FAQ
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Answers about fully cooked IQF beans, lentils, grains, rice and pasta: using them, cost, food safety, packaging and ordering.
About IQF
5 questions
What does IQF mean?
IQF means individually quick frozen. Each bean, grain or piece of pasta freezes separately, so it pours freely from the bag instead of setting into a block. You use exactly what you need and keep the rest frozen.
Are Seenergy products fully cooked?
Yes, every product is fully cooked and ready to eat. We cook, cool and freeze in one continuous process, so there is no soaking, boiling or draining on your side.
What does Seenergy make?
Fully cooked IQF beans, lentils, grains, rice, pasta and blends. More than 200 SKUs, in conventional and, on select items, certified organic.
What is in the bag?
For most products, just water and the bean, grain or rice. No preservatives or additives. Seasoned rice, blends and pasta list their full ingredients on each spec sheet.
Who uses Seenergy products?
Food manufacturers, restaurant chains and foodservice operators, and retail brands. Common uses include frozen meals, soups, salads, bowls, burritos, plant-based patties, meal kits, baby food and pet food.
Storage and use
5 questions
Do I need to thaw IQF beans or grains?
No. Use them straight from frozen in hot dishes. For salads and cold applications, thaw under refrigeration first.
How do I heat them?
Steam, covered, until hot; microwave covered, stirring halfway; or add them frozen to the dish. They only need reheating, not cooking. Add frozen to soups, chili and sauces near the end of cooking.
What is the shelf life?
18 months frozen at 0°F (−18°C). Keep product frozen until use; see each spec sheet for details.
How long do they keep after thawing?
Once thawed, keep refrigerated and use promptly; see each spec sheet. Keep thawed product covered and refrigerated at40°F (4°C) or below.
Can I refreeze thawed product?
We don’t recommend it. Refreezing affects texture and quality. Because IQF pours freely, take out only what you need and keep the rest frozen.
Cost and yield
3 questions
Is IQF cheaper than cooking dry beans in-house?
Often, once you count everything dry beans need. Dry beans look cheaper per pound, but they need sorting, soaking, cooking, cooling, labor, water, energy and equipment, and yield varies batch to batch. IQF arrives ready to use, so your cost is the cost per serving you actually plate.
How does IQF compare with canned beans?
No cans, no brine and no added salt. Our plain beans contain only water and beans, with no added salt. There is no can handling or brine disposal, and you pour only what you need.
Is there cook loss or drained weight?
No. What you buy is what you use. There is no liquid to drain and no cooking loss in your kitchen or plant.
Food safety and quality
6 questions
Which certifications does Seenergy hold?
GFSI certification under the FSSC 22000 scheme. FSSC 22000 includes HACCP. We are also certified organic on select items and kosher certified (COR 579).
How are products tested?
Every product has set microbiological limits, including Salmonella and Listeria negative per 25 g. Enhanced sampling (Salmonella negative per 375 g, Listeria negative per 125 g) is available on request.
Do the products contain allergens?
Allergens vary by product; each spec sheet includes a full allergen statement. Pasta contains wheat. Wheat and gluten are handled in our plants under an allergen prevention plan, and peanuts are not allowed in our facilities.
Are the products gluten free?
Allergens vary by product; each spec sheet includes a full allergen statement. Our IQF black beans test under 20 ppm gluten, which meets the U.S. FDA and Health Canada definition. Pasta contains wheat, so check the spec sheet for each item.
Do Seenergy products contain GMOs?
No. Seenergy products are made with no GMO ingredients.
How do you trace a lot?
Every bag, case and tote carries a Julian lot code. The code shows the day, the year and the plant it was packed in, so any lot can be traced from raw ingredient to finished case.
Packaging, ordering and delivery
5 questions
What pack sizes are available?
From 8 oz retail bags to 1,500 lb totes. Retail bags (8 oz, 10 oz, 2 lb), 20–24 lb foodservice cases of 1, 2 or 4 lb bags, 30–45 lb bulk cases, and 700–1,500 lb bulk totes. Every product can be packed in any of these formats.
Where are Seenergy products made?
In Concord and London, Ontario, Canada. Both production facilities are GFSI certified under FSSC 22000.
Do you ship to the United States?
Yes, across Canada and the U.S. We deliver daily, customs-cleared, to major hubs including New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando, Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, Dallas, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
What is the minimum order and lead time?
Minimums and lead times depend on the product and pack format. Share your volumes and we’ll confirm them with your quote.
How do I get a sample?
Request one online or call 1-800-609-7674. A product specialist will confirm the right products and ship samples with spec sheets.
Custom blends and private label
3 questions
Can Seenergy develop a custom blend?
Yes, in any ratio, held to spec every run. Start from one of our standard blends or give us a target for flavor, texture and nutrition. We prototype, run a plant trial, then lock the formula.
Can you add vegetables or seasonings?
Yes. We add frozen vegetable inclusions such as peppers, onions, carrots and peas, and topical seasonings, to custom recipes.
Does Seenergy make private-label products?
Yes, in retail, foodservice and bulk formats. Minimums and artwork lead times depend on the product and pack format, and are confirmed with your quote.
Supplying US customers
5 questions
Does Seenergy supply customers in the United States?
Yes, the US is a core market for us. We supply food manufacturers, foodservice operators and retail brands across the United States and Canada, with a U.S. sales office in Buffalo, NY.
Who handles customs for US orders?
We do. Seenergy ships to US customers and clears customs, so orders arrive customs-cleared at your door. You don’t need to arrange your own customs broker.
Are your facilities FDA-registered and FSMA-compliant?
Yes. Both production facilities are FDA-registered, FSMA-compliant and GFSI certified. Spec sheets, allergen statements and food safety documentation are available for your QA team.
Where are your products made?
In our two plants in Concord and London, Ontario. Every product is fully cooked and individually quick frozen in-house. Most raw materials are sourced from the United States and Canada, and each spec sheet lists the origin.
Are pack sizes and case weights in pounds?
Yes. Pack sizes and case weights are listed in US units (oz and lb), from retail bags to foodservice cases, bulk cases and totes.
How do US buyers order or request samples?
The same way as any customer. Request a sample online, call 1-800-609-7674 or email [email protected], and our sales team will follow up with pricing, pack options and lead times.