Walk-in Freezers
A walk-in freezer provides bulk cold storage opportunities at colder temperatures and generally for longer periods than those offered by its refrigerated kin. Popular with chain locations and high-volume restaurants, commercial walk-in freezers are perfect for operations that receive as much as several weeks' worth of frozen ingredients in single deliveries. More
A walk-in's compressor may be mounted on the top the unit, which can help it from being tampered with if it's installed outdoors.
Walk-in freezers can be paired with a remote compressor, which is typically mounted on the exterior of the building.
These can be a great fit for smaller operations and events facilities, where staff can cook, freeze, then store finished food in bulk for later retherming, enabling them to beat rush periods. However, it should be noted that the walk-in freezer is not capable of the temperature pull-down required to bring food from hot or even cold-holding temperatures to frozen. For that reason, only already-frozen foods should be put into the unit.
The walk-in freezers you'll see on this page are what are called "quick-ship" boxes, which means that they're made to predetermined sizes and specifications, and offer no custom features. These are great for operators that have basic needs and require a walk-in freezer relatively quickly. To discuss the many custom options that are available in a built-to-order box, contact Customer Service at 1-888-880-2710.
Sizing
These quick-ship boxes come in a few common dimensions. Usually in a combination of 10-, 8-, and 6-foot lengths and widths. The standard interior height is 7 feet. Your decision will likely come down to the space you have available to dedicate to your box. Be sure to allow for plenty of room between the walk-in freezer and walls; you'll want to be able to clean around them whether they're inside or outdoors.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Walk-In Freezers
These walk-in freezers can be purchased for either indoor or outdoor installation. If you have the room to dedicate, indoor walk-in freezers are often much more convenient to access. They're also protected from the elements, theft, and vandalism. If they're installed in a climate-controlled environment, they can place a significant burden on your HVAC system with the warm air they exhaust to cool their contents driving up your energy bills.
Outdoor walk-in freezers don't require you to dedicate valuable interior space, but will expose the box and your employees to the elements. They have one major advantage in that they don't incur the additional energy costs by placing a burden on your HVAC system. Installation can be more expensive when you take into account the potential need for things like concrete pads, new exterior doors from your building, and security fencing. Additionally, in hot climates, the compressors can be forced to work constantly, which drives up energy bills and can significantly shorten the outdoor walk-in freezer's useful life.
Compressor Location
Compressors are located on either the top or the side of the commercial walk-in freezer. Side-mounted units may be a better fit for installation indoors in rooms with low ceiling clearance. They can also be installed and serviced more easily, but the location nearer the ground makes them more susceptible to damage and vandalism.
Temperature
The standard temperature for walk-in freezers is -10 degrees F. That temperature is plenty cold enough to keep foods safely frozen. If you're looking for a restaurant walk-in freezer that can provide longer-term storage at -20 degrees F, we have an array of units with that capability available as well. This kind of freezer allows operators to stock up on their frozen goods and hold them for longer, potentially saving money on delivery costs and making restaurants better equipped to deal with a sudden influx of customers.