When to Upgrade to a Walk-in Refrigerator vs. a Reach-in Refrigerator

If the reach-in refrigerator in your restaurant is feeling overstuffed, you may want to consider upgrading your refrigeration unit to a walk-in cooler. Overfilled refrigerators often provide inconsistent cooling due to blocked air circulation, leading to overworked compressors and unsafe food conditions. If you decide to rectify the situation by adding more storage, you'll need to decide whether to invest in more reach-in refrigeration or take the leap to a walk-in refrigerator. The information below can help guide you in choosing the right commercial refrigerator for your kitchen.

How Will You Use Your Refrigeration?

The first thing you should consider when deciding on upgrading from a reach-in to a walk-in is that one does not necessarily replace the other. A restaurant can function with only reach-in units; however, the same cannot be said for walk-ins. While reach-ins or walk-ins are ideal for storing product because they are designed to hold food at safe temperatures, they are not meant to bring hot foods down to those temperatures. Placing hot food in a walk-in or reach-in refrigerator can raise the temperature in the entire unit, potentially bringing all the food stored there into the danger zone and leaving hot food in the danger zone long enough that it could be affected by dangerous bacterial growth. To prevent compromising food safety and ruining your refrigerator's performance, hot food must be chilled with an ice paddle, blast chiller, or another cooling device before being placed into the unit.

While they are designed for the same end goal – holding food at safe temperature – walk-ins and reach-ins differ in their intended daily use. Reach-in refrigerators operate as a working box, so they are made to keep the interior cool even when the doors are opened repeatedly. This makes them ideal for storing products that need to be readily available. A walk-in refrigerator, however, needs to cool a larger area, and opening the door consistently lets in warm air, putting strain on the compressor as it struggles to cool the interior. Too much warm or moist air can also lead to condensation inside the unit, creating a slip hazard. Although most walk-in coolers feature self-closing doors to help keep cold air inside and warm ambient air outside, the unit will not perform as expected if it is accessed frequently throughout the day.

The most obvious difference between walk-ins and reach-ins is the amount of food they're capable of storing. Reach-ins are available in a variety of kitchen-ready sizes, including with one to three sections, with two-section models such as the True T-49 the most popular because of the capacity they provide without claiming a large footprint. Those units typically have built-in shelf or tray slide positions, while walk-ins can be paired with custom shelving units to create an organized storage area for everything from tubs of sauces to bulk ingredients. It's likely worth investing in a walk-in cooler if your kitchen's cold storage requirements or production capacity exceeds a reach-in's capabilities. Additionally, a walk-in could greatly improve your kitchen's efficiency and organization.

Installation Requirements for Walk-ins vs. Reach-ins

While a walk-in cooler can be a beneficial addition to a restaurant, it requires more installation time than a reach-in unit. It needs a level floor for installation, and if it is not placed on concrete, you must construct an insulated floor for it. The space your facility has dictates which size unit you can install; however, you can install walk-ins outside, which is ideal for receiving shipments. Near their rear entrance, many restaurants have a walk-in cooler that may require additional considerations for weather, depending on the location and climate. While smaller walk-ins can be installed by the operator, many large units require a professional installation team, which can add an extra upfront cost.

Reach-ins are comparatively very simple to add to your kitchen. As long as there's a power source and enough floor space, a reach-in refrigerator can be installed almost anywhere – as long as it's indoors. Typically, this type of refrigerator can handle being installed on slightly uneven floors, as long as the adjustable feet are able to make up the difference.

Walk-ins vs. Reach-ins at a Glance

Walk-in Coolers

Reach-in Refrigeration