in tinplate packaging cans?
Although tinplate cans have excellent protective properties, the shelf life of biscuits depends not only on the packaging materials, but also on the ingredients of the biscuits themselves and the environmental conditions of storage.
Composition and moisture content of biscuits
Different types of biscuits have different shelf lives due to different ingredients and production processes. Generally speaking, biscuits with high sugar content and low moisture content are more likely to maintain their crispness for a long time, while those biscuits with high-fat ingredients such as cream and chocolate have a relatively short shelf life because the fat is more easily oxidized.
The moisture content of biscuits is also one of the key factors determining their shelf life. Biscuits with low moisture content are less likely to deliquesce in sealed tinplate cans, so they can remain crispy for a longer time.
Temperature and humidity of storage environment
The storage environment also has a vital impact on the shelf life of biscuits. In a dry and cool environment, biscuits can be stored for a relatively long time. High temperature and high humidity will accelerate the oxidation of fats and crystallization of sugars in biscuits, shortening their shelf life. Generally speaking, the ideal storage temperature of biscuits in tin plate cans is 15°C to 25°C, and the relative humidity should be controlled below 60%.
Impact of sealing effect
Even for tinplate cans, sealing is one of the key factors. If the sealing is not done properly during the packaging process, the outside air and moisture will enter the can, which will accelerate the deterioration of the biscuits. Therefore, tin plate cans are usually designed with rubber rings or other sealing materials to ensure the tight combination of the can body and the lid to prevent air from entering.
Effect of tinplate can packaging on the extension of the shelf life of biscuits
Sealed packaging prevents oxidation and deliquescence
The sealing of tinplate cans is directly related to the shelf life of biscuits. A well-sealed can can effectively isolate oxygen and moisture, preventing biscuits from oxidation and deterioration and moisture absorption and deliquescence. According to relevant research data, if stored in a dry, sealed tinplate can, the shelf life of biscuits can be extended to 12 months or even longer.
Prevent odor adsorption and odor generation
During the storage process, biscuits must not only prevent oxidation and deliquescence, but also avoid the invasion of external odors. Due to the good airtightness of tinplate cans, it can effectively prevent external odors from penetrating into the cans, thereby preventing the biscuits from absorbing external odors. This is particularly important for maintaining the original flavor of biscuits, especially those with natural flavors.
Compression resistance and transportation protection
Tinplate cans not only provide protection for biscuits during storage, but also effectively prevent external squeezing and collision during transportation. Many biscuits may break in the logistics process because the packaging materials are not strong enough, affecting sales and eating experience. The firmness of tinplate cans can ensure the integrity of biscuits during long-distance transportation.
Typical shelf life of biscuits in tinplate cans
Although tinplate cans have good sealing and protection, the actual shelf life of biscuits is still affected by many factors. Under appropriate storage conditions, the typical shelf life of biscuits in tinplate cans is as follows:
1. Ordinary crisp biscuits: These biscuits have low water content and high sugar content, and can be stored in sealed tin plate cans for 6 to 12 months.
2. Sandwich biscuits: The shelf life of sandwich biscuits is usually slightly shorter than that of ordinary biscuits because the cream or sugar in the sandwich is more susceptible to temperature and humidity. Generally, the shelf life of sandwich biscuits is 3 to 6 months.
3. Chocolate-coated biscuits: The chocolate coating is easy to melt or deteriorate in a high temperature environment, so the shelf life of chocolate biscuits is usually 3 to 6 months.
4. High-fat biscuits: such as cream biscuits, puff pastry biscuits, etc. The fat in these biscuits is easy to oxidize and deteriorate, and their shelf life is relatively short, generally 3 to 6 months.
How to extend the shelf life of biscuits in tinplate cans?
In order to extend the shelf life of biscuits in tin plate cans, the following aspects need special attention:
Control the ambient temperature and humidity
Even if it is a sealed tinplate can, the temperature and humidity in the environment still affect the shelf life of biscuits. Biscuits should be stored in a dry and cool place as much as possible, avoiding direct sunlight and high temperature environment.
Reduce the number of times the lid is opened
Every time a tinplate can is opened, air will enter the can, and the moisture and oxygen brought in will accelerate the deterioration of the biscuits. Therefore, the number of times the lid is opened should be minimized during storage to keep the internal environment dry and airtight.
Built-in desiccant in the package
Placing food-grade desiccant in the tinplate can is an effective way to extend the shelf life of biscuits. The desiccant can absorb moisture in the can and keep the environment inside the can dry, thereby delaying the deliquescence of the biscuits.
Regularly check the can body
Although tin plate cans have good pressure resistance and damage resistance, scratches or rust may appear on the surface of the can body after long-term storage, especially in a humid environment. Therefore, regular inspection of the can body to ensure that the can body is not damaged or deformed is an important measure to ensure the long-term preservation of biscuits.