Choosing the Right Commercial Refrigeration System

For a new business owner, choosing the right type of commercial refrigeration system can be a complicated process. There are as many options available as there are commercial uses for refrigerated spaces. Aris Parviz of Able Air-1, Inc. is an expert on commercial refrigeration systems. Here he sheds some light on the types of refrigeration systems that are available for commercial use and how business owners can go about choosing the right systems for their needs.

Commercial refrigeration systems are substantially different than residential ones. While homeowners generally require a small space in which to keep foods cool or frozen, many businesses require large units in which to keep large quantities of product at a consistent temperature. For these businesses, accuracy is essential as an unexpected drop or rise in temperature could mean serious financial losses. So choosing the right system for the job is one of the most important decisions these business owners will have to make.

Restaurants

The types of commercial refrigeration units used in restaurants are significantly different than those used in grocery or convenience stores. If you’re in the restaurant business, you’re looking for a place to store cooled and frozen foods until they are prepared for your customers. For you, taste is paramount. And you should know that the way you choose to store your foods — whether refrigerated or frozen, and at what temperature — can profoundly impact the way those foods will ultimately taste. In most cases, restaurant owners will opt for walk-in coolers or freezers. Roomy, easy to access and normally out of sight, these units are all about function rather than form.

Since storing certain types of food at certain temperatures is essential to ensure great taste and adequate shelf life, different types of restaurants will have different refrigeration needs. What works for a sushi restaurant, for example, may not work for a burger joint. And a steak house will have completely different needs than an ice cream parlor. When working with a commercial refrigeration contractor, it’s important to get as specific as possible about your refrigeration needs. What type of restaurant do you have? How much frozen or refrigerated food will your restaurant be handling at one time? What types of foods will you be working with? Educate yourself about how those foods should be handled so you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about the types and number of refrigeration units you’ll need.

Grocery and Convenience Stores

For grocery and convenience store owners, a great-looking display is essential. But keeping food adequately cooled or frozen is just as important. For this reason, you’ll want compact units with glass doors that make foods easily visible for your customers. Display units come in all shapes and sizes and the business owner will simply need to choose the units that best suit his needs, both in terms of the space in which the unit will be housed and the types of food to be stored within the unit. You will also need to ensure that you’ve ordered an adequate quantity for the amount of product you expect to have in stock at any given time. If the store includes a bakery or meat counter, a grocery store owner will also need to select back-of-the-house coolers and refrigerators similar to those used by restaurants. Because space is limited, convenience stores have special requirements. Normally, their display units double as walk-in freezers or refrigerators. In either case, humidity will also be a consideration. Because different foods require different levels of humidity in order to be optimally preserved (wine, for example, has different humidity needs than meat), it’s important to consult an experienced commercial refrigeration contractor when selecting a system for your business.