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Many restaurants, bars and concession stands will use a commercial reach-in refrigerator. Commercial reach-in refrigerators are generally used for short term food and ingredient storage. These units allow you to do this much easier opposed to large walk-in refrigerators that store bulk items long term. Commercial reach-in refrigerators are built for heavy duty use and have a more powerful compressor than the majority of residential refrigerators.
 This is important as the increased horsepower means a refrigerator's overall storage space cools more quickly despite constant door opening. This is vital for food safety as well as NFS regulations require commercial kitchens to store food products at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Configurations of Reach-In refrigerators
Commercial refrigerators come in three configurations: one door, two door, and three door. Doors can also be halved for more compartmentalized storage. When considering what size refrigerator is right for your commercial kitchen, keep in mind that the larger the unit, the more energy it will consume.
Energy Star has begun rating commercial refrigerators. Use the Energy Star guide to identify units that are the most energy efficient.
Of course, energy usage must be weighed against the amount of storage space that you need in your facility. Probably the most efficient way to organize your refrigerated storage space is to use gradually smaller units as you move closer to the hottest part of the kitchen: the production line.
Start with a walk in for bulk storage. A two or three door reach-in refrigerator can stock all of your weekly supplies. Finally, finish with a one door refrigerator nearest the production line for quick and easy access by kitchen staff.
All commercial refrigerators have thick insulation to maximize efficiency and cool air holding power. Stainless steel interiors are more expensive than aluminum or galvanized ones, but are stain and rust resistant, can withstand heavy use, and are much easier to clean and sanitize.
Commercial Reach-In Refrigerator Maintenance
Most commercial refrigerators are designed for heavy duty use and should perform at a high level for many years. However, a few very simple preventive maintenance tasks will help ensure that your refrigerator is working effectively and efficiently.
Make sure the compressor fan has good airflow.
A partially blocked or very dirty compressor fan must work harder to cool the refrigerant in your refrigerator and in turn will shorten its life
Replace worn door gaskets.
All commercial reach-ins have thick self-sealing gaskets on their doors to make sure cold air can't escape from the unit. Over time, these gaskets wear out and lose their effectiveness. A good indication your door gaskets need replacing is the constant presence of frost on shelves and food products.
Keep the compressor and coils clean.
The coils are usually black tubes that are packed together on the outside of the refrigerator on the back side. Wipe dust and dirt off coils and the compressor regularly to maximize life cycle and efficiency.
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