Recommendations for Reach-in Freezer Maintenance
For many foodservice and hospitality operations, reach-in freezers play a crucial role in providing safe and efficient long-term food storage. Although these units have a straightforward design that withstands constant use in a commercial kitchen, operators should follow the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning and maintenance to preserve the unit's longevity. These recommendations include cleaning the exterior to protect the metal and cleaning the condenser at least once a year.
How Do You Clean a Commercial Reach-in Freezer?
In addition to cleaning the exterior to preserve its appearance and the interior of the unit to keep it sanitary, commercial reach-in freezers have several internal components that require routine attention. Some parts of the unit can be cleaned with water and a nonabrasive cleaner, while others require some disassembly and an involved approach.
How often you should clean a reach-in freezer depends on which part of the unit you're tending to, but there are recommendations for daily, quarterly, and annual cleaning tasks that should be completed. Failing to perform adequate upkeep on a reach-in freezer can lead to performance issues, warranty voidance, and a shorter service life for the unit. To safeguard your equipment and your warranty, your operation should establish routine cleaning processes that ensure your reach-in freezer is maintained according to the manufacturer's guidelines. You can find specific recommendations in the owner's manual for your unit, but the guidance compiled below can be a good reference for the maintenance your unit requires.
Tips for Cleaning Your Reach-in Freezer
Prior to cleaning the interior and exterior of your unit, you should relocate any food and ingredients to a separate freezer. Before cleaning a reach-in freezer's components, confirm the unit is off and unplugged, fully disconnected from any power supply.
Routine & Preventive Maintenance for Reach-in Freezers
Reach-in freezers contain three components that require routine cleaning: the exterior, often constructed of stainless steel or aluminum; the interior, including shelves and the cabinet; and door gaskets, which can collect dirt and grease.
- Interior. To prevent unpleasant smells, staining, and the possibility of contamination, any spills should be wiped up immediately. The interior of your reach-in freezer should be routinely cleaned with warm water and a nonabrasive detergent or soap; hot water, harsh chemicals, and scouring pads can permanently damage plastic interiors and cause discoloring on metal. If your reach-in freezer's interior is made of anodized aluminum, you may wish to clean it with 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed with 1 pint of water, or a larger quantity mixed to that ratio, instead. The interior of the cabinet also includes the shelves, which can be removed and thoroughly wiped down.
- Exterior. As with the interior of your unit, exteriors should be cleaned with a damp cloth, warm water instead of hot, and a nonabrasive cleaner or baking soda mixture to remove oil, grease, dirt, and other debris that might have built up.
- Door Gaskets. Cleaning your reach-in freezer's door gaskets helps ensure your doors maintain a tight seal. Remove them, then clean them and let them thoroughly dry. Check for any damage before reinstalling the gaskets.
The interior and exterior parts of your reach-in freezer should be thoroughly cleaned, wiped down, and dried. After completing your routine cleaning and maintenance and plugging the unit back in, wait for the cabinet to return to food-safe temperatures before restocking product.
Cleaning Your Reach-in Freezer's Condenser
Reach-ins are designed with complex refrigeration systems, although the specific design varies between manufacturers. However, the owner manual provided by any refrigeration brand emphasizes the importance of cleaning your reach-in freezer's condenser to prevent poor performance and preserve your unit's service life.
Your operation's monthly tasks should include an inspection of the condenser to ensure airflow isn't blocked. Your condenser coils and fins periodically need to be brushed off or vacuumed to remove dust and debris but should not be cleaned with soap and water, which could create a safety hazard and damage your equipment. Some designs include self-cleaning condensers, which may still need to be blown out with nitrogen or compressed air a couple of times each year.
Failing to perform routine cleaning on your condenser can void your warranty, and any cleaning procedures on this component should be conducted in accordance with the recommendations set forth by the manufacturer. However, operators should leave the maintenance of other refrigeration system components and any repairs to a licensed service technician.
