Commercial refrigeration equipment is a critical component of any commercial kitchen because they keep food fresh. Therefore, finding the right freezer can go a long way in the smooth running of a commercial kitchen. Of all the refrigeration equipment available to commercial kitchens, reach-in freezers are the most common. However, the wide variety of reach-in freezers available in the market makes it challenging to choose what you need. This article highlights factors to consider when choosing a reach-in freezer.

Compressor Location -- One of the first things you should look at when shopping for reach-in freezers is the position of the compressors. Ideally, compressors are either installed at the bottom or the top of a reach-in freezer. Reach-in freezers with top-mounted compressors are the easiest to maintain because the compressor is not exposed to clogging by grease. However, top-mounted compressors draw in warm air in a kitchen. Therefore, a reach-in freezer has to work extra hard to keep temperatures low. Freezers with top-mounted compressors are the best choice for relatively cooler kitchens. On the other hand, reach-in freezers with bottom-mounted compressors work well in hotter kitchens because hot air tends to rise. It means that a compressor does not have to work hard to maintain cold temperatures. Nonetheless, clogging is common in bottom-mounted compressors, and this makes regular cleaning and maintenance mandatory.

Door Design -- Reach-in freezers come in a variety of door designs. Some reach-in freezers have a single door, while others have two or three doors. The number of doors you go for should be dictated by the amount of space available in your kitchen. Most reach-in freezer doors swing open, but you can choose between full-length and half-length swing doors. One advantage of half-swing reach-in freezer doors over their full-length counterpart is the significant reduction of cold air. You can open the top or bottom doors separately, thereby keeping warm air out. Some reach-in freezers have sliding doors, which make them ideal for kitchens with limited space.

Visibility -- Commercial kitchens are often busy, and the easier it is for employees to find stored contents, the better. However, it can be challenging with opaque reach-in freezers because staff will know where a particular ingredient is stored until they open a freezer and look in. Reach-in freezers with a glass door make running a commercial kitchen smooth because staff can look through and find whatever they are looking for easily. It is especially the case for a commercial kitchen with several freezers.