Restaurant owners everywhere know just how important their refrigeration system is. Good refrigeration is a make-or-break element in any food business, whether you run a quiet coffee shop, a bustling gastropub, or a small-batch ice cream shop! At J.F.S. Restaurant Equipment Ltd, we have made it our business to help restaurants choose commercial kitchen equipment and refrigeration systems tailored to their needs since 1979!
But how exactly do you determine what you need?
Kitchen Size and Needs of the Operation
The first step in fitting your commercial kitchen with a refrigeration system is to determine your needs. Refrigeration units come in all shapes, sizes and features, but knowing what's ‘must-have’ and what's ‘nice-to-have’ will help you avoid spending too much on something that's superfluous to your business.
Once you’ve determined what you need, it’s time to investigate what your kitchen can accommodate. Some questions that need to be asked are as follows. How much space can you dedicate to refrigeration? How does your kitchen operate? How far is the refrigeration unit from your kitchen staff’s work space? How often do they have to access the refrigerator or freezer? How quickly should they be able to access the ingredients they use most often? All those factors will help guide you in your purchase.
Capacity and versatility
What are you making? How much of it are you making? How much food will you need to store? Will you be rotating your menu often?
Underestimating the amount stored in your reach-in or undercounter refrigerator can lead to overcrowding and affect your unit’s ability to work efficiently, but overestimating can result in overspending, loss of kitchen space, and higher energy demand. If you’re purchasing equipment for a new kitchen or are scaling up and are unsure about your capacity needs, an expert in commercial refrigeration can guide you in your purchase.
If you’re planning on changing your menu often, you might want to look into a refrigeration unit with a flexible configuration like adjustable shelves in order to accommodate the change in products.
Style
Style may not be top-of-mind if the unit isn’t visible to your customers, but it can also make a difference for your kitchen. A unit with double doors will make it easier for your kitchen staff to store bulkier items without having to break them down first, while a unit with glass doors can make it easier for your employees to see what’s inside and do inventory.
Temperature
Temperature is critical and must be matched to the type of product that will be stored. How cold do you need your refrigeration unit to get? When shopping for a unit, factor the kind of ingredients that will be kept in it. If you need supplies to be frozen or easily spoiled ingredients, you will want to go for a unit that reaches lower temperatures, but it may be an unnecessary expense if a standard unit would keep your supplies at a safe temperature.
Warranty and After-Sale Support
In a restaurant, the refrigeration system does a lot of the heavy lifting in keeping you in the black. Even a small issue with your walk-in or refrigerated drawers can not only put your customers’ safety in jeopardy but also yield massive losses in spoiled supplies and lost revenue.
To avoid having to incur even more costs in the event of a malfunction with your commercial refrigeration system, look for a supplier who offers an extended warranty. Purchasing your unit from a manufacturer with a strong commitment to customer service can reduce the chance of breakdown. In the event of a problem, choose a brand that has a good response time and available parts in order to get your unit fixed faster so that you can return to business as usual as soon as possible.
Reputation
As you look at your options for your new commercial refrigeration unit, choosing the supplier can play a big part in your decision-making process. A dealer with a good reputation who carries trusted brands and knows the restaurant industry inside out, can help your restaurant thrive by helping you determine your needs and help you find a refrigeration solution that works for your establishment. J.F.S. has not only been in business since 1979, but their staff have worked in all aspects of the restaurant industry, giving them good insight into operational, efficiency, and economic aspects of your business.
If you’re in the market for a new commercial refrigeration system in the Greater Toronto Area, contact J.F.S. Restaurant Equipment Ltd for expert advice on commercial kitchen equipment of all kinds.