subject: Restaurant Equipment Guide to Commercial Refrigeration [print this page] Every restaurant needs refrigeration as it is the key to foodservice operations. The reach-in cooler is the most recognized piece of refrigeration equipment and provides convenience and long shelf life of your food products. There are many considerations to make when deciding on which type of refrigeration will work for you and this guide will assist you in walking through these steps.
Reach-in Refrigerators and Freezers
There are many types of coolers and freezers in the reach-in category. The most basic type is the single or two door cooler or freezer on casters. You can also get this in an under counter style or with countertop space and so on. We will not discuss any further than refrigeration in this article, as this will be discussed in another guide. A reach-in can be very cost effective when working with limited space.
When searching for a commercial refrigerator or freezer it is best to browse the internet for many different options and prices. There are many styles available in new and used, so be careful to choose wisely.
Walk-in Refrigerators and Freezers
The ability to store large amounts of product is only going to be accomplished with refrigerated space that allows it. Walk-in refrigeration can solve that problem, they come in many shapes and sizes for any application you could need.
You can purchase a walk-in cooler or freezer pre-fabricated or custom built. You will obviously have more options when custom building your refrigeration. They come in different size sections, usually two foot to four foot sections and have a tool needed to lock them together. For the most part, a simple box can be put together without experience. However, some more complicated designs may need an experienced installer when building the box.
Finding the Best Quality at the Lowest Price
There are many ways to purchase reach-in and walk-in refrigerators and freezers. Be sure to look at all options when deciding your purchase. The internet will almost always be your cheapest way if you find the right company. The problem here is that what happens if you need the item installed or set up? Also if you ever need the equipment serviced then you are stuck finding someone on your own.
A local dealer can be more expensive at times but usually handles all of the work that you would prefer not to. Do not hesitate to haggle on prices either. If you do your research online and find a good price then let them know and see if they can match it.
Restaurant Equipment Guide to Commercial Refrigeration
