Commercial freezer units are how we keep everything from raw ingredients like fish and produce to finished desserts like ice cream and granita at safe and flavor-preserving temperatures. One industrial freezer can often hold thousands (upon thousands!) of dollars worth of stock so their reliability is paramount to your success.
Maximizing your investment in a quality commercial freezer comes down to choosing the right one. At Eleven36 we leverage our years in the industry and desire to see our customers thrive each time we help a client buy a new unit that will last them for years to come. To get started thinking about freezers for your kitchen, check out our quick but comprehensive guide below.
A Freezer for Every Space in the Kitchen
Planning out where all the vital kitchen equipment in your back of the house goes sometimes feels like a puzzle — a stressful one! At Eleven36 we can help by not only offering our expertise but restaurant freezer types from leading brands to match nearly every nook and cranny or foodservice type.
Cabinet/Reach-In/Upright: Convenient and available in many sizes, a commercial upright freezer can work for almost all foodservice businesses by maximizing available height. Keep near your prep areas to speed up production — sizing is usually gastronorm sensitive, which means you can slide standard trays with prepped food in and out. A 1-door reach-in is great for nearly any restaurant; some may find 2 or 3-door reach-ins even better.
Walk-in: As you might imagine, a walk-in industrial freezer is big! For businesses with a lot of food they need to freeze, this is a good choice in a loading dock area. But smaller restaurants or cafes may not need this for bulk storage.
Counter: A frozen chest for storing food in non-standard sizes (like meat) in bulk, you can fit this in the kitchen or in a storage room. Opens from the top.
Undercounter freezer: You can tuck this little guy out of the way in nearly every establishment, offering quick access to commonly-used items.
Worktop freezer: Perhaps the most convenient of all, this commercial freezer provides a prep surface at the top to fully maximize space. Great for small kitchens.
Display freezer: For the front of the house, a display freezer has glass doors to show off cold wares for purchase.
The Art of Preservation
When you think of freezers you might think of clumps of ice stuck on a large cut of meat, for instance, but freezers are not just for backups, emergencies or years to come! For seasonal fruit, freezers can lock in freshness which would otherwise disappear by the hour, allowing you to delight customers during all seasons. They are essential tools for expanding your menu options by allowing you to bring in produce and meat from all over the world and store it safely. Of course, they’re necessary to level up your dessert game in a restaurant, too. Is there any food that really benefits from being left out in a hot kitchen? Lean on freezers for taste, style, menu diversity and to preserve presentation of dishes from carefully made desserts and the flourishes in entrées.
Practical Considerations for Buying a Commercial Freezer
With so many options on the market, it’s good to hone in on what’s important (a task we are always happy to help with at Eleven36!).
Size and capacity: You need to be able to safely power your freezer, so make sure you have the appropriate electrical setup and structural integrity for what you want to bring in. You also want to ensure your unit can keep up with the amount of food you may need to freeze now and in the future — buy something that allows for business growth, as freezers (quality ones like those supplied by Eleven36, anyway) last a long time.
Temperature control and efficiency: Getting temperatures right for raw and prepared foods alike is crucial to preserving color, flavor and texture in dishes. Many units have sophisticated features, like digital temperature controls, alarms and timers to help you achieve those goals. You also want a freezer that will work efficiently to keep your products chilled. That’s good not just for your bottom line but your food as well.
Storage organization: How smartly your industrial freezer allows you to store food can make a big impact not only in terms of headaches but in terms of how long that freezer door is open and how efficiently it can run. A commercial upright freezer, for instance, will allow you to slide trays that you use for prep in and out with ease.
Making a Decision (or Decisions)!
Freezers are indispensable in foodservice, so in purchasing a restaurant freezer it’s just about making the right choice for your layout, menu and staff. What do you need to keep truly cold? What can you afford to access over and over without ruining other products? Should you spend a little extra today to save thousands in the future by investing in energy-efficient appliances? And will your supplier and manufacturer have your back, not only by providing great machines but great service, warranty and repair? (With Eleven36 and our trusted network of freezer-makers, the answer is always yes).
Buying a commercial freezer doesn’t have to be a headache — a smart choice can be a gamechanger for your business. Contact us at Eleven36 today for leading brands and the best and most professional customer care in the industry. We love to support our clients in achieving their dreams, from the freezer shelf in the back of the house to the award shelf in the front.