Commercial Fridges and Freezers

Kinds Of Fridges

These industrial-sized coolers are specifically designed for commercial kitchens. A regular household fridge may be opened a few times across the day; in contrast, a commercial refrigerator could be opened and shut constantly over some time. Therefore, it is integral to know that if freezer and fridge doors are expected to open repeatedly, they should come with a rapid cold recovery rate. 

If they don't have a fast cold retention rate, they may have to stress harder during operation to maintain storage temperature. Restaurant freezers and fridges are built with robust compressors, have sturdy designs, and are frequently fan-assisted. 

Keep reading for more information on the different kinds of cooling devices for busy kitchens:

Upright Fridges

Commercial upright fridges offer massive capacities without taking up excessive floor space. The single-door unit can smoothly fit into crowded or tight kitchen spaces; whereas, the more expansive double-door commercial upright fridge provides even higher storage capacity compared to other types of commercial refrigerators, barring walk-in chillers. 

Counter Fridges

Counter fridges join together a durable worktop (for meal preparation) with a chilled storage compartment. A suitable solution for commercial kitchens that require extra space, these models are generally waist-high and ensure easy access to items stored in the chiller. Counter fridges are also usually quite robust and stain-proof because they are made using stainless steel. Moreover, this unit is simple to clean and can fulfil multiple purposes in the kitchen, making it a versatile piece of commercial kitchen equipment.    

Prep Fridges

In terms of design, prep fridges are similar to counter fridges. They offer convenient under-bench storage along with a functional work surface. These models provide even higher versatility than other fridges by having counter-top storage for various ingredients, fillings, produce, or condiments. Prep fridges help make a quick meal and are ideal for restaurants serving sandwiches, pizza, or salad.

Under-Counter Fridges

Under-counter fridges are lightweight, compact units meant to fit easily under worktops. They allow all necessary ingredients to be stored within reach and without obstructing counter space. Furthermore, they come with robust doors and work with minimal disruption, and therefore, they are ideal for front-of-house areas or in less-demanding commercial kitchens. 

Commercial Freezers Sizes

How much room is available in the kitchen?  How much space is required? Capacity and size are the two most vital aspects to consider before purchasing kitchen appliances like commercial ovens, fridges, and freezers.

Sizes

Always measure the dimensions of the kitchen and the prospective fridge to ensure a tight space-saving fit. Upright commercial freezers only require floor space. However, with heights up to two meters, it's best to ensure that kitchen ceilings are high enough to accommodate the units.  

Under-counter commercial fridges come with heights of about 840mm, which means they can smoothly fit under standard worktops. On the other hand, counter commercial freezers are a bit higher. It's best to check the height of the counter to ascertain a comfortable and convenient meal preparation — make sure it's near the waist height. Moreover, when measuring, don't forget to check if it comes with castor wheels; they add to its overall size; however, they provide mobility. 

Additionally, their length will primarily be based on doors and capacity. The smallest unit in the market may be around 600mm wide, and the four-door commercial units may hit three meters.

Capacity

Never purchase a tiny fridge as it will risk not only the food but also other items. Also, don't buy a huge fridge or freezer because they can take up too much kitchen space; besides that, they are expensive to run. 

Upright commercial freezers provide the most capacity because of their vertical storage. Some double-door freezers and fridges offer more than 1200 litres; on the contrary, the single-door unit provides anywhere between 350 to 610 litres.

Under-counter and counter commercial fridges and freezers' have varying capacities, based on doors and length. The biggest four-door units can offer as high as 900 litres; whereas, the smallest single-door under-bench fridge provides a total of about 150 litres to store perishables. 

Features Of Commercial Fridges And Freezers

Apart from the capacity and size of commercial freezers, there are many other features essential to consider before making a purchase decision:

Tropical Rating

These ratings denote the highest room temperature that the unit can function in. If the room temperature in the commercial kitchen tends to climb over 32°C, a tropical-rated display fridge and freezer is the go-to option. These units can efficiently operate at room temperatures as high as 43°C, which is easy to achieve if commercial cooktops are functioning in the same room. 

Energy Efficiency

The higher the efficiency of a display freezer, the lower the running cost. Therefore, features like self-closing doors and additional insulation, etc., will help save money and energy. Moat appliances, including solid-door commercial food warmers, come with energy efficiency ratings to help buyers decide based on their energy usage.

Auto-Defrost

Commercial cooling units may develop an ice build-up after a while. This will minimize the lifespan and performance of the device, be it a display fridge, walk-in, or commercial bar fridge. That's why many professional commercial fridges come with an embedded automatic defrost systems. However, if the unit comes without an auto-defrost system, the ice build-up must be manually defrosted.

Security

Contents kept in a freezer must maintain their freshness because the service for the entire day depends on them, especially if it's fish or meat. In a busy kitchen with repetitive back and forth between the fridge and the stove, at times, the doors can be left open. Therefore, for peace of mind, make sure to invest money in a commercial refrigerator with locking doors for stock security.

Doors

Self-closing doors are beneficial and help save both money and energy. Even some commercial ovens come with a pedal mechanism that opens the door automatically without chefs and kitchen aids having to touch the door — It's much more hygienic.

Access

How frequently will the unit be accessed? A lighter-duty freezer is ideal for low usage. However, a heavy-duty fridge or freezer is perfect for frequent reopenings as they come with compressors strong enough to ensure that storage temperature is maintained.        

Commercial freezers fridges are stronger and more durable than domestic variants and can easily store a large number of food items and ingredients. Furthermore, they provide increased cooling and easy access. Therefore, for incredible deals on commercial freezers, fridges, and displays, shop from ArchiPro! 

If you need assistance to find the right commercial fridges and freezers for your home or office, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.