Five Refrigeration Considerations For Commercial Use

If you operate a commercial-grade kitchen, you’ll know just how important it is to have the right equipment on hand. In the catering industry, consistency and speed are crucial; customers expect quality food and top-notch service each and every time, neither of which are possible if you don’t have access to the right appliances.

An unsung hero of any busy kitchen is the refrigerator. If you’re planning on upgrading yours – or are setting up a commercial kitchen of your own for the first time – it’s important to choose a fridge that ticks all your boxes.

To help you decide which appliance is right for you, we’ve put together a quick and simple commercial refrigeration buying guide, listing five of the most vital aspects you need to take into account when shopping. With so many different options available to you, narrowing down your selection and homing in on the perfect appliance is harder than ever – but we hope the following pointers will help you do exactly that.

Storage capacity

There are tonnes of different sizes and configurations of home fridges out there, and the same applies to commercial-grade models too. From compact countertop fridges through to vast upright units, the options are practically endless – so it’s always a good idea to work out how much space you need before shopping for a new fridge.

To get started, try to think about which ingredients you use on a weekly basis and work out how much space these will occupy. Always ensure you leave enough space left over too, just in case – it’s better to have a little extra space than to run out of room.

Once you’ve worked out how much storage space you need, measure your kitchen and see how much room you have to work with. It’s not just the internal storage space that matters, but the external dimensions of the refrigerator too. In some cases, two smaller units may fit your space better than one large one.

Don’t forget to allow extra space for the fridge doors to open, too. If you choose a double-door model, for instance, you’ll need to allow enough room on both sides for the doors to swing open fully.

Energy efficiency

In today’s world of high energy prices and heightened environmental awareness, energy efficiency is a more important consideration than it’s ever been. Although modern commercial fridge units are far more efficient than their forebears on the whole, some models use far more energy than others. 

It’s always worth checking the appliance’s energy label, not just to see its efficiency rating (from A to G) but to work out how much energy it’s likely to use on a yearly or monthly basis. Because fridges operate constantly, they’re usually one of the most expensive appliances to run – so opting for a more energy efficient model could save you money in the long run. 

Features and settings

As we touched on earlier, quality and consistency are all-important in a professional kitchen. You need to be sure that, every time you retrieve ingredients from the fridge, they’re fresh and ready to use. 

To maintain the freshness of perishable ingredients, the internal temperature of your fridge has to be just right – so a precise temperature setting is an absolute necessity. Drinks are often at their best when they’re stored at a slightly higher temperature, while meat and dairy products are best kept at a cooler temperature to maintain their freshness. With that in mind, having the ability to alter the temperature of your fridge easily and precisely is crucial.

Look out for other handy features too, like integrated LED lighting, a temperature display, lockable doors and adjustable shelving.

Design and layout

The layout of your fridge matters almost as much as the amount of internal space it has. For instance, if the shelves inside are placed too far apart and space is being wasted, you’d be better off with a smaller, better-designed fridge that’s cheaper to run. A smaller, better-organised fridge can often accommodate just as many ingredients as a larger (but less-well-designed) model. 

For this reason, adjustable shelving is well worth having in any commercial refrigerator. The ability to change up the layout of your fridge allows you to take advantage of every square inch, saving valuable space in your kitchen and keeping everything neat and tidy.

Quality and durability

You need to be able to depend on your fridge to work flawlessly and keep your ingredients fresh, day and night, 365 days a year. If that doesn’t sum up the importance of a commercial fridge, we don’t know what would. 

Choosing a quality appliance you can depend on is absolutely essential – you need a brand you can trust and a product that’s proven itself in commercial kitchens like yours. Always do your research and check customer reviews to make sure you’re shopping with a brand you can depend on – and don’t forget to look into the warranty and aftersales support the company offers too.