Every restaurant needs a heavy-duty commercial fridge to keep things cold and store prepped items at a safe temperature. However, if you are careless about the way you use and maintain your fridge, you might find that some items spoil or that it is harder to keep the fridge at a dependable temperature. Here are some tips to help you get the most efficiency from your commercial fridge. Your food will be fresher and your fridge will be easier to clean.
1. Keep space between items.
You want to use as much of the space in your fridge as possible, but sometimes people can make the mistake of keeping the fridge too full. When you stack boxes or containers of food in your fridge, leave gaps between items so the cool air can evenly circulate through the fridge. This way, items near the front of the fridge stay cool and don't suffer from drastic temperature changes as the door is opened (the warmer air in the fridge never gets fully cooled if the air can't circulate properly).
2. Make sure you always store liquids and meats on lower shelves.
This guideline is often part of restaurant storage code guidelines, but it also helps to make sure your fridge does not ever get too messy. Meat juices can leak from their containers and contaminate everything, leaving residue in grooves and shelving that makes cleaning much more intensive.
3. Clear out or inventory food on a weekly basis.
To avoid losing items in the depths of a huge commercial fridge, make it your policy to clean out or inventory the fridge each week. You will lose track of when items were put in the fridge if you just cram new orders of food in. Vegetables and fruits especially begin to rot and spoil, causing odors and juices that run through the fridge, affecting the flavor of fresher foods and making the fridge harder to clean. Make it a habit to label and date everything in the fridge. If you always clear out and organize the fridge each week, then nothing will ever go bad or get moldy.
4. Rotate items by date.
It's easier in the moment to push older food to the back as you stock shelves, However, this is how good products get wasted and how your fridge begins to smell. Instead, pull older items to the front so they get used first. Make labels for the shelves where items belong so that everything is always in the same place. This way, when the shelf is low or empty, you don't have to check the rest of the fridge to make sure you're out.
5. Keep the coils and condenser clean.
Your fridge works by running coolant through condenser coils, which in turn cool the air in your fridge. When the coils are clogged with dust and debris, your fridge will not cool as efficiently. You might see interior temperatures rise, or you might notice your fridge starts using more electricity or turning on more often in order to keep up with the set internal temperature. Use a handheld vacuum or soft brush to clear the rear of the fridge often. You might need to pull it out of the wall in order to make this possible.
6. Keep your produce safe.
Not every space in the fridge is created equally. Produce should not be stored near the fridge's cold air entrance point. Delicate greens can freeze if they are stored by fans. This area is better suited for hardier items such as butter, milk, and cheese.
For more information, contact a commercial refrigeration company near you.
Share26 December 2018
Working with HVAC contractors is an important part of being a homeowner. Not only do your contractors ensure that a new system you buy is properly installed, but they also ensure optimal performance throughout the years through a series of regular inspections, maintenance services, and repairs. But there are lots of things you can do in between your contractor's visits to ensure that your HVAC investment is always in tip top condition, aside from cleaning out the air filters. After working with my dad for more than a decade in the HVAC business, I've put together a few methods homeowners can use to maintain a well working system, and I have published those tips and tricks right here on this blog. I hope some of the information you find here helps you on your journey as a homeowner!
