Behind every can that reaches your table lies a carefully managed process, step by step, designed to keep the flavour of the sea intact. In this article we explain how we make our preserves at Conservas Rías Baixas, from the moment the fish and shellfish arrive to the final sealing of the can, so you can understand why every product that leaves our factory responds to the same commitment: quality, tradition and rigour at every stage.
From the fish market to the factory: the raw material
Everything begins with the selection of the raw material. We work with quality fish and shellfish, mostly sourced from our Galician surroundings, and we receive it at our facilities in Moaña in the best possible conditions of freshness. Before any process begins, the product goes through checks that determine whether it meets the standards required to become one of our preserves. This stage is decisive: no technique further down the line can make up for raw material that isn’t excellent from the start.
Our factory has freezing and thawing chambers that let us manage the product in an orderly way according to the needs of each recipe and each can format. This capacity for organisation is one of the keys to how we make our preserves with the consistency our customers expect from us.
How we make our preserves: cleaning, cooking and packing
Once the raw material has been selected, the actual process begins. The fish and shellfish are cleaned, prepared according to the final product being made, and cooked following recipes that combine traditional Galician preserve-making with the controls required by today’s food industry. Then comes the packing: we have three packing lines that allow us to work with the most common can formats in Spain, and six closing lines that guarantee an airtight, secure seal on every unit.
- Receiving and checking fresh or frozen raw material.
- Cleaning, preparation and cutting according to the product.
- Cooking following our own recipes.
- Packing in the corresponding format.
- Adding oil, sauce or broth depending on the product line.
- Airtight sealing of the can.
Sterilisation and quality control
After sealing, the cans go through our large-capacity autoclaves, where they undergo a thermal process that guarantees food safety and allows the product to keep in perfect condition for years without the need for added preservatives. It is one of the most delicate steps in the whole process, because both the safety of the product and the preservation of its texture and flavour depend on it.
We also have a can washing and drying line and our own laboratory, where samples from every batch are checked. Nothing leaves our factory without going through these controls. That, ultimately, is how we make our preserves: with standardised processes, but with the artisan attention of people who have spent generations dedicated to this craft in Galicia.
Formats and variety: a process designed for each product
Not all preserves are made in exactly the same way, even though they share the same underlying philosophy. Depending on the final product, we work with different can formats, from the smallest to the largest capacity, which means adjusting cooking times, amounts of oil or sauce, and sterilisation parameters in each case. This variety is possible because we have several packing and closing lines running in parallel, as well as our own laboratory where the parameters of each batch are checked before it is approved.
This ability to adapt is, in fact, a largely invisible but essential part of how we make our preserves: it isn’t about mechanically repeating the same process every time, but about adjusting each stage to the specific needs of the product being made at that moment, whether it’s a delicate fish or a shellfish that requires different treatment.
A craft with history behind it
This way of working hasn’t come from nowhere. It is the result of more than a century of preserve-making experience, which you can learn more about in the history of Conservas Rías Baixas, from the origins of the Iglesias family in Cangas to today’s factory in Moaña. That journey explains why we continue to defend a carefully managed process over the shortcuts of mass production.
If you want to see the result of this whole process, we invite you to discover our selection of preserves in our online shop, and if you’re looking for inspiration to enjoy them, don’t miss our recipes with Galician preserves. Every can is the result of a process designed to bring the sea to your table with every guarantee.
If you have questions about a specific product or would like more information about how we make our preserves, you can get in touch with us through our contact page. We’ll be happy to explain any aspect of our production process in more detail.
