Commercial Refrigeration Guide for Every Type of Restaurant

Commercial Refrigeration Guide for Every Type of Restaurant

The best commercial freezers are essential for keeping food safe, regardless of how big or small your catering business is. Purchasing a commercial refrigerator might be a challenging task. They come in various forms, sizes, and costs, so it’s crucial to know what you’re looking for before you go shopping.

However, knowing where to begin while shopping for a commercial refrigerator might be challenging. How do you choose the ideal refrigerator for your requirements when so many different varieties are available? Continue reading to learn all you need to know.

Types of Refrigerators

There are two types of commercial refrigerators in catering establishments: walk-in and reach-in. Reach-ins are appropriate for smaller places like a café or food trucks, whereas walk-ins are best for larger locations like restaurants.

However, there are many other types of refrigerators within all of these broad categories, such as box-style units with storage, slide-out models, side-by-side refrigerators, and freezers with additional versatility for keeping numerous goods at once, as well as top loaders.

To provide the most satisfactory service to your clients, you must evaluate the best sorts of refrigerators and how they fit into your establishment’s demands. Here’s a little more on each type of refrigerator and how they may help your business:

Bar Refrigerator. Bar refrigerators are used in pubs, clubs, restaurants, and hotels for keeping alcohol, beer, and wine. They are tiny units that fit under countertops and feature a transparent door that allows the contents to be viewed outside. This facilitates stock-taking and allows bartenders to serve clients more quickly.

Bar refrigerators are mainly intended for use behind the bar and are extremely handy for keeping beverages and other bar supplies such as fruit and garnishes.

Refrigerator Freezer. This style of two-in-one equipment, which features both a fridge and a freezer, is ideal for smaller catering enterprises such as cafés, bakeries, and small restaurants. These come in various sizes, from tiny to large, and are made of robust stainless steel with back-lit displays.

They may be used to store both chilled and frozen food and liquids and non-perishable items.

Walk-In Refrigerator. Walk-in refrigerators are precisely what they sound like: a refrigerator you can walk into. They’re common in bigger businesses like restaurants, hotels, and schools. They are tiny rooms, but they are excellent at maintaining a consistent temperature and reducing cross-contamination between items.

These commercial refrigerators are best suited to major catering enterprises that demand enormous volumes or storage capacities. Walk-in refrigerators come in various sizes, from tiny to extra-large, and are generally adjustable to fit your needs.

Refrigerator Display. A refrigerator display can be found in a business restaurant, café, motel, or even a fresh food market. This typically comprises one big and numerous smaller individual units meant to display perishable commodities for sale and non-perishables such as eggs and dairy products.

These displays frequently include an insulated door so that the contents are not ruined by heat from the unit’s exterior while also ensuring that clients do not access any chilled items until they have paid at the register.

Merchandiser Refrigerators. A merchandiser refrigerator can be found in the chilled section of your local supermarket. Full-sized and half-sized are the most common sizes. These are ideal for supermarkets, convenience shops, and even large restaurants.

They are frequently used to exhibit items and are open so that buyers may pick and select what they want. They also feature strong motors that maintain a consistent temperature while preventing cross-contamination between the various goods stored within.

What to Look for When Buying a Refrigerator

So, now that you know a little more about the many types of refrigerators on the market, let’s have a look at what you should think about before buying one:

Material. Stainless steel is used in the most excellent commercial refrigerators. Aluminum and plastic variants should be avoided since they are less sturdy and will not last as long. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is exceptionally robust and durable. It’s also effortless to keep clean.

Power Usage. It’s also vital to think about power consumption because larger equipment uses more electricity, which may add up quickly.

Size. Because the best commercial refrigerators come in various sizes, it’s wise to figure out what you’ll need before going shopping. Depending on how much room you have, a fridge should be the right size for your purposes.

It would be best to examine what it will hold so that you don’t get a huge one when you only need something for beverages or vice versa. You don’t want to waste food due to a shortage of storage, so look for something that will accommodate your current needs and future events without requiring any alterations or additions.

