February 24th, 2021
Setting up a restaurant requires a lot of planning, as well as upfront capital investment. To offset the upfront cost, it’s wise to look into purchasing used restaurant equipment. There are many different types of equipment that you’ll need to purchase for your kitchen, and a quality reach-in storage freezer is usually one of them.
In this post, we’re going to offer some tips to keep in mind when purchasing a reach-in freezer for your restaurant in Homer Glen, Illinois.
1. Size of the Freezer
Restaurant refrigerators don’t always come in standard sizes. So, you don’t just have to think about length and width — you’ll have to take the height into consideration as well. Reach-in freezers need extra space above for ventilation, so there will need to be some space between the top of the unit and the ceiling. Reach-in freezers are measured by cubic feet of storage. However, if shelves are poorly placed, a lot of space could be wasted. Plus, in order to maintain the ideal temperature, the right amount of space needs to be left to allow for proper air circulation.
2. Location of the Compressor
Compressors for reach-in freezers are mounted either on the top or bottom of the freezer. A reach-in freezer with a top-mounted compressor is generally best in cooler areas, because it will pull in the warm air from near the ceiling. A bottom-mounted compressor is generally better for a hot room. However, a bottom-mounted compressor can easily get clogged in kitchens where dry ingredients are used, such as bakeries. The storage is easier to access for bottom-mounted compressors, but this type of freezer usually offers less storage space overall.
3. Freezer Door
Reach-in freezers are available in one, two, and three-door models. As the number of sections increases, the freezers get wider. In many cases, the choice will be dictated by the amount of space that’s available in the kitchen.
There are two types of freezer doors: swinging doors and sliding doors. Swinging doors can be full-length or half-length. Half-length doors allow either the upper or lower half to open separately, which helps in conserving energy. Sliding doors are preferred if you are concerned about obstructing moving space in the kitchen. Solid doors are easier to clean and provide better insulation, while glass doors are preferred for visibility so that you can locate what you need before opening the freezer.
4. New Features
Reach-in freezer models also come with some unique and special features. Some have removable gaskets for easy cleaning, while others have digital thermostats that can make temperature adjustments easier and more accurate. Pass-through reach-in freezers are great for passing frozen foods from one area of the kitchen to another. Also, roll-in boxes can be used if you need to store a lot of frozen food.
5. Energy Requirements
After you have selected the freezer that best suits your restaurant’s needs, make sure you look at energy requirements. It’s crucial to make sure that the freezer will not overload the circuit when it’s plugged in. Also, look out for freezers that are ENERGY STAR certified, as they can save you a significant amount of money on your monthly energy bill.
Looking Used Restaurant Equipment in Homer Glen, Illinois?
If you’re looking for a reach-in freezer for your restaurant in Homer Glen — or other used restaurant equipment such as ranges, fryers, ovens, dishwashers, mixers, slicers, sinks, etc — March Quality is the place to visit.
At March Quality New and Pre-Owned Foodservice Equipment, we buy used equipment, refurbish it until it’s like new, and then sell it for a fraction of the price of new equipment. Contact us today to discuss your restaurant’s needs!
