Big Supply Of Frozen Hot Cross Buns Planned

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29800, 17 April 1962, Page 17

Big Supply Of Frozen Hot Cross Buns Planned

Deep-frozen hot cross buns will be on sale in Christchurch this week in addition to normal supplies of freshlybaked buns.

One large city bakery has been making buns since January, wrapping them in half-dozen lots in cellulose paper and aluminium foil, and deep-freezing them.

The method has enabled the firm to provide a large supply of buns without interfering with its normal baking schedule. The buns, which will be displayed in frozen food cabinets in shops, will be still frozen when sold. The shopper can store the package in a refrigerator. When required, the buns can be thawed until soft, then heated in an over for three or four minutes, according to directions on the packageFrozen buns have been marketed in Wellington and in the southern part of the North Island in previous years but this is the first time that they

have been offered in a large quantity in Christchurch. A second firm, which specialises in hot cross buns every Easter, will put aside its normal baking of pies and small goods, to make 7000 dozen fresh buns, 500 dozen more than last year. Last Saturday the firm began preparing the ingredients. Baking will begin at 5 a.m. on Wednesday and continue until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, with members of the staff working in shifts. Another major bun supplier will bake fewer buns than usual because, with its present staff shortage, it is unable to supply both buns and its normal bread orders. A spokesman said the firm might try the frozen method next year. Most of the small bakeries in the city will also supply fresh hot cross buns.