A professional kitchen, by definition, aims to preparing food quickly and safely, and the equipment in it must contribute to the operation by providing quality preparations, high productivity, ease of use and sanitization.
But in order to decide which equipment to invest in, a number of factors must be taken into account: available kitchen space, type of service to be provided, menu to be served, desired audience, health surveillance standards, workflow, storage location and of course, investment capital.
Considering the importance of the quality of inputs in restaurants, it is vital for the financial health of the business to ensure the correct conservation of perishables, avoiding waste, problems and losses. To do this, it is essential to choose the right “kitchen safe”. A refrigerator with problems or incorrectly sized for the commercial flow, in addition to causing food loss, can jeopardize the entire operation of a professional kitchen, generating delays in orders, customer dissatisfaction and excessive electricity consumption.
For all these reasons it is so important to choose the best refrigerator for your industrial kitchen.
How do you choose the right model for your business?
The basic function of an industrial refrigerator is to maintain the ideal food preservation temperature efficiently, even for large quantities of perishables, preventing them from being contaminated by the proliferation of microorganisms, especially in pre-cooked foods, natural products, fruit and vegetables and proteins. Its use is common and necessary in restaurants, bakeries, burger restaurants, bars and snack bars.
To make an intelligent choice, you first need to have the answer to two important questions for your business:
- What is the production process like?
- How much food will be stored?
With the answer to these two questions, depending on your needs and available space, you can opt for horizontal or vertical refrigerators.
There are horizontal models With 2, 3 or 4 doors, one of the biggest advantages of this model is its top, which can be used as a preparation space, known as a refrigerated worktop. Always look for stainless steel worktops, which are more durable, easier to clean, don't scratch or puncture easily and don't impregnate odors. Optionally, as special worktops, there are options for rear and side mirrors, as well as the possibility of having sinks in the refrigerator worktop itself.
The horizontal models They also allow cooking equipment to be placed on top of them in a modular way, optimizing kitchen space. Models with refrigerated drawers further facilitate operations where agility is essential, such as in fast-food kitchens and burger restaurants.
The vertical models, They are ideal for storing large quantities in small spaces, with a choice of single or double doors, with 2 or 4 doors.
Difference from a domestic refrigerator
The dynamics of a restaurant, hotel, snack bar or burger bar kitchen are very different from those of a home kitchen. Therefore, residential equipment cannot meet commercial demand. The first difference is the storage capacity, which is much greater in industrial refrigerators. Other points differentiate white goods refrigerators from professional refrigerators, see below for a comparison:
Power: Commercial refrigerators are designed to withstand the constant and repetitive “opening and closing” of the professional kitchen. Their powerful motors and compressors can quickly replace all the cold air lost when the refrigerator is opened.
Insulation thicknessThe thickness and quality of the thermal insulation inside the walls of the cooler prevents it from exchanging heat with the environment when closed, and even in low coolers, where it is possible to have cooking equipment on top of them working at high temperatures, the insulation ensures that the cool air inside the cooler is maintained.
Intelligence and economy: Technology is always an ally in the modern kitchen, and commercial refrigerators are no different. Electronic temperature control and LED panels with real-time temperature information guarantee optimum conservation and make it easy to quickly check the operating temperature of refrigerators. The intelligent digital control allows the compressors to be activated only when necessary, so that even if they are very powerful, there are considerable savings in electricity.
Specific storage needsDepending on the operation, you may need to store natural foods in plastic boxes, or pre-cooked foods in standard gastronorm trays or tubs. For these demands, the refrigerators can come with rails for boxes or GN's instead of the usual shelves.
Forced air systemGenerally, residential refrigerators work with a cold wall system, where coils inside the walls are responsible for cooling. In quality industrial chillers, on the other hand, the cooling system is through forced air, which is more efficient, where a fan blows the cold air, making it circulate evenly and constantly inside the equipment.
Worktop and interior materials: Generally, residential refrigerators have plastic interiors, which easily impregnate smells and are easy to scratch and puncture, which can reduce the efficiency of the equipment. Quality industrial refrigerators should have stainless steel interiors, which are very resistant to weather, scratches and punctures, don't rust easily, don't smell and are easy to clean and sanitize. Some manufacturers use aluminum to cheapen the equipment at the expense of its durability.
Ease of maintenanceDrawer systems for the machinery facilitate access for preventive or corrective maintenance. This speeds up possible maintenance and reduces the time the chiller is unavailable for use.
Options and facilities
Glass doorsThe option of having glass doors on refrigerators can streamline the entire operation of an industrial kitchen, as the use of glass doors makes it easier to find one ingredient or another.
CastorsWheeled feet make it easy to move the refrigerator during the cleaning process in a professional kitchen.
Removable gasketsThe door's sealing rubbers, also known as gaskets, dry out and wear out over time, requiring replacement. Because they have folds, it is also common for food residue to accumulate. Whether for replacement or cleaning, it is important that the gaskets are easily removable and put back in place by any layperson. Always look for refrigerators that have this solution available.
Choice of manufacturer
The best-selling and most preferred products have a reason for being chosen. When you visit renowned restaurants or those run by great chefs, use your right to know the kitchen and pay attention to the brands of equipment. You'll easily notice that some brands are more popular. Don't hesitate to ask why, and draw your own conclusions as to why these chefs or owners have chosen such models or brands of refrigerators. An important point of reference is when a brand is used by most of the big chains, as the vast majority have innovation teams that test the equipment in various different situations to make sure of the quality of the equipment and whether it can withstand the demands of their restaurants.
When researching suppliers, check whether the equipment is produced domestically or imported. Generally, imported equipment and spare parts are more susceptible to exchange rate fluctuations and political issues, which can lead to price increases. In addition, large domestic manufacturers may offer more accessible credit lines.
Factory warranty and service network are also important factors. No matter how good the quality, any electrical equipment is subject to the effects of the power grid or even weather and nature, so always look for brands that have an authorized service network close to your area.
The commitment a company has to its employees and its tax obligations can say a lot about the commitment it will have to its customers. Look for companies that have 100% of their CLT employees and that comply with all tax obligations. To be sure of this, just look at what taxes are being collected in the details of the proposal or on the invoice. Serious companies not only pay all their taxes correctly, but are also audited. Ask the sales assistant about them.
Multinational companies not only have greater security over their existence because of the financial support they receive from their headquarters abroad, but they also have cutting-edge technology and development in several countries. This guarantees that you will have equipment that has been tested and optimized in various situations around the world. It's unlikely that something that has worked all over the world won't work in Brazil.
Manufacturers like to show off their facilities, so don't hesitate to visit and see how the equipment is made. If the supplier has an experimental kitchen, go and see how well the equipment works. If the kitchen has support chefs, take the opportunity to ask questions and learn tips on how to best use your new refrigerator.
Now that you know all the factors that influence the quality of a refrigerator, take note of the tips and research the model and brand of the equipment in your kitchen.
Macom
Macom is the only company on the market that has met all these requirements for 49 years. Talk to one of our experts and schedule a visit, Visit our factory and watch a presentation by our chefs. We look forward to your visit.
