HOW TO KEEP A FRIDGE COLD

UNDERSTANDING AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

All refrigeration units have an “ambient” temperature rating. This rating relates to the maximum room temperature the fridge or freezer is designed to work in. Most commercial refrigeration is designed to work at an ambient temperature of 32°C, so when temperatures reach higher, the units come under increased pressure - using more energy and potentially failing if temperatures get out of control. If you know your kitchen regularly hits high temperatures above 32°C, powerful “Climate Class 5” fridges would be more suitable, as these typically are rated for temperatures up to 40°C and higher.

BEATING THE HEAT

CLEAN THE FILTERS

Air-cooled fridges in professional kitchens commonly encounter air filled with grease, steam and dust, which can quickly obstruct the air flow to the critical internal components. To combat this, many are fitted with filters to minimise debris build-up. However, if the filter isn’t cleaned regularly it can quickly clog up, causing the fridge or freezer to fail - potentially leading to an expensive repair. A quick brush or vacuum of the filter might be all that your fridge needs to work perfectly.

MOVE IT!

It might not always be convenient. However, when temperatures are extreme, a temporary solution may be to move the fridge to a cooler area. Even if it’s moved a few inches away from a wall, increased air flow around the unit can help the internal components to “breathe”.

Many commercial fridges are mounted on castors, so where possible, it may be worthwhile to re-arrange your kitchen. By moving the refrigeration away from hot spots, such as areas in direct sunlight or next to hot cooking machines, it’s possible to reduce unit’s workload.

AIR FLOW

Possibly one of the best ways to help keep refrigeration cool in hot weather is to ensure sufficient air flow. In most cases, this would simply be opening doors and windows to allow fresh air to pass through. However, during the hotter months, electric fans can be used to help circulate air around refrigeration - this could potentially be the easiest and most effective way to keep your fridge working during spikes in temperature.

If the fridge has internal fans, make sure they are not obstructed by food. Pulling food forward in the fridge can help internal air circulation and improved fridge performance. If you find your fridge is constantly crammed, it may be worth considering investing in a secondary refrigerator, chest freezer or even a high capacity cold room.

KEEP THE DOORS CLOSED

Easier said than done. Still, the worst culprit for fluctuations in temperature is the constant opening and closing of the door. Try to open the door only when necessary and close it as soon as possible - avoid the temptation to prop it open, even when you’re loading. Likewise, if you have double door or stable door refrigeration, only open the doors that you need.

If you notice the door isn’t staying shut by itself, the seals (sometimes called “gaskets”) may not be working correctly - check for damage or dirt - it’s essential to keep the door seals clean and in good condition for maximum fridge efficiency and performance. If you notice they need replacement, a wide selection of genuine seals are available in the Spares and Accessories section.

DON’T LOAD HOT FOOD

Putting a full gastronorm pan full of hot food into a fridge isn’t just bad for food safety. It also quickly raises the fridge's internal temperature, making the fridge work even harder. By waiting for food to cool, or pre-chilling in a blast chiller, it is much safer to get food down to a safe storage temperature without putting excess strain on your fridge.

DON'T TOUCH THE THERMOSTAT

If the internal temperature is rising, it can be very tempting to crank up the thermostat to try to cool down the fridge. However, if it’s already set between 1-4°C, it’s unlikely you’ll see much difference. In fact, it’s more likely to increase the temperature inside as the internal components have to work even harder. There’s better ways to keep the fridge cold. Just don’t touch that dial.

ORGANISE

If your fridge or freezer is overloaded, it’s unlikely that the appliance will be able to circulate sufficient air to maintain the correct temperature. A good idea is to create a fridge plan - not only will this help your fridge keep temperature - it also helps you access the contents more efficiently, reducing the amount of time the door spends open (and reducing running costs too!).

OTHER HEAT SOURCES

Kitchens generally create a lot of heat. From fryers and grills to washers and ovens, everything seems to pump out heat - none of which is helpful for your refrigeration.

Consider how you are using the rest of your kitchen. If you're using electric or gas hobs, would you be able to use an induction hob instead? Induction hobs emit much less heat than traditional alternatives. Do you need both fryer tanks on? Does your salamander grill need to be on all the time?

By taking a close look at all the different sources of heat and steam in your kitchen, you might be able to bring temperatures down, simply by powering off appliances when they aren't needed. Microwave ovens, induction cookers and rapid cook ovens are all very helpful in keeping kitchen temperatures - and energy use - down.

MONITOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURES

If one of your fridges or freezers fails, it’s usually a good idea to check the room temperature with a thermometer or food probe. Check around the back of the unit, or near the motors near the top of the fridge. Take a note of the temperature - if the air around the fridge is higher than the rated temperature of the fridge (typically 32°C), then it’s important to cool the unit down before calling an engineer.

MULTIDECK DISPLAY FRIDGES

Open fridges like multidecks typically use “air curtains” to keep the contents chilled - a flow of air across the contents which stays within the fridge. If the air curtain is disrupted, the multideck has to work harder to replace the cool air. As such, make sure multideck fridges are not in a “breezy” location where the air curtain is affected.

FAILED FRIDGE?

During a heatwave, much more strain is put on all refrigeration, so in some circumstances it's possible for fridges to “fail”. Often, as soon as the room returns to a more suitable ambient temperature, the issue will go away.

TIP: As an immediate measure, your Ice Maker can help. By adding a gastronorm pan full of ice into your fridge, the fridge's internal temperature can be brought down noticeably, although this is only a very temporary solution. If your fridge is constantly over temperature, a more long-term resolution is required.

Of course, that’s not to say that every refrigeration break down is related to heat. If you’ve tried all the above ideas and it’s still not working, we have a fleet of highly trained refrigeration engineers ready to help you.

Fill out our customer enquiry form here to arrange for one our service technicians to contact you.

What else can help keep a fridge cold?

Keeping your fridge cold is vital for food safety, and one of the best ways to do that is cleaning it regularly. Check out our How to Clean a Commercial Fridge guide for more information. Not only can cleaning a fridge can contribute to more efficient cooling, it also helps to reduce running costs, extend the lifespan and improve overall cooling performance.

The following video provides the basics on refrigeration maintenance which can also help to reduce your running costs and extend its operational lifespan.

Further Reading on Refrigeration

For more in-depth information on refrigeration, check out these other informative guides:

What is a Blast Chiller?

Types of Display Fridge