Different types of small refrigerators and mini-fridges

Mini fridges come in the category of portable and handy appliances which are mostly used in hotel rooms, offices, dorms, homes, and shops. Imagine when you are sleeping and feel thirsty you have to walk all the way to the kitchen for drinking water. But, with mini-fridges, you can easily get the water in your room so that you don’t need to walk to the kitchen at midnight to drink water. You can use these small refrigerators and mini-fridges in the hostel. The best thing is that you can easily shift them from one dorm to another without any hassle. Mini Fridges are also known by different names like small refrigerators, compact refrigerators, mini cooler and portable refrigerator. In this article, we are discussing different types of small refrigerators and Mini Fridges:-

Different variants

These small fridges come in different sizes ranging from 1.7 cubic feet to 4.5 cubic feet. You can stock beverages, drinks, and food items like candies and snacks in it. The small fridge works well to keep the food fresh and easily fits into space as compared to a regular kitchen refrigerator. Furthermore, it also uses less electricity that saves your money.

Types of small refrigerators and mini-fridges

1.  Drink mini fridge

In this portable refrigerator you can only store beverages, water, and drinks. