Commercial refrigeration is used by many industries and businesses, but the type of refrigeration unit will depend on the industry and the needs of the individual business. You’ll need to know at least a little about the various types before you set up your own refrigeration, to ensure you’re looking at the right choices.
Cooling is necessary for such a wide range of industries that there must be multiple types of cold rooms and refrigerators. If you walk through a supermarket, you’ll see multiple options, for example. Upright freezers and fridges where you can get milk and frozen goods, open chilled chests for meat, open units where you’ll find vegetables and dairy products, plus chilled prep tables in the deli area. There are many options for all the various needs, so which ones do you need?
The actual refrigeration unit that your business requires will depend greatly on how it will be sued. From cold rooms to prep tables and everything in between, there’s a cold space for every single use. Read on to learn more about the various types of cooling units.
Reach-In Units
The reach-in refrigerator is one of the most common types of refrigeration units used in any industry that sells food. This is the sort of fridge that is found in hotels and restaurants, as well as any commercial kitchen and is quite a bit like a home refrigerator. However, these cooling units are much larger and provide extra storage space to meet the needs of a commercial kitchen.
This type of refrigerator may have metal or glass doors, depending on whether you need to see what’s inside and the doors may slide or swing out, depending on space requirements. In tight spaces, sliding doors permit the unit to fit into a very narrow space, while still remaining accessible. Some people prefer doors that swing open, as they provide more space for sliding trays in.
Some of these refrigerators open on both sides so that you can pass items between two sections of the kitchen. The main purpose of the reach-in refrigerator is to quickly cool foods or store prepared sauces and items for easy access at any point during the day. It’s essentially a cooled storage space where food may be stored for immediate use.
Commercial reach-in refrigerator chambers are also meant for restaurant use, so they may provide extra slots for trays so you can cool large amounts of food at once. They’ll also provide space for setting in containers that need to be kept cool, as well.
There are also reach-in freezers for when food or dishes must be maintained at a lower temperature. These almost always use solid doors to help keep the temperature at a low level.
Walk-in Units
A walk-in refrigerator or cold room is just what you need for a larger commercial kitchen or any business that must maintain products at a specific temperature. This includes supermarkets, commercial kitchens, pharmacies, and laboratories, among many others.
A walk-in unit is very specific to the business. You can determine what size you need and have it built to your specifications. While there are some standard cold rooms, many are bespoke and will suit your exact needs.
When ordering a cold room, you should know exactly what size you need and ensure it’s large enough to handle all of your products that require chilling, as well as a little extra space for future expansion. You will also need to know what temperature you need the room at since this will affect the system that is installed.
In some cases, businesses may require more than one cold room. For example, a supermarket will need a walk-in freezer for frozen products and ice, as well as a cold room for vegetables and fruits that require a much higher temperature. This also goes for labs and pharmacies, which may have different requirements for medications.
Refrigerated Prep Tables
A cooled prep table allows for chefs or sous chefs to prepare food rapidly without the need to go into the refrigerator every time they need an ingredient. When preparing things like pizzas or sandwiches, this can be quite useful, as they will be using the ingredients frequently, but cannot leave them out at room temperature. These prep tables are often used in delis, cafeterias, and diners where the same types of food need to be prepared repeatedly and it’s easiest to keep the basic ingredients or dishes ready for serving.
The prep table consists of a section of container slots where ingredient containers, usually metal, can be dropped in. The table is kept cool so the food won’t spoil and it can be used all day long this way. It’s similar to a hot table but the exact opposite and can also be used for serving completed dishes that may require chilling, such as gelatine-based dishes, potato salad, cold soups, fruit salad, etc.
Bar Refrigeration
Any business that manages alcohol will understand the need to keep the drinks chilled. Some, such as white wine, should be kept at a very specific temperature and may require their own refrigerator.
While most bar fridges are similar to reach-in refrigerators, they can be tailored to the needs of the bar. For example, an under-counter cooling unit allows the storage of beers and other bottled beverages within reach of the bartender, but out of sight of the clients. Larger bar refrigerators will often be designed to look nice and fit into the décor, either with black doors or glass to allow for easy assessment of the stock.
It’s also possible to have refrigerated draft dispensers to allow for beers on tap that are chilled, yet readily accessible for pouring.
Store Refrigerators
Finally, for storefronts, large refrigerators can be used to display items that must be kept cool. These range from drinks to dairy products and come in a range of sizes and shapes. Drink refrigerators usually have glass doors that swing or slide, depending on how much space you have available, allowing the customer to see what is available.
This type of cooling unit is also used in pharmacies where cooled medicines must be easily accessible, and in small shops to provide a variety of food and drink at the right temperature.
Open-air refrigerators are frequently used for fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products. These cool the items but are open so the products may be easily selected by customers. This type of cooling unit may be created in a variety of designs to perfectly fit the store design.
Choosing the Right Option
If you’re not sure which type of cooling unit is best for your particular business, there are a few ways to help you make the decision.
First, you should look at what other businesses of the same type are using. If you run a supermarket, look at other supermarkets, for example. This can give you a better idea of how to arrange everything and what the cooling units look like. It’s very important that you take the time to consider how much space you need for cooling. What is your business? How many products do you expect to move that will require temperature control? Which type of refrigeration or freezer unit is most compatible with your company?
You’ll need to consider how much space you have in your business, what your needs are, and whether you need easy access or not. Who will be taking the food out of the refrigerators? If you have clients reaching for items, this will have an impact on where to place the units and what they will look like.
Finally, if you’re still confused, you can talk to a refrigeration provider, like Mitchell’s. We will ask you relevant questions and help you decide on a refrigeration unit or units and can even design bespoke systems for your needs.
Refrigeration is an essential part of many businesses these days and while it’s a wonderful technology to have, it can be difficult to determine what you actually need. Keep in mind that you can always expand your refrigeration later if necessary, so start with what you really need now and then worry about expansion later.
Need help designing your refrigerated space? Mitchell’s can help. Contact us today for more information on our refrigeration services.