Best Commercial Freezer Buyers' Guide

Nearly every kitchen will need the storage a reach-in freezer offers, and finding the right one can make a big difference in how smoothly your kitchen runs. The wide variety of commercial reach-in freezers can make this decision seem daunting, but the diversity increases the chances of finding the perfect fit for your foodservice operation.

What's the Best Commercial Reach-in Freezer for You?

A one-section reach-in freezer can add frozen storage to your commercial kitchen without compromising much floor space. They range in size from 12 to 34 cubic feet.

If you have the space for a larger commercial freezer, a two-section reach-in freezer is a great way to add more frozen storage space to your kitchen. Two-section commercial freezers can measure between 39.5 and 55 inches wide and between 29.5 and 36 inches deep, so you'll need to know how much room is available in your floorplan before choosing a model.

Three-section freezers have storage capacities that rival those of walk-ins. Overall dimensions are important for installation purposes, but interior storage space will determine how much you can actually store, which makes it another necessary consideration.

Our Top Shopping Tip: For a small storage footprint, choose a one-section freezer; for businesses with higher volumes, opt for a two- or three-section unit, depending on demand.

What Will Be Stored in Your Reach-in Freezer?

Knowing what'll be stored in your commercial reach-in freezer can help you determine what size unit and storage type you'll need. If you have the floor space for it, always estimate high when sizing. Trying to fit too much food in a small freezer can restrict the airflow and overwork the compressor, reducing its energy efficiency and shortening its life.

Also be aware of how each reach-in freezer enables you to store food. Most units come standard with three shelves. These shelves may be solid or wire, and they're adjustable in certain increments that vary by brand. If you'll be storing a lot of pans, you may benefit more from pan slides than shelves, which is an available option on most models.

If you plan on frequently or exclusively storing food pans, pan racks are offered on most freezer models. These make it easier to move food pans in and out of the freezer and enable you to prepare frozen dishes, such as ice cream, ahead of time.

Our Top Shopping Tip: When sizing, estimate high to avoid restricting airflow and overworking the compressor.

Which Type of Compressor Will Work Best in Your Kitchen?

Reach-in freezers will have the compressor mounted on the top or bottom. A third option is remote refrigeration, where the compressor is located outside of the kitchen, usually outdoors. Having the right configuration can ensure your commercial reach-in freezer will have a long life and is as energy efficient as possible.

Best for cool kitchens or storage rooms, top-mounted compressors should be kept away from cooking equipment. Throughout the day, hot air will rise and make the unit work harder, and grease-laden vapors can clog the system. Commercial reach-in freezers with top-mounted compressors have more cold storage space because the compressor’s placement near the fan eliminates the need for lines running through the back of the cabinet. This type of compressor usually needs less maintenance, but its inconvenient location can result in higher service costs if an issue arises.

Reach-in freezers with a bottom-mounted compressor are a good choice for hot kitchens or locations near cooking equipment. However, this freezer type should be avoided in kitchens that use a lot of flour, such as pizzerias and bakeries, as the flour can be drawn into the compressor as it settles toward the floor, clogging the equipment and requiring service. This compressor type may require maintenance more often than a top-mounted compressor, but its convenient location makes service and maintenance much easier. As an added bonus, bottom-mounted compressors raise the bottom of the freezer cabinet, meaning you can reach items on the bottom shelf without stooping.

Our Top Shopping Tip: Top-mounted compressors will give you more storage space, while bottom-mounted compressors are easier to service.

What's the Best Commercial Freezer Door Configuration For You?

The first thing you'll need to decide when selecting a door configuration is whether you'll benefit more from solid or glass doors. Solid doors provide better insulation, while glass enables you to see the products inside before you open the door, resulting in less cold air escaping. How often the door will be opened will determine which option is the most energy efficient for your kitchen.

The next choice is between a full door and half doors – also called Dutch doors. Full doors enable you to see everything in the section at once, but Dutch doors have the benefit of limiting how much cold air escapes each time one door is opened.

All of these options are available on pass-thru models, which have doors on the front and back, enabling the unit to be stocked from the back while product is pulled from the front.

Doors are also constructed with additional special features:

• Recessed handles, which can help avoid potential injuries that jutting handles might cause in a busy commercial kitchen.
• Door locks to better protect your products.
• Self-closing functionality that prevents doors from being left open, which can make the compressor work harder or raise food to unsafe temperatures.
• Hold-open capabilities, which enables staff to intentionally prop the door open for inventory and stocking.

Our Top Shopping Tip: Glass doors enable you to see product without having to open the unit, and solid doors provide optimal insulation; full doors grant complete product visibility at a glance, while half doors limit how much cold air is released.

KaTom's Quick Guide for Finding the Best Commercial Freezer

Want a streamlined selection process? Check out our quick guide below:

1. Footprint. Know your space availability and customer volume.
2. Airflow. Estimate high on unit size to keep from overworking your compressor.
3. Compressor. Decide if you'd prefer more storage space or higher serviceability.