Many commercial businesses, such as restaurants, grocery stores and other food-related companies, depend on commercial refrigerators to keep inventory cool. These fridges can account for anywhere from 25% to 60% of a business’s energy consumption costs. One of the biggest ways that business owners can save on their electricity bills is to make sure their refrigerators are as energy efficient as possible. This not only reduces the overall cost of running the refrigerator, but also helps to cut down on energy usage in other areas of your business. To achieve the best efficiency, restaurant and foodservice operators should make it a priority to maintain and inspect all of the components of their refrigeration units. This includes the compressor, condenser, evaporator coils and air filter. If any of these components look clogged with dust or ice, make sure your team cleans them regularly.
Longevity
Longevity is the name of the game when it comes to commercial refrigeration. Keeping your equipment in good working condition will not only save you time and money on repairs, but it may also increase your customer retention. For example, a reach-in cooler with a top mounted compressor will have a much longer life than a model that’s not properly maintained. That’s because it will have to work harder to cool the air in front of it, resulting in better performance and lower energy costs. It’s also a good idea to choose the highest quality components for your unit. The best refrigerators come with an industry-leading warranty, so you can rest assured that your investment will last for years to come. In fact, your new unit might be the most important purchase you’ll ever make for your company!
Convenience
Commercial refrigeration is available in all shapes, sizes, and types to meet your specific needs. From quick access undercounter units to room sized walk-in coolers, there’s a solution for every business. Convenience really is the key to a successful business, and commercial refrigeration can make it easier for you to provide the best products and services to your customers. Use market research to understand your customers and their needs and preferences, then make sure that you deliver what they want.
Access to ice is very important in various industries, particularly restaurants and hospitality. As you will need access to a lot of ice, using a commercial ice machine is often ideal as it can create larger batches of ice more efficiently. If you do have your own ice machine, it is very important that you are able to keep it clean. When you are wondering how to properly clean a commercial ice machine, various tips should be followed.
Gather the Necessary Supplies
When you are going to clean your ice machine, it is essential to ensure that you have access to all of the supplies that you need. Some items you will need for your ice machine include a new water filter, cleaning gloves and goggles, cleaning agents, towels, and sanitizing solutions.
Empty Out the Machine
When you are going to clean the ice machine, you must empty out all of the ice. Before you start, you should ensure the ice machine is unplugged from the wall for safety. When you want to get rid of all the ice, this will need to be done by hand using an appropriate ice scooper. Once this is done, you should drain out any remaining water and wipe down the interior by hand to make sure it is completely dry.
Clean Interior and Parts
Once the ice machine has been drained, you will want to clean the interior. This will include spraying the interior with proper cleaning agents, cleaning off the mechanical parts by hand, and ensuring that all parts of it are properly disinfected. When this is done, you should rinse the entire machine with water and allow it to drain again. Once this is done, the ice machine can be plugged in and reconnected to any water supply. As it can take a while for the ice machine to produce ice again, you should make sure that you clean the machine with plenty of lead time before you need to have ice again.
If you have any type of ice machine at your restaurant or another place of business, being able to keep it clean is important. Having clean ice can ensure that your customers are drinking safe beverages and that you comply with all requirements of food safety laws. By following these tips, you will be able to properly keep your ice machine clean at all times.
Another great option would be to call the team with American Refrigeration Inc. The professionals with American Refrigeration Inc can offer all of your ice machine maintenance and repair service needs, including a full cleaning service to keep your machine in great working order.
Are your commercial refrigerators or freezers holding food at appropriate temperatures? If you don’t store food at the right temperature, it could enter the danger zone and potentially contain foodborne pathogens.
Reach-in refrigerator installation and food-safe temperatures
The purpose of commercial refrigerator installation is to provide a space to keep foods at cooler temperatures to slow down the growth of bacteria. They’re ideal for perishable foods like produce and cooked meats.
The average operating temperature for a commercial refrigerator (whether reach-in or walk-in) should stay between 35°F and 38°F. If temperatures fall below this range, you run the risk of freezing food that shouldn’t be frozen, like milk or dairy products. If temperatures reach above this range, the food could enter the danger zone, i.e., a temperature range between 40°F and 140°F where dangerous bacteria, including campylobacter, E. coli, salmonella enteritidis and staphylococcus aureus, multiply incredibly quickly.
You should never let food linger in this temperature range, since the food could spoil and cause foodborne illness. This applies to leftover food, too, since bacteria still grows on food even after it’s cooked.
You and any employees working at your business need to monitor temperatures regularly to ensure food never enters the danger zone in terms of temperature. Always shut the door to the unit when you’re not using it, since this leads to instant cooling loss.
Keep in mind that the bigger the refrigeration unit you have, the longer it takes to stabilize temperatures. If you’re planning to adjust the temperature of the unit, wait a full day, and check for an appropriate temperature before storing food inside.
Walk-in freezer installation and food-safe temperatures
Unlike a commercial refrigerator, which only slows the growth of bacteria, a commercial freezer is meant to halt the growth of bacteria completely. Different types of freezers should be set at different temperatures, and your installation technician will be sure to discuss safe operating temperatures with you. Here are the general guidelines:
Reach-in freezers: Between -10°F and 5°F
Walk-in freezers: Between -10°F and 0°F
Ice cream freezers: Between -20°F and -10°F
The wrong temperatures impact food safety for frozen foods, too. You also need to account for food quality by preventing freezer burn. Freezer-burned foods lose their color, aroma, flavor and even texture—it’s completely unappetizing. Freezer burn occurs when food is exposed to too much frost or air as it sits in the freezer. Make sure you’re properly storing your food and that your freezer is running efficiently; otherwise, you run the risk of turning your inventory into wasted profit potential. Keep the freezer door closed, and you’ll avoid temperature fluctuations that can spoil food.
