With so many refrigeration equipment options available, it can be overwhelming to determine which products are essential for your specific needs and to help your business become more streamlined whether in terms of food production or display. To help you along the way, we look at the top 15 essential pieces of commercial refrigeration that every commercial catering outlet should have.
For Food Service & Catering Kitchens
1. Storage Fridges and Freezers
Storage fridges and freezers are available in various sizes, from single-door models to double or even triple-door options. Storage fridges and freezers in your commercial kitchen will make storing large quantities of food items and other ingredients or supplies easier.
Storage refrigeration is often situated in ambient temperatures in separate storage areas however catering refrgeration is also available and is designed to be positioned in higher ambient temperatures. This means it can be placed closer to the main kitchen area where temperatures from cooking equipment make the environment hotter. Read more about The Difference Between Storage and Catering Refrigeration.
Many storage fridges and freezers are GN-compatible, making them highly efficient when it comes to organisation. Foods can be transferred in larger quantities easily between fridges, cold rooms and even commercial ovens.
2. Chest Freezers
Commercial chest freezers are ideal storage solutions for large volumes of food items. They have ample capacity storage, perfect for catering operations that require quick and easy access to ingredients or sides in bulk. Baskets are available to help with organisation of contents. Some chest freezers also come with stainless steel lids which can double up as a food prep surface - an added bonus.
3. Cold Rooms and Freezer Rooms
Cold rooms and freezer rooms are the best options for extra-large storage needs. These walk-in cold store rooms provide plenty of space for storing large quantities of food items, making them great for busy commercial kitchens with high storage requirements. There are plenty of standard 'off the shelf' room sizes available however if you're looking for something a little more specific, bespoke layouts can be arranged. The flexibility when it comes to design makes it easy to customise your storage space while accessorising with shelving, lighting and door curtains further adds to the storage capabilities of these rooms.
4. Blast Chillers and Freezers
Blast chillers and freezers are essential refrigeration equipment for any commercial kitchen with regards to food safety. By rapidly chilling or freezing food down per HACCP guidelines these units are a firm essential in any catering environment. Blast chillers can be used to rapidly cool cooked foods from 70°C to 3°C in 90 minutes and freeze from 70°C to -18°C in 240 minutes, reducing the risk of harmful bacteria.
5. Refrigerated Drawers
Refrigerated drawers can be used at fridge or freezer temperatures for total versatility when it comes to food storage. Perfect for efficiently organising food items, there are multiple configurations available with single, double and triple drawer options. Adande models also allow for hot or cold applications to support additional kitchen equipment, use as a simple under counter drawer or as a passthrough unit accessible from both front and back.
They are designed with storage flexibility, each drawer being GN compatible. For added convenience Adande drawers can also be manuactured with an integral blast chilling feature to combine the functionality of the equipment.
6. Food Prep Counters
Preparation counters are ideal for keeping ingredients at their correct temperatures in busy commercial kitchens. These storage units provide space for prepping and storing multiple ingredients at once, allowing you to keep all your raw ingredients organised and easily accessible when needed. Plus, some prep counter models come with GN-compatible refrigerated storage that help to further organise ingredients.
7. Countertop Refrigeration
Countertop refrigeration is an excellent option for commercial kitchens due to their easy placement directly onto existing worktops or prep counters. This chilled storage solution is great for any commercial kitchen that requires quick and easy access to ingredients, such as sandwich shops or pizza counters.
These GN-compatible storage units provide additional storage options and enhanced organisation of regularly used toppings or ingredients. The versatility of countertop refrigeration means that not only can it prove beneficial in back of house food prep areas but can be just as effective when used front of house in foodservice businesses to display fresh sandwich fillings or pizza toppings.
For Bars & Bars
8. Bottle Coolers
Commercial bottle coolers offer chilled storage for bottles and cans in a bar environment. Not only ensuring drinks are held at optimum serving temperature these bottle fridges also attractively display contents to advertise to the customer what's available. There are multiple size options to choose from with single, double or triple doors. The upright or under-counter options enable you to easily position bar fridges in a convenient back bar layout while sliding and hinged doors make accessing the fridge quick and easy.