Insulation. Foam insulation is used in the most energy-efficient refrigerators to minimize the amount of electricity required to maintain a cool temperature inside. It will keep the food fresher for longer and is perfect for commercial use.

Ensure your refrigerator is insulated with at least 2 inches of quality insulation foam while seeking the greatest refrigeration. It will save you money on electricity and ensure that the contents of your refrigerator are sold. Cheaper models employ solid foam blocks as insulation, which is ineffective long-term.

Energy Star Rating. The best commercial refrigerators should have a low energy rating, which means they’re built to save energy and electricity. These are the finest refrigerators if you want to save money on power costs in the long run since they consume less energy than others without losing quality or functionality.

It is also more environmentally friendly. Choose a fridge with an efficiency rating of A or above.

Door Handle. It may seem strange to think about a door handle, but refrigerators should have one that is easy to grasp. This keeps you from fighting to open the fridge, which is especially important if it’s hefty. You manage a busy catering facility where the refrigerator is opened and closed hundreds of times each day.

Furthermore, door handlebars are not always long-lasting and might pop off or become loose after regular usage or high-volume servicing. Full-length door handles are ideal since they are more functional and prevent dust and filth from collecting.

Welded Corners. Welded corners prevent food from being stuck in fridge seams, accumulating dust, snagging on clothing, and are less susceptible to ordinary wear and tear. You’ll find it simpler to clean the outside of your fridge if it’s well-built and welded, and fridges with non-welded corners are often less well-made.

Interior Capacity. It would be best to have an idea of the interior capacity you’ll require before selecting the ideal refrigerator for your business. You can store more food with a large internal capacity. If you plan to store complete pots and pans in your refrigerator, you’ll need a larger capacity than if you’re only storing veggies.

Ventilation System. Some refrigerators include ventilation systems that control temperature and pressure, ensuring that everything inside stays cool even when it’s hot outside.

This provides consistent performance without wasting power because your refrigerator will retain its coolness regardless of what happens outside. Ventilated versions are more expensive up front, but they save money and reduce stress over time when purchased at the most excellent pricing.

Condensing Unit. For maximum efficiency, the best commercial refrigerators should have a condensing unit. This means it will maintain low temperatures without wasting power, making it ideal for busy catering firms, restaurants, or other organizations that require constant cooling.

Maintenance, serviceability, and cleaning will be easier with an absorbent cooling system positioned at the bottom since your team will not need a ladder.

Temperature Control. The most excellent commercial refrigerators should maintain a steady temperature to keep food fresh for as long as feasible. It is because all food should be maintained between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, it will quickly deteriorate or go bad.

Standard temperature ranges will aid you in your endeavor. Digital temperature controls are also beneficial since they are simple to operate and more accurate than some of the other alternatives.

Security. Commercial refrigerators benefit from additional security features such as locking doors. This prevents food theft from your refrigerator by ensuring that no one can get into it without authorization. It also ensures that the fridge door is less likely to be left open, potentially ruining the contents.

Price. You’ll need to figure out your budget before deciding on a refrigerator to know what you can buy. The best commercial refrigerators come in various pricing ranges, so shop around until you discover one that meets your requirements. However, they might cost anything from $400 to $8000.

Warranty. The refrigerator’s warranty is another thing to think about. This will guarantee that it lasts as long as possible and that you can quickly fix or replace anything if something goes wrong.

Most commercial refrigerators have warranties ranging from one to five years, although others only provide 90 days of coverage. So, before you buy, double-check the warranty.

Ease of Cleaning. Cleaning commercial refrigerators should be simple. Some feature doors that open almost entirely, making it easy to clean up spills on the inside. They also feature detachable shelves, which help clean behind them.

Overall, knowing which commercial refrigerator is best might be challenging when you’re in the market. When purchasing a commercial refrigerator, there are several factors to consider.

However, ideally, this guide will assist you in identifying the many features and benefits of refrigerators and some considerations for consumers looking for commercial fridges that will keep their food fresh for longer or be energy efficient.

If you’re ready to purchase commercial refrigerators, you should now have a better idea of what to anticipate and make an informed decision on which one is best.