Buying Guide: Commercial Refrigeration
Last updated on June 30th, 2022 at 10:17 am
When buying a refrigerator for residential purposes, the process is pretty straight forward. Do you want a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, or a freezer on the top or bottom of the refrigerator Simple! When it comes to purchasing a Commercial Refrigerator, the process is a bit more complex. Below is a Buying Guide to help you select what kind of Commercial Refrigerator your business needs.

Back Bar Cooler… As a versatile piece of equipment, Back Bar Coolers can be used for storing and keeping items at ideal temperatures, and within reach. You can easily store anything from bottles, to canned goods, to open products that you use regularly like creams, juice, and garnishes for mixed drinks. Perfect for bars, coffee houses, sandwich shops, and bustling restaurants.

Bottle Coolers… Bottle Coolers are ideal for storing and chilling a large quantity bottled items, such as beer and wine. They allow top access rather than front access and generally feature dividers rather than wire shelves. Bottle coolers are an excellent choice for bars and clubs because of the easy access and simple setup.

Chest Freezer… With a simple flip of a lid, you’ll be able to access your bulky frozen goods or any frozen items that need to be immediately accessed. Chest Freezers are an excellent way to add freezer space to limited areas or to store bulk items that may not fit in an upright unit.

Cold Food Wells… Cold Food Wells offer the convenience of having chilled items right at your fingertips to keep production and serving lines moving quickly and smoothly. Cold Food Wells vary in size and pan capacity, making it easy for you to select the one that best suits your needs. Easily install your choice of cold food well into existing units for the ultimate in convenience.

Curve Glass Display Cases… When you consider the role that merchandising and displays play in the sales of your product, a Curved Glass Display Case is ideal. They allow for organized and elegant arrangements that keep product fresh, as well as optimal visual contact to entice customers.

Dual Temp Combo Units… Dual Temp Refrigeration/Freezer Combo Units combines cold and frozen food storage within and single unit to save room. The separate sections of the Dual Temp Refrigeration/Freezer Combo Units are accessible through separate doors for temperature regulation.

Floral Cases… Floral Cases are not just for flower shops. Due to their softer lighting and gentler fan, they can also be used for storing wines and pies.

Freezers… Freezers are a staple in any establishment that serves food, frozen or otherwise. Depending on how much space you have and the amount of food that you need to keep frozen, select from a one, two, or three door unit.

Glass and Plate Chillers… Glass and Plate Chillers keep glassware and dinnerware perfectly chilled to keep food and beverages colder, longer. When you place chilled food on a warm plate it too gets warm, same goes for beverages.

Ice Cream Dipping Displays… Ice Cream Dipping Display Merchandisers adds the convenience of allowing customers to view a variety of flavors while also allowing servers to easily access the ice cream. Ice Cream Dipping Display Merchandisers store open and unopened containers for service and extra product at temperatures ideal for ice cream.

Ice Cream Merchandisers… Allow you and your customers easy access to a variety of frozen goods, such as frozen burritos, popsicles, and ice cream with an Ice Cream Merchandiser, without sacrificing easy access or great looks. Ice Cream Merchandisers are ideal for groceries, gas stations, and diners.

Keg Coolers…Keg coolers are essential to bars, pubs, and other establishments that serve draft beer, as they will keep the draft at an ideal temperature until the moment it is served. Customize your Keg Cooler with the number of taps, type of material, and different options.

Merchandisers… Merchandisers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and serve different purposes (to refrigerate or freeze products or for wine). To determine which is best for your establishment consider these questions:
- What will be stored in it?
- How accessible you want it to be?
- How much room you have to store it.
Overall though, they can be used to display cakes, pies, wine, drinks, ice cream, and much more.

Milk Coolers… Milk Coolers are a necessary staple in any environment, including schools, businesses, and hospital cafeterias. Milk coolers are ideal for milk storage because they prevent smells and tastes from being absorbed into the dairy product from other items.

