Romance Foods knows that its microwave/convection pasteurization process to extend product shelf life isn’t new. It is, however, unusual in the U.S. And, with an assist from nitrogen gas flushing during filling, the process yields a 75-day refrigerated shelf life for the Kenosha, WI, company’s cooked pasta products, which do not use preservatives. That extended shelf life is longer than competitive products in the fresh, cooked pasta category, says company president Robert Ramsay.
Romance Foods also uses the process for a cold-filled pesto sauce. However, the pasteurizing equipment is not used for any of the company’s other sauces, which are hot-filled into flexible layflat packs. Sauces have a refrigerated shelf life of 80 to 120 days, attributable to cooking time and temperature.
