February 8th, 2020
Freezers are important for any restaurant to store perishable food for a short or long duration of time. Since freezers can be a costly appliance requiring a major upfront investment, it is sometimes best to buy a used freezer to save on the upfront costs of setting up your restaurant.
But before you begin, it is best to do your research so that you can find and select a freezer that best suits the demands of your Oak Lawn restaurant.
In this post, we’re going to discuss some of the things that you should keep in mind before choosing a used freezer for your Oak Lawn restaurant:
1. Type of Freezer
The two most popular options when it comes to freezers are chest freezers and upright freezers.
Chest freezers are laid horizontally, and they generally have more storage space than upright freezers. They are built to maintain lower temperatures and to keep the food frozen for a longer duration of time. However, one drawback is that they can be difficult to organize, and it is sometimes difficult to reach items stored at the bottom of the unit.
Upright freezers take less floor space and are easy to organize. However, a disadvantage is that they have shelves that limit storage capacity, especially for larger, bulkier items. They are also designed to have more air circulation, which could cause food to get freezer burn.
2. Size Consideration
The size of the freezer should be selected based on the number of customers that your restaurant plans to serve at any given mealtime. Calculating customer flow with your chef and staff will help give you a fair idea of the maximum amount of food that needs to be kept frozen at any given time.
3. Feature Requirements
It is important to know the kind of features you want for your commercial refrigerator. For example, a built-in alarm that beeps when the temperature inside the freezer gets warm can be a very helpful warning. Also, if you have lots of small food items that do not necessarily need to be separately stored, plastic dividers and sliding bins for a chest freezer may be helpful.
Additionally, if you do not want to go through the hassle of defrosting the freezer yourself, you could opt for a self-defrost freezer as well. Some freezers also come with features such as a soft-freeze or quick freeze button, as well as supplemental pull-out freezer drawers (for upright freezers).
4. Energy Efficiency
Generally, chest freezers are more efficient, as cold air tends to escape easily each time when the door of an upright freezer is opened. Also, it is best to select a freezer that has an Energy Star rating. In addition to being environmentally friendly, they can help you save around 7-10% on your annual energy bills.
5. Product Reviews
Even if you are buying a freezer from a branded manufacturer, it’s important to know the experiences other customers have had with the product. Visit the company website, search the internet for the model number, read reviews, and ensure that the freezer is long-lasting, is easy to use, and is free of any major malfunctions.
Looking for used restaurant equipment in Oak Lawn, Illinois?
If you’re on the lookout for used restaurant equipment, and if you need it in the Oak Lawn area, then March Quality New and Pre-Owned Foodservice Equipment is the company to call.
We buy used restaurant equipment and refurbish it until it’s like new, then sell it to Oak Lawn restaurant owners for a fraction of the price of new equipment.
Contact us today to discuss your needs!
