In the hospitality- food business, commercial refrigeration is a must. Foods, goods and products for serving or selling have to be stored well to keep their quality and freshness. A commercial refrigerator is different from the fridge used at home- it is used as a facility in running a business so that foods, drinks and goods are stored properly, for a longer time to keep them healthy and ready, fantastically tasty to be served or sold. A fridge for business is bigger than a home refrigerator. If you’re planning to run a business and need to buy a commercial refrigerator, what are some tips to consider?
- Size and Location. Where the refrigerator is going to be placed? A dark area? A better option is to buy a fridge with sufficient lighting, able to switch on its own when opened. How big or small is the kitchen? Consider the area wherein the fridge is going to be installed- the freezer has to fit right, otherwise your food preparations could be distracted.
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Material. Commercial fridge and freezers are usually made of stainless material for easy maintenance. Stainless steel refrigerators are more expensive because of their durability but more economical for the long term. Most restaurants, bars, grocery stores, hotels and motels use stainless steel commercial refrigerators
- Temperature Range and Capacity.Think about the quantity of foods, drinks and goods that need to be preserved. Are these going to be stored in bulks according to the need of your business? How many shelves are apt to be able to hold and keep the goods? What type of products are you going to store? Check the temperature range of the chiller to maximize the shelf life of your products. Meat and frozen goods have different storage temperature requirement than medicines, for instance.
- There are different types of commercial refrigeration. Consider what type is most ideal for your business:
- Walk- In Refrigerator. Large restaurants that need to store items by bulk find it practical to use walk-in refrigerators because of the multi-shelving option that enables maximum organization. A walk-in fridge is either equipped with its own floor or should be installed on an existing floor.
- Reach- In Fridge and Freezer. Back of the house operations find really functional an upright reach-in fridge and freezer. You can choose to buy a solid or glass door refrigerator, or full length door or Dutch style double half door.
- Underbar Fridge. These are shorter and smaller refrigerators stored in small spaces and commercial kitchen areas. Few ingredients are kept in an underbar fridge, only as needed. Underbar fridges are ideal for clubs and bars where cocktails and blended drinks are served.
- Prep Tables. Restaurants that serve salads, sandwiches and pizza use prep tables. These fridges have storage well features to keep ingredients fresh and cold, and drawers to hold salad dressings, dips and sauces.
- Glass- Door Fridge. If you want to display your merchandise, opt to buy a glass door fridge, particularly if these products have a short shelf life. Bakeries, grocery stores and restaurants that have take out service often use glass- door fridges.
In the food and beverage retail industry, commercial refrigeration is indispensable. Fridge, chillers and other cooling equipment preserve the quality of foods and goods- a major determining factor that can make the success of a business.
