If you are opening a new restaurant, having quality commercial refrigeration equipment in your location is a critical component to delivering quality food to every diner. Restaurant refrigeration keeps ingredients fresh and your patrons safe while they enjoy your dishes. Here is a helpful guide to choosing the right pieces for your kitchen.

Tips for Selecting Your Restaurant’s Refrigeration Equipment

Location

The first step in deciding on commercial refrigeration equipment is to assess the area where the component will be placed and take accurate measurements. Make sure the spot has enough room for staff to access the unit with ease as well as door clearance when the refrigerator is open.  Note how your kitchen will run and if the commercial refrigeration components are situated in a place that will make retrieving ingredients and prepping them easy.

Capacity

Another factor to consider is the size you will need based on your menu. How much of your ingredients will be purchased daily and weekly, and how much will be frozen? If space for larger units is limited, consider using vertical space or adding multiple components — such as a separate freezer unit for your frozen ingredients or meat. Note the exterior dimensions as well as the interior cubic feet. These two numbers may not be the same, and the inside may not be large enough for your needs.

Reviews

Look for top brands with ENERGY STAR® ratings so you know the unit you select is reliable and energy-efficient. Check online reviews of each model, and ask peers what they like for their restaurants. Find out how often they need maintenance and what problems, if any, they have run into.

For over 50 years Refrigeration & Food Equipment has been Anchorage’s top purveyor of commercial refrigeration equipment. Locally owned, their restaurant supply inventory ensures that owners and managers have what they need to run a dining location with ease. Besides sales, their team is also available for repairs on restaurant refrigeration components to keep your establishment up and running. Call (907) 248-2525 or visit their website for a full list of commercial kitchen equipment options.