Choosing the Best Commercial Refrigerator

When it comes to reach-in refrigerators and freezers, your two main options are single-door models and multiple-door models. Single-door models are perfect for storing prepared meats, produce, and garnishes that you plan to use throughout the day, while multi-door units are ideal for storing ingredients or prepared items in bulk.

Both types function like a standard residential unit, offering built-in shelves for efficient organization and large doors that swing open as needed. The upright design of reach-in refrigerators and freezers fits in most commercial spaces, and in an ideal kitchen layout, they would be located in or near the prep area or production line for easy access to ingredients and supplies.

• Best for: Standard storage tasks
• Restock: From walk-in cooler or freezer weekly or as needed

Roll-in refrigerators and roll-in freezers are specifically designed to accommodate wheeled food racks, which can be easily rolled in and out of the unit. They use built-in ramps for effortless loading, saving time and reducing physical strain on your employees. Roll-in units are particularly beneficial for cook-chill operations and are commonly found in catering businesses or facilities that require advanced food preparation.

For optimal efficiency, keep your roll-in refrigerator or freezer located in the prep area or adjacent to it for seamless transfer of food items between zones. Additionally, you can ensure foods remain out of the temperature danger zone by placing them in a blast chiller first, preventing freshly cooked batch meals from raising the internal temperature of the unit.

• Best for: Storing bulk prepared foods
• Restock: From walk-in cooler or freezer weekly or as needed

Pass-through refrigerators and pass-through freezers are specialized units designed with doors on both sides, providing a safe space to transfer items between two different areas of the kitchen, usually the prep area and the service station. When implemented correctly, pass-through refrigerators and freezers streamline the food prep process and minimize the risk of cross-contamination from improper handling.

Pass-through units are perfect for high-volume establishments where maintaining a separation between zones is essential, like school cafeterias, buffets, and healthcare facilities. They can also function as a de facto merchandiser in the right setting, allowing your back-of-house staff to stock them with product while front-of-house customers browse.

• Best for: Storing foods between kitchen zones
• Restock: With prepared foods on a case-by-case basis

Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers function as their own refrigerated room, providing ample space for storing large quantities of fresh or frozen ingredients. They can be purchased as individual units or built into your facility, offering a customized solution to your refrigeration needs. Their insulated walls, ceilings, and floors ensure complete temperature control, maintaining the desired conditions to keep your ingredients in ideal condition.

No matter what kind of walk-in unit you choose, they the most value in kitchens that require a significant amount of fresh or frozen stock, as well as high-volume foodservice establishments that need to store large quantities of ingredients daily. For optimal results, these units should be located in your receiving area or immediately adjacent to it, allowing you to take large shipments and place them directly inside, thereby reducing foot traffic in a busy kitchen.

• Best for: Large-scale ingredient storage
• Restock: As weekly or monthly shipments arrive

As their names suggest, undercounter refrigerators and undercounter freezers rest underneath countertops, making them an ideal refrigeration solution for establishments where space is at a premium. These compact units free up valuable floor space for other equipment, promoting a streamlined workflow in your kitchen.

Undercounter units are perfect for placement in prep areas, providing quick and easy access to commonly used ingredients and supplies. Additionally, they can be installed beneath a bar to store cocktail ingredients or mixes, keeping them within reach for bartenders and ensuring a smooth service. Undercounter refrigerators and freezers are also beneficial for use in pizzerias, sandwich shops, and catering businesses that frequently utilize the same ingredients.

• Best for: Compact ingredient storage
• Restock: From walk-in cooler or freezer weekly or as needed

Swing doors are the standard style of door that most people envision on a refrigerator or freezer. These units feature large, hinged doors that swing outwards towards the user for easy access to the contents inside. Depending on the layout of your kitchen, the swing door can be located on the left or right side. One of the key advantages of swing doors is that they are often designed to stay open if needed, facilitating the easy loading and unloading of items. Additionally, when open, swing doors provide an easy view of a unit’s entire contents, allowing for quick and efficient inventory management.

• Best for: Standard refrigeration needs
• Used on: All styles of refrigerators

Half doors offer a similar design to swing doors, with the key distinction being that they are split into two sections. This design allows you to open either the top half or the bottom half of the door, depending on your specific needs. The primary advantage of half doors is energy conservation and efficient temperature control. By only opening the door corresponding with the section of the refrigerator or freezer you're looking through, half doors prevent excess warm air from entering the unit unnecessarily, minimizing temperature fluctuations and reducing the workload on the refrigeration system.

• Best for: Temperature retention, energy efficiency
• Used on: Reach-in units

Drawer refrigeration doors feature a pull-out design, providing top-down access to your stored items. This design is especially convenient for undercounter units, where space conservation is key and easy item recognition is necessary. Drawer doors can also be built into larger units and used in combination with swing doors. This innovative setup allows you to enjoy the benefits of both types, providing flexibility and convenience in accessing your stored products.

• Best for: Convenient top-down storage
• Used on: Combination reach-in units, undercounter units

Strip curtains, or strip doors, provide a protective barrier that is easy to pass through while maintaining the desired temperature inside a walk-in unit. They typically consist of flexible plastic strips that are hung from the top of the doorway. When someone passes through the doorway, these overlapping, weighted strips quickly seal back together, keeping warm air in and cold air out to maintain optimal temperature control.

• Best for: Easy access for bulk storage and inventory
• Used on: Walk-in units