Whether on the supermarket shelf or straight from the home oven – frozen pizza is one of the most popular ready meals worldwide. But how is it actually manufactured in industrial food production?
1. Dough Preparation: it all Starts with the Base
The manufacturing process of a frozen pizza begins with a precisely balanced dough made of flour, water, salt, oil, and yeast. The dough mixture is mixed in fully automated stirring systems and then processed into equal-sized portions. A crucial parameter in industrial production is the so-called W-force of the flour – the elasticity of the dough. Only with the right consistency can the dough be evenly shaped and further processed.
2. Shaping, Resting, Pre-baking
After a controlled resting period, the dough is automatically shaped into round discs. These then undergo a pre-baking process – often on a stone oven belt – at temperatures around 300 to 350 °C. This ensures stability and a first hint of roasted flavor.
3. Tomato Sauce & Toppings: Automated Precision
The tomato sauce – usually made from concentrated tomato paste, water, and spices – is applied in precise doses. In modern production lines, this happens fully automatically to ensure even distribution. Then comes the topping – often a combination of cheese, salami, mushrooms, peppers, or other ingredients. Canned products are frequently used, which must be opened and emptied beforehand.
4. Deep-freeze Shock & Packaging
After topping, the pizza is cooled down to -40 °C in a quick freezer – the so-called deep-freeze shock. This keeps the toppings in shape, preserves freshness, and controls microbiology. Finally, the pizza is vacuum-packed and prepared for transport to retailers.
What Tasks Do Can Opening Machines Perform in Industrial Pizza Production?
In the industrial production of frozen pizzas, can opening machines play a central role – especially in handling the ingredients for toppings. Many of the food items used, such as mushrooms, olives, or pineapple, are delivered in large cans. Can opening machines perform the following tasks:
- Automatic opening of large cans at high cycle rates
- Hygienic emptying of can contents
- Optional rinsing of cans with water or sterile compressed air to reduce residues and avoid water contamination of products
- Compressing of emptied cans for reduced waste volume
- Gentle processing of sensitive ingredients
- Seamless integration into existing lines for continuous processing
Modern systems like our fully automatic ensure that this step is carried out efficiently, safely, and in compliance with the highest hygiene requirements – a crucial factor for consistent product quality and smooth operations in pizza production. Discover Our Can Opening Machines
