Hospitality establishments rely on a wide range of specialist infrastructure and technology to remain up and running. Keeping food and drink in top condition is essential both for safety reasons and for ensuring that customers are satisfied, where everything needs to be stored and maintained correctly.
As such, your commercial refrigerator will be one of the most important pieces of equipment that you will install in your facility. There are so many types of refrigerator that you can choose from, with various styles, sizes and layouts on offer, meaning you can find the perfect fit for your business.
Read on to find out more about the kinds of commercial fridges you can choose from, with a look at which models are best for various business requirements.
Why You Need a Commercial Fridge
You may be wondering what the distinction is between a commercial refrigerator and an everyday domestic fridge. Importantly, businesses should choose to install a purpose-built commercial fridge, because these are designed to suit the hospitality industry in a way that domestic fridges are not.
More specifically, commercial fridges are built with much more powerful compressors, where these allow the temperature of the unit to be maintained even when the door is opened regularly throughout a busy working day. This means that perishables will be kept at a safe temperature even when the fridge is accessed frequently.
Beyond this, commercial fridges are usually larger than domestic alternatives, appealing to the various storage needs of big businesses. They also come in a variety of styles and orientations, helping an establishment to find the perfect fit for their interior.
Your Commercial Fridge Guide
Depending on your business specialism, you will be able to find a commercial refrigerator that suits your needs.
Below, we take a look at some of the most popular commercial fridge types, discussing how they are typically used in the hospitality industry:
Raw Meat Fridges
One of the more specialist types of commercial refrigerator is the raw meat fridge. These installations are found in butchers and grocery stores, as well as in restaurants, where they work to keep meat colder than the temperature provided by a standard refrigerator. This is important to ensure lasting freshness and to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Drinks Fridges
Some refrigerators are specially designed to store drinks, where they can stand upright in a visible location to draw in customers. These are usually kept fully stocked for aesthetic appeal, with drinks cooled to a comfortable temperature for immediate consumption.
Some bars and restaurants will also choose to install an additional mini-bar fridge. These can sit on top of or under counter tops in order to provide extra storage space, where they are especially useful for providing quick access at busy peak times.
Upright Fridges
One of the most common options for restaurants, upright fridges are used to store a variety of perishable ingredients and pre-prepared dishes. These refrigerators are often designed to make the most of the space available, where they can be fitted up to the ceiling in a back room or storage area.
Upright fridges should be fitted in an area with easy access, so they can facilitate quick and efficient service throughout the day. They should also be organised in a manner that supports kitchen activity, helping to make the preparation process easier for busy chefs.
Under-Counter Fridges
Some hospitality venues will choose to install additional refrigeration equipment for front-of-house service, typically around the bar or countertop area. These can be fitted beneath the counter to ensure that this area remains tidy and clutter free, whilst allowing for quick access to cooled items. As such, these fridges can be used for storing drinks and other items that are served regularly at a bar.
Under-counter fridges can also be used in the kitchen and in preparation spaces for ease of access. They may be specially designed to store meat, fresh fruit or specialist sauces, helping to speed up the cooking process by reducing the number of visits made to large upright fridges.
Countertop Fridges
A countertop fridge can be used to provide additional storage space throughout a hospitality venue, where they work to display cooled items to customers whilst also making service easier for staff. Some facilities will install these fridges to prevent their staff from having to bend and reach unnecessarily, supporting the spinal health of their employees.
In particular, compact countertop refrigerators may come in handy at busy event venues, as they can be used to chill smaller quantities of food and beverages without the site having to accommodate a large commercial refrigerator.
Display Fridges
Some fridges are designed for display purposes rather than for practical storage. These can be used by deli counters, supermarkets and cafes to showcase products to browsing customers whilst keeping everything fresh and cold. As such, display fridges may have a horizontal design so customers can reach in or point to the items they want.
These units will have clear doors or windows to further facilitate their display function, and products will be arranged in a visually appealing manner. Some vendors may also add floral arrangements, handwritten labels or other accessories to further entice customers.
Storage Fridges
Storage refrigerators are an essential counterpart to display units, where these are usually kept out of sight in backroom areas. They may be upright or horizontal depending on the space options available in the commercial facility, allowing them to be packed with lots of perishable items that aren’t going to be required straight away.
Choosing the Right Size Fridge
All of the refrigerator styles discussed above can be designed in a variety of sizes, according to the needs of your establishment. As such, it is important to consider the space you have available in your building, where you may need to request a fridge that is specially designed to fit under countertops or in a small kitchenette.
Additionally, you should consider the kind of fridge capacity you require, as it is important to make sure that you have enough room to store all your perishables. Always choose a fridge that can accommodate all the stock for your busiest day, so you can be sure that you won’t run out of room.
Another key consideration will be your company budget. Some fridges are more expensive than others, so you may wish to choose a less desirable brand or a second-hand option to keep your costs to a minimum. Bear in mind that well-made fridges will have a longer lifespan, so you should look to balance cost with quality.
When deciding on a commercial refrigerator, you should also think carefully about your usage requirements. Ask yourself how accessible the fridge needs to be, whether it needs to be portable, and what kinds of items you will usually be storing. All of these factors will help you to make your final choice.
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