IMPFP121 – Control the fish or shellfish smoking process

 

Overview 

This standard is about the smoking of fish or shellfish as part of a processing operation. It details the skills and knowledge required to set-up and maintain the smoking process. It is also about working to organisational product specifications and production schedules.

You must be able to prepare to and smoke fish or shellfish. You must also be able to complete the smoking process.

This standard is for you if you work in fish or shellfish processing and are involved in the smoking of fish or shellfish.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

 

Prepare to smoke fish/shellfish

1.         prepare to smoke fish/shellfish according to the legal or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions

2.         obtain and interpret smoking specification

3.         prepare the smoking kiln and associated work area into a condition suitable for receiving fish

4.         obtain sawdust and wood chippings and prepare method of smoke generation 

5.         obtain brined/salted fish/shellfish of specified quality

6.         take action in response to operating problems

7.         maintain communication

 

Smoke fish/shellfish

8.         operate to the legal or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions when smoking fish/shellfish

9.         load kiln according to operating instructions

10.       establish smoke generation according to kiln operating instructions

11.       establish required smoke and temperature conditions within the kiln to achieve required smoking specification

12.       monitor and maintain smoking process for smoking period, according to operating instructions

13.       remove fish/shellfish from kiln following conclusion of smoking process and transfer to the next production stage

14.       handle fish/shellfish in a manner which maintains quality and condition

15.       maintain condition of work area throughout process

16.       take action in response to operating problems

17.       maintain communication

 

Finish the smoking process

18.       finish smoking according to the legal or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions

19.       dispose of waste material according to organisational procedures

20.       make smoking equipment, smoking kiln and work area ready for future use, after the completion of the process

21.       maintain communication

22.       complete all records

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand

 

1.         how to obtain and apply the smoking specification

2.         how variations in typical smoking specifications can impact on the process requirements of hot and cold smoking 

3.         what facilities, tools and equipment are required to smoke fish/shellfish

4.         the different types of wood used in smoking and the different methods of generating smoke

5.         how to assess that fish/shellfish is suitable and ready for smoking

6.         how to prepare the facilities, tools and equipment required to smoke fish/shellfish

7.         how to obtain sawdust and wood chippings and prepare the smoke generator

8.         how to obtain brined or salted raw material that is ready for smoking

9.         the importance of monitoring process conditions during smoking

10.       how to monitor the smoking process and the impact variations in parameters will have on the process including temperature, humidity, flow rates

11.       the operating characteristics of the smoking kiln used to smoke fish/shellfish

12.       how smoking kilns operate including how they should be prepared and controlled

13.       how to load fish/shellfish into the kiln for smoking

14.       how smoked fish/shellfish should be handled, moved and stored during production

15.       the methods used to hold fish/shellfish in smoking kiln

16.       how to control the smoking process to ensure required quality and yield

17.       the impact of handling and storage on the condition and quality of smoked product

18.       how the smoking process can impact on yield and product quality

19.       smoking as a method for processing fish/shellfish

20.       the operational requirements of the smoking process and how they are to be met

21.       what the expected appearance and other characteristics of the smoked product are

22.       what action to take when the process specification is not met

23.       how to dispose of waste and why it is important to do so

24.       how to prepare the facilities, tools and equipment for future use, upon completion of the smoking process

25.       how the smoked product appearance and flavour will vary depending on smoking times and fuel types

26.       how to manage the smoking process to solve common quality problems and their likely causes

27.       how different preparation and smoking techniques produce different smoked fish/shellfish products

28.       the role of brining and salting in preparation for smoking

29.       wood quality and how it can impact on the smoking process

30.       how fish/shellfish flesh oil content, temperature, air flow, humidity and smoking times impact the characteristics of smoked products

31.       what methods are appropriate for end product testing and what should be tested for

32.       what are accepted good manufacturing practices in fish/shellfish smoking

33.       what recording, reporting and communication is needed and how to carry this out and the reasons why it is important to do so

34.       the limits of your own authority and competence and why it is important to work within those limits

35.       what the legal or regulatory requirements, the organisational health and safety, hygiene and environmental standards and instructions are and what may happen they are not followed

  

Keywords:  Fish; Smoking; Health; Safety; Food; Hygiene; Brined; Salted.