Want to know more about commercial refrigerator or walk-in freezer installation? If your current unit isn’t performing as well as it should, contact American Refrigeration Inc today. We’re the top choice for commercial refrigeration installation and repair, ensuring worry-free operation and protecting your inventory.
When you’re trying to decide which commercial refrigerators to buy, choosing between indoor and outdoor walk-in coolers can be difficult. While both types of coolers are a good choice for restaurants, bars, distilleries and other businesses that rely on large-scale refrigeration, indoor and outdoor coolers have distinct quirks. Depending on your building and property size, there may be a clear winner—but if you’re still trying to determine what to buy, read on.
Should you choose an indoor or outdoor cooler?
Here are some of the factors you’ll need to take into account when making a commercial refrigerator purchase:
Major differences: Since indoor and outdoor coolers are made differently, they require different features. When you buy an outdoor model, you’ll need extra weatherproofing. For example, rain roofs, weather sealing strips, panel protection and other weather protection is necessary to insulate the cooler and keep it safe from the elements.
Type of product: What will you store in your walk-in cooler? Depending on the product, the refrigeration needs may change. For example, most coolers “assume” that you’ll be storing the product at 33 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will enter the cooler around 55 degrees. For freezers, it’s assumed that the holding temperature is -10 degrees Fahrenheit, but the products will enter around 20 degrees. Because the models and refrigeration type can vary, make sure that your cooler can handle the size and type of product you need to store. If they’re entering or holding at different temperatures, you may not get the right type of cooler.
Flooring: Do you need special flooring? That depends on whether you have an indoor or outdoor cooler—usually. Unless you already have a concrete floor with thermal breaks, both your indoor and outdoor coolers will need flooring. Furthermore, if you plan to carry heavy loads in and out of your cooler, it’s best to install a thermal break, as it will help prevent condensation from forming.
Airflow: You’ll need at least two inches around the cooling panels. When you design your space, make sure there’s plenty of room for airflow. Otherwise, condensation will build up, which is not conducive to good operation of commercial refrigerators.
Location: Your location will also have a major effect on your cooler—depending on if you’re in a warmer or cooler part of Oregon, you’ll need to size your cooler accordingly. Check the ambient temperature in your cooler specifications to ensure it will work for your needs.
Delivery: When you have your cooler delivered, it can be difficult to move everything to where it needs to go—make sure you know whether you need to have a forklift available or if your refrigeration company will help deliver and install the cooler.
Refrigeration type: Finally, determine which type of refrigeration is right for you. Pre-assembled and remote refrigeration versions have their advantages and drawbacks. Ask your vendor about what’s best for your particular setup.
When you need commercial refrigerators and walk-in coolers, American Refrigeration Inc. is here to help. Call us today to learn more about our offerings and find out which type of cooler is best for you.
A refrigerator is a refrigerator, right? Yes—that is, unless you’ve ever been in a commercial kitchen. There’s an obvious difference between commercial refrigerators and residential refrigerators once you’ve seen them both. While they both technically do the same thing, there are some key differences in the way they get their jobs done and in the way we need to interact with them.
Here are some of the main differences, as well as some of the similarities, between commercial and residential refrigeration.
Similarities
Before we get into differences between residential and commercial refrigerators, let’s start with the similarities. Both do basically the same thing—that is, they keep food and beverages at a cold temperature. This goes for freezers as well. They are so similar, in fact, that a residential fridge could be used in a commercial setting, and a commercial refrigerator can be installed in a residential setting.
While you’re not likely to see a refrigerator model that’s designed for an apartment installed as the workhorse cooler for a restaurant, there has been a trend of commercial units being installed in residential spaces. If you’ve got the space for it—and the budget for maintenance—this can be a very handy appliance to have in your kitchen.
Differences
One of the main differences between residential and commercial refrigerators is their size. Commercial fridges are larger than residential units—often much larger. They are designed to hold a lot more food and substantially larger containers than are common for home use. This extra space can come in handy when you’re hosting get-togethers with a lot of food and drinks. The downside is if your kitchen is on the smaller side, a commercial fridge may end up taking up more room than you bargained for.
Because of that large size, commercial refrigerators also require much more power than residential models. They get colder faster, and that means they use more powerful components like compressors to maintain a consistent temperature even when the door is open. The downside here is that it will use more energy on a regular basis, which, in turn, will raise your energy bill.
That extra power also leads to more maintenance. Because they are more specialized, commercial refrigerators need regular maintenance and service to make sure they keep working in top condition. This has to be done by commercial refrigeration technicians, which can cost more than a residential refrigeration technician.
Another difference is aesthetics. Commercial units are often stainless steel, which gives a clean, modern look. Residential appliances are also available in this look, so it’s easier now to blend a commercial unit in with the look of the rest of your kitchen. This holds true for main refrigerators as well as drawer and standalone freezer units.
When you need any type of refrigeration service for your commercial property, reach out to the experienced professionals at American Refrigeration Inc. for the best, most reliable service. We’d be glad to take a look at your equipment and get to the bottom of any issues.
