Commercial refrigeration is crucial for many businesses, including restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores. It’s also common in hotels and hospitals, where it can help keep sensitive materials appropriately cooled and stored.
The refrigerants that are used in refrigeration systems absorb and eject heat through a process of vaporisation and condensation. Several types of Cold-Logic commercial refrigeration Adelaide equipment are available, so knowing which is right for your business is essential.
Undercounter Refrigerators
Commercial refrigeration is critical to any food service business, whether a restaurant, pizzeria, sandwich shop, catering establishment, or food truck. Keeping ingredients fresh and allowing customers to access them quickly is necessary; an under-counter refrigerator is a great way to make that happen.
Undercounter refrigerators come in various sizes and shapes, so you can find one that will fit just about any space in your kitchen. Generally, they are constructed of stainless steel, aluminium, or ABS plastic. They also came with various features, including reversible doors and left hinges.
Depending on your needs, these units can also be designed with two drawers or a combination. The drawers will provide a convenient place to keep items like butter, cheese, and eggs, while the doors will make it easy to see what’s inside.
When deciding on a suitable model for your business, consider these things:
Which materials you choose: You can buy an under-counter refrigerator made from either stainless steel or aluminium, both resistant to corrosive chemicals and scratches. Stainless steel is more expensive, but it’s also durable and easy to clean.
What’s more, you can even get models that are ADA-compliant. For example, this ensures that your under-counter fridge can fit underneath an ADA-height countertop so that everyone in your business can easily access it.
You can also choose a model with a dual-temperature feature, allowing you to freeze and refrigerate foods simultaneously. This feature will help you save time and money in your operation by reducing the number of trips back and forth between freezers and the prep table.
Walk-In Refrigerators
Walk-in refrigeration units offer convenience, space and efficiency. They can be configured for various applications, from ice cream shops to bakeries and supermarkets. They are available in multiple sizes, with or without floors and with or without in-place or remote condensers.
Aside from being durable and aesthetically pleasing, walk-in coolers also significantly save energy costs. They are typically built from aluminium, stainless steel or galvanised steel with foam insulation between these materials. These materials are incredibly dense and provide high R-values, which helps prevent heat loss and increases the longevity of your unit.
When choosing a new walk-in refrigerator, consider its size and capacity and the type of products you plan to store inside it. Ideally, you should leave about 60% of the interior space for shelves and airflow. It would be best if you also accounted for any carts you intend to load in, as they require aisle space, rack configuration and airflow.
As with any commercial equipment, maintenance and repair are vital to keeping your walk-in cooler operating efficiently and at its best. It means regular checkups of the evaporator fan blades to ensure they are free of nicks or other damage that could affect the operation and an annual inspection and cleaning of the condenser coils by a certified technician.
Aside from maintenance, walk-in refrigerators should be adequately stocked and labelled to minimise the risk of cross-contamination. The first-in, first-out method will help you avoid waste and maintain inventory accuracy.
Investing in a self-closing door with deadbolt locking handles is also a good idea, as this will allow you to avoid any instances where the door is not closed and allows cold air to escape.
Back Bar Coolers
Back bar coolers keep drinks, mixers and garnishes chilled to perfection and ready to serve. They also help bartenders keep ingredients and drinkware organised and within reach. They come in several configurations to fit the needs of various bars and restaurants.
When choosing a back bar refrigerator, consider your available space and what products you want to store. Then, weigh the available configurations and temperatures to find the best unit for your business.
Cold-Logic commercial refrigeration Adelaide has handles on the door to minimise catching clothing or apron strings as employees brush by them in tight spaces. Ideally, these handles are attached to the front of the door or recessed into the face of the door for loss prevention and easy replacement.
Many back bar coolers are also available in black or stainless finishes to match a restaurant’s overall decor. They can also be fitted with casters or legs to make moving easier.
Back bar coolers often have racks and doors that maximise storage and beverage access, including beer and wine bottles. You can find models with single, double and triple-door options to fit a variety of bar setups.
Regardless of your type, back bar coolers are a great way to keep bottled beverages cool and ready to serve. They are also helpful in storing ingredients needed to prepare drinks and garnishes, such as olives, onions and pickles.