9. Wine Coolers
Commercial wine coolers are essential storage equipment for any bar or restaurant serving wine. Wine coolers help protect delicate wines from direct light by having tinted glass doors while also controlling humidity levels and temperatures within the storage space. This storage solution is perfect for those looking to store their wines in ideal storage conditions.
10. Ice Machines
Commercial ice machines are critical for any bar that serves cold drinks or cocktails. Producing large quantities of ice in cubes, flakes or other shapes, ice is not only created but can also be stored until required. Ice machines are available as integral units with the ice bin built in or as a modular design that allows you to choose the storage bin that best suits your storage needs.
Ice flakers may also be used in kitchens for blanching foods and fishmongers or supermarkets where fresh fish needs to sit on a bed of ice to remain in premium condition.
For Shops & Cafes
11. Display Fridges and Freezers
Display fridges and freezers are great storage solutions for retail environments where customers can easily access goodies such as chilled foods, dairy products and cold beverages. These storage units come in single, double and triple-door sizes in a tall upright design or as countertop refrigeration alternatives complete with glass doors.
These glass door chillers and freezers provide plenty of space with multi-level shelving for all your storage needs while offering temperature control settings to keep food items cold or frozen. Glass door fridges are sometimes also used in kitchen settings where chefs can clearly see contents and locate the stock they need without needing to open the door.
Island freezers are also a great display alternative to a chest freezer. Designed to be positioned centrally on a shop floor, units can be suited together to create a group of equipment that customers can move around. With standard freezers and end units or head cases available, configurations can be tailored to individual business needs.
12. Multidecks
Multidecks are multi-tier storage units specially designed for shops that require product storage combined with attractive, easy to access display. They come with integral or remote refrigeration systems, with freezer temperatures, slimline models, lockable with shutters, and storage units with door options available. Multideck fridges are perfect for those looking to make the most of their storage space and encourage grab-and-go style, impulse purchases.
13. Serve Over Counters
Serve over counters are essential for any shop or business that offers a range of cold foods and ingredients. The deck area allows product to be attractively laid out and displayed to customers with staff able to easily access produce from the rear of the counter. Many serve over counters also feature ambient shelving for additional items and also understorage to hold additional stock. These storage units come in slimline, deep deck and standard sizes, offering temperature control settings to keep food items at the correct temperatures whilst on display. Serveover counter units are available specifically for general, meat or fish storage.
14. Ice Cream Refrigeration
Ice cream refrigeration is another great storage option for those setting up a retail space where customers can easily access their favourite ice creams and cold treats. These refrigeration units come in compact integrated countertops and larger soft scoop display counters. Able to hold optimum serving temperatures, ice cream is clearly displayed an easy to serve.
As soft scoop displays are only intended as temporary storage during daytime serving hours, ice cream storage refrigeration is also available. This holds ice creams or gelato for longer periods without the formation of ice crystals which can damage delicate products.
15. Cake Displays
Cake displays are perfect solutions for bakeries and cafes that want to showcase freshly baked cakes. These storage units come in rotating and static models, perfect for businesses looking to draw customers into their retail space with an attractive display of cakes and pastries. The display unit also comes with temperature control settings which allow you to store cakes or other treats at the correct temperatures and in premium condition until they are ready to be served.
For a more indepth look and recommendations of specific commercial refrigeration equipment for business with every budget take a look at 7 Commercial Refrigeration Essentials for Every Budget.
Commercial refrigeration offers numerous storage and display options, from bottle coolers to ice cream refrigeration, that meet the needs of bars, shops, bakeries and cafes. As refrigerated units are available in multiple sizes and styles, there’s sure to be a solution that meets your storage needs. When choosing storage equipment for any business, consider temperature control settings and other features that will help you keep products at their optimal storage temperatures during their lifespan. With the right storage and display refrigeration, you can be sure that all your products are stored in ideal conditions.
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