Refrigerator is a common appliance used in every household and commercial arena. It is a cold storage appliance that slows down the biodegradation of the stored item. The refrigerator or commonly known as fridge keeps the inside temperature slightly above the freezing point of water. The concept of cooling system first begun with the use of ice. The first commercial ice making machine was invented in 1854. With the development of fridge, it was introduced as self-contained unit and was started to be used in household and commercial places. Freezers allow storage of the food and avoids its spoilage and also keeps the food fresh for a longer period. This is possible as the fridge transfers the heat from inside to the external environment.
The invention of fridge has been upgraded and designed to include many features to provide ease of usage to its user. It not only sustains the food longer period of time but also provides different temperature to each compartment. Some of the features include
- Automatic defrosting
- Power failure warning
- Chilled water or ice dispenser in the fridge door
- Cabinet rollers
- Adjustable shelves
- A status indicator for the time to change the water filter
- An in-door ice caddy
- A cooling zone in refrigerator shelves
- A fast freeze sections
There are multiple types of commercial fridges to meet different need. These can be categorized in various classes such as undercounted refrigerator, vertical refrigerator, industrial refrigerator, glass door refrigerator, table top refrigerator, double door commercial refrigerator, pizza fridge, refrigerated stations and open chiller etc. These refrigerators have different features like the capacity, door numbers and voltage.
Commercial fridges are built with special attributes that are suitable for professional use. These fridges are built with stainless steel material that protects the appliance against corrosion. It has large storage space and rounded corners for easy cleaning. The compressor is powerful to boost maximum performance as it is designed to meet health requirements. It also has accurate temperature controller and auto defrost system. The fridge is also built with an alarm function that warns you earlier when it detects low temperature. It is made of commercial grade materials that resists bacteria and is fit for commercial use.
Tips for Organizing Commercial Fridges
A commercial fridge is larger and is always filled to full extent. Thus, it is important for it to be organized. It is very difficult to maintain a commercial fridge and keep its content organized which is also essential for the health of the people consuming the food. Here are some tips to maintain the hygiene of a refrigerator.
Store meat on the lowest shelves – This will prevent cross contamination to other stored food items. The meat if placed on higher shelves will drip on other products causing contamination.
Maintain space between items – The proper circulation of air in the fridge requires the food to be placed at least three to six inches away from the wall. Storing the food too close to the wall will cause hot spots and uneven cooling.
Follow first in and out – Each product has a best use date even if stored in the refrigerator. The new items should be placed in the back of the fridge to so that each item can be used by the date.
Store delicate product away from the fan – In commercial refrigerators, the fans are powerful and strong for the air circulation. But keeping tender produce like berries near the fan can cause damage to the food item. Placing food close to fan can increase risk of freezer burn.
Label everything – At the end it is important to properly label each item in the fridge. A commercial freezer has several items and each needs to be placed according to the nature and durability of the food.
Thus, labeling the food will prevent it from being spoiled due to misplacement.