Pizza Prep Tables… Pizza Prep Tables are not just for making pizza. They are also ideal for sandwich and sub shops. A Pizza Prep Table is a refrigerated work table with the capability to store ingredients at your fingertips.

Refrigerated Bases… Finding refrigerated storage while not giving up precious work space is a dilemma that many establishments face. Refrigerated Bases offer a solution to such a problem by holding refrigerated items yet supplying a sturdy worktop for smaller appliances. The low-profile design of Refrigerated Bases make working with them easy, and maintain the convenience of having refrigerated storage in the prep or cook area for easy and quick access.

Refrigerators… Keeping ingredients and goods at proper temperatures is vital to any kitchen. A side-by-side unit is ideal for medium to large commercial kitchens to keep the appropriate amount of items for daily use within your grasps. Commercial Refrigerators are available in a variety of sizes and from trusted manufacturers like True and Turbo Air.

Sandwich Prep Tables… Both are great features that essentially serve the same purpose. Choosing which is best for your establishment should be based on your needs. Drawers are ideal for storing smaller containers while doors open to the complete interior and can have shelving. If you can’t choose one or the other there are models that feature both. Sandwich Prep Tables are available from 24″-72″.

Straight Glass Deli Cases… Straight Glass Deli Cases are great for traditional deli departments with their nearly vertical display that gives an excellent view of the products. You can easily store a wide variety of items, displaying them attractively while keeping them fresh and worthy of purchase. Straight Glass Deli Cases have a slightly slanted glass front that helps to reduce glare for optimal viewing. Unlike Curved Glass Deli Cases, Straight Glass Deli Cases have a solid top which allow the placement of products of measures.

Sushi Display Glasses… Displays are a great way to boost the sale of a product by enticing the customers with the great look of it. Sushi Display Cases are a great way to display your product while keeping them refrigerated, be it sushi, sashimi, or anything else. Choose from self-contained or remote refrigeration in a variety of sushi display cases to meet your needs, depending on where you plan to display the fresh product. You can be sure that your product will stay at proper temperatures, keeping it fresh for longer, as well as remain visibly delectable to your customers.

Undercounter Refrigerator/Freezer… One of the biggest benefits is how much space you’ll save. Undercounter units fit neatly along with cabinetry, eliminating the need for designating room for a normal refrigerator. They’re also easy to access and some units can hold as much as standing full size units. Undercounter units can be used in anywhere, from commercial kitchens to bars and even residential areas.

Walk-In Refrigerators/Freezers… Walk-ins are a great way to add an extremely large amount of cold storage to any establishment. They are great for indoor applications and provide adequate space for all your goods without causing the overcrowding associated with reach-ins.

Worktop Refrigerators/Freezers… Worktop units are an excellent choice for establishments that want to maximize their use of space. They provide a refrigerator and an area to work on instead of sitting under an existing area or taking up space that could be used for dry storage. Worktop refrigeration units are great for all types of of establishments. Restaurants can benefit from them because it keeps ingredients close, it makes working at a concession area or even within the home a breeze because you have instant extra space to work with as well as refrigeration.
Thanks for the article. I am currently trying to find the right equipment for a small restaurant that I’m opening up. As you can guess this has been a hectic process.
I’m in the market for commercial refrigeration and am having trouble deciding where to get it, and what type/model I should get! So far I’ve found numerous websites, but I’m torn between the one that is posted on here and this one: http://www.rogerandsons.net/c-3654-commercial_restaurant_refrigeration_freezers_walk-in-boxes_display-cases.aspx
Either way, I guess I’ll have to make my decision sooner rather than later. Thanks for this post. Good work.
I just wanted to thank you for going over things to think about when buying a refrigerator. I’m glad you mentioned that you should check out the interior of a refrigerator and see if it will fit your needs. I’d like to learn more about different functionality designs, and some circumstances they would be more ideal for.