06 Jun Choosing the Right Commercial Refrigeration
Benefits of Commercial Kitchen Maintenance
Commercial Refrigeration is a key part of any food service establishment. It allows businesses to keep fresh and frozen foods and beverages on hand, thereby providing a wide variety of menu items for their customers. Refrigeration appliances are available in a variety of styles and sizes, so business owners can find the perfect fit for their needs and budget.
One of the first things to consider when choosing commercial refrigeration is whether it will be used for food preparation or merchandising purposes. Refrigerators that will be installed in customer-facing areas typically have glass doors to allow passersby a full view of the products inside. Those that are designed for use in a kitchen can be equipped with either drawers or swinging doors, depending on the types of ingredients and foods that will be stored.
Benefits of Planned Maintenance for Commercial Kitchens
In addition to determining how the refrigerator will be used, businesses should also take into account installation requirements and energy usage when selecting a model. For example, those that will be used in food prep applications are often designed to be stacked on top of each other or fitted with drawers to save space. Those that will be used in a merchandising environment are usually built with adjustable shelves, so that different sizes of jars and jugs can be easily accommodated.
Another factor that affects the efficiency of a refrigeration appliance is whether it will have a cascade or indirect system for its low and medium temperature circuits. Cascade systems have a single evaporator-condenser that cools both the lower and medium temperature levels, while indirect systems have separate evaporators for each level of refrigeration. Indirect refrigeration systems also reduce the amount of refrigerant that is consumed, allowing for smaller machines to be used in more locations without sacrificing refrigeration capacity.
While most refrigeration equipment can be cleaned with a damp cloth, it is important to defrost it regularly. This prevents ice buildup that can impact performance. Most models are self-defrosting, but those that aren’t should be manually defrosted at least once each year.
A popular type of commercial refrigeration is the back bar cooler, which is designed to hold bottles and cans of beverages. It is available in one, two or three sections with one-section reach-ins offering the least storage space and three-section units offering the most. These units are most often found in bars and restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages, but they can also be used to store packaged food items in retail environments. Like other undercounter refrigerators, they can be accessed with either hinged or sliding doors. They may also have an air curtain to reduce energy consumption.
Posted in Refrigerator Repair