Walk In Fridge
Walk-in fridges are a must for food stores, restaurants, ships, convenience stores, warehouses, game/meat lockers and other places that need to store the large scale food items.
These are available in many different sizes, technologies and materials, so much depends how you strike a balance between the cost and the quality. Also there are certain basic rules which need to be adhered to so that you can have a unit that functions correctly, food stays amply fresh and no one gets trapped inside the unit. The big brands which are basically involved in the manufacturing of these units include Kolpak, Master-Bilt & Norlake etc. You can buy indoor or outdoor walk-in fridge depending on your basic requirements.
Food borne illness can wreck havoc for any store or restaurants which use the walk-in fridge. So it’s imperative that certain points about its functioning are clearly understood. These will not only help you in buying the correct unit but also help maintain it, so that you do not end up spending on the repairs. Before you actually go ahead and purchase one, make sure that you have done ample of research about what size you want and what amount of storage space the walk-in unit must have. There should be enough space around the area where it’s placed and inside as well. This type of fridge is a bulky item; hence it’s important to check the condition of the floor where it’s supposed to be placed. Since it’s a big and heavy item the amount of heat it’ll produce during the functioning is also a large amount, proper ventilation around it is a must. Accessible drain lines will also be needed to set it up, it has to be placed at a spot where these are available. The basic cost of a walk-in fridge is governed by the size. You can buy one which is 4X4 up to a unit as large as a warehouse. On an average it can cost anywhere between $4400 and $12000 depending on the materials used in manufacturing it and the over all size. It’s important to understand that this type of unit it never turned off as long as it’s functioning, what seems to be a low price might actually cost you more over a period of time via the electricity bills. Make sure you are not fooled by the upfront low costs.
Every food item has a different temperature requirement. So it’s best that they are designated shelves according to the temperatures that they need. Like in our reach-in fridge, the walk- in fridge doesn’t necessarily have the same temperature throughout the length and breadth of the unit. So it’s best that you know what goes where. Also, raw food items may contain some bacteria as they are yet to be processed, so do not store them along with the ready to eat items to prevent a cross-contaminations. Since a walk-in unit of this type stores a large number of items make sure that proper temperature is always maintained, ideally it should always be kept below 41 degree Fahrenheit. A very good idea is to keep a thermometer in the warmest part of the fridge and have it regularly monitored. This will help you be sure that the temperature is below the required limit all the time. The shelves should never be lined and food items should be placed so that good air circulation is maintained inside it all the time. Overstocking is also something a walk-in fridge might often be subjected to, makes sure that it never happens. People who move inside the fridge should not only dress properly, but also know where the safety latch is located incase the door gets locked behind them. Also, it’s extremely essential that someone is informed when a person goes inside a walk-in unit.
Powered with all this knowledge you can surely buy the correct type of unit and use it in the best possible way.


