Essential Guide To Maintain Commercial Refrigeration In 2023

Refrigerating food products in bulk is a smart process every restaurant must implement to retain its shelf-life. Therefore, a commercial refrigerator shall be carefully chosen and in a cost-effective manner. However, with a wide range of options available in the market – choosing the right refrigeration solution overwhelms many restaurant owners.

If you are also one among them, this commercial refrigeration guide is just what you needed right now. We will talk you through the most reliable and safe refrigeration options for your restaurant. But before getting started, let’s dive into the basics.

What do we mean by commercial refrigeration?

Commercial refrigeration equipment refers to cold storage solutions installed in a commercial setting. For instance, reach-in refrigerators and freezers are found in supermarkets, specialty food stores, and grocery malls. Also, the walk-in refrigerators and freezers kept in restaurants and cafeterias are also considered commercial refrigeration equipment.

Refrigeration allows businesses and homeowners to store foods and beverages for extended periods without affecting their taste and shelf-life. Commercial refrigeration allows restaurants to keep both prepared food and meal ingredients cold by removing heat for convenience and safety. Now, let’s discuss how to discover the modern industrial freezer to remove heat.

What are the different types of commercial refrigeration equipment?

There is a wide variety of commercial refrigeration systems that restaurants must consider depending on their food menu and theme. Some of these include:

• Reach-in vertical cases and refrigerators

• Plug-in enclosed vending machines

• Semi-vertical display cabinets

• Horizontal cases

• Deli cases

• Drop-in coolers

• Draft beer systems

• Undercounter refrigerators

• Back bar coolers

• Refrigerated display cases

• prep table

All these types of commercial refrigeration equipment have different functionalities out of which, three main examples are:

The coolers

It is a perfect storage for food and beverages that must be kept below the average room temperature but above the freezing point. The coolers prevent spoilage by keeping the perishable items cool.

Freezers

Freezers keep perishable items entirely frozen, preventing them from spoilage. Ice cream, dessert, microwaved food, and other dishes must maintain a frozen temperature to sustain for a longer period.

A combination of coolers and freezers

As the name suggests, the combination of commercial refrigeration units allows restaurant owners to keep perishable items chilled and frozen.

How does commercial refrigeration operate?

Whether you are using refrigerators for storing food ingredients, preparing food, or freezing items, knowing their work operation will help you a lot in choosing the right one. So, let’s discuss each process one by one:

The cooling process

The refrigeration process works on one principle called the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This principle states that heat will always travel from the warmer object to the colder one when both objects of different temperatures come closer. Therefore, commercial refrigeration systems imply a refrigerant solution to transfer heat from the food inside the refrigeration unit’s storage area to the refrigerant.

Refrigerant solutions follow the second physical principle, which states that gases cool as they expand and heat up when compressed. While cycling through the refrigeration system, the refrigerant undergoes a series of pressure changes to improve efficiency and speed. Also, it removes heat from the refrigerated space to keep it cold for hours.

The refrigerant

Refrigerant is the key to making successful modern commercial refrigeration systems. A decade earlier, Freon was the most common refrigerant found in air conditioning units and refrigerators. However, research claimed that Freon can damage the Earth’s ozone layer, resulting in increased solar radiation and changes in the global climate.

Today, Freon is no longer used in the United States. Instead, other refrigerants like tetra fluoro ethane are replacing it to improve the efficiency and eco-friendliness of modern refrigeration systems. The commercial refrigeration system today has expanded into a giant industry where the chilling process can get high to get the environment to low-temperature freezing.

Food & beverage storing

Freezers play a significant role in the food business. If your refrigeration system does not work efficiently, it can jeopardize your entire restaurant business. Commercial refrigeration, on the other hand, challenges the technicians, owners, and installers who maintain it on daily basis. We recommend a new industrial freezer installation, including networks, parts, costs, and so on.

Commercial refrigeration systems functions using a circuit with an absorption system or vapor compressor to cool the air. The refrigeration principle allows liquid to expand into a gas, and eliminate heat from the local area.

How to maintain commercial refrigeration equipment?

Finding the right commercial refrigerator and freezer maintenance is crucial for extending the lifespan of your kitchen appliances. Although the maintenance tips remain the same, here are the top five freezer maintenance tips:

• Check your door seals, and clean them every six months

• Get enough frozen stock inside the refrigerator to maintain a stable temperature

• Check for broken thermostats

• Clean your condenser coils

• Clean the freezer inside out

Summary

Every restaurant must invest in a highly-functional refrigerator to preserve the freshness of your ingredients and food. At Jean’s RS we offer hi-tech commercial kitchen equipment and refrigeration systems including Traulsen G11001, which offers ample storage space at an affordable price range.

For more kitchen equipment and appliances, visit our best restaurant supply store in the USA, and our experts will guide you with the right commercial solutions. Our goal is to help restaurant businesses flourish and simplify their cooking process hassle-freely.

Connect with us today.

FAQs

How does a commercial refrigeration system work?

Commercial refrigeration systems run using a circuit with an absorption system or vapor compressor to cool or dry the air. The general refrigeration principle expands the liquid into a gas and eliminates heat from the local area as we mentioned earlier.

What are the different types of commercial refrigerators?

• Reach-in refrigerators/freezers

• Horizontal freezer/Deep Freezer/Chest Freezer

• Walk-in refrigerators

• Serve Over Counter

• Under Counter Chiller/Freezer

• Bar refrigerator/Back Bar

• Pastry cabinets/confectionary cabinets

• Refrigerated Prep Tables

What are the maintenance tips for commercial refrigerators?

Here are key elements to consider:

• Consistently clean the interior and exterior

• Regularly clean the condenser coil

• Check the area via the evaporator coil

• Check the Gaskets often

• Check the Air Filters

• Routinely clean the drain pans and tubes

• Keep the refrigeration unit dry