Cold Well Drop-In Coolers

Refrigerated Drop-in Food Wells: What You Need to Know

Drop-in cold wells are constructed to keep serving lines cool for hours at a time, offering convenience and food safety for foodservice operations large and small. They range in length from 15 to 91 inches and may have enough space for as many as six full-sized food pans or a larger number of fractional-sized food pans. Other options include shape, with curved units available for curved counters; remote compressors, which can maximize placement options in operations with multiple cold displays; and cooling type, as drop-in cold wells can be cooled by cold-wall construction, forced air, or ice.

Common Questions About Drop-in Cold Wells

What is the function of a drop-in cold well?

Whether cooled by ice or mechanical refrigeration, drop-in refrigerators are installed directly in a countertop, turning an existing counter into a space that can be utilized for cold food. In addition to keeping grab-and-go options chilled, drop-in refrigerated wells help maintain organization and sanitation at salad bars, sandwich stations, buffets, and other types of serving lines.

How do drop-in refrigerated wells work?

To achieve food-safe temperatures for an extended amount of time, drop-in cold wells are designed to cool items with forced-air refrigeration, ice, or cold-wall technology, the most common option for drop-in. Refrigerated drop-in food wells that chill items with cold-wall refrigeration use refrigerant to keep the inner walls cooled and must be connected to a power source. When food pans are set into the well, the cold walls help keep the contents at safe temperatures.

Drop-in refrigerators that make use of forced air provide airflow over the tops of the pans. This creates a "shield" between the cold food and the warmer air of the surrounding room, preventing the food at the top of a pan from becoming too warm. In these models, the food pans held by the unit are recessed a few inches below the outer rim of the well. These models also require connection to a power source.

Ice-cooled drop-in coolers are ideal for setups in locations where electricity might be unavailable or difficult to connect to. These wells are recessed into the counter and have a drain that connects to an outgoing water line to make cleanup simple. Ice is placed into the well, then food pans or prechilled packaged products are nestled into or placed on top of the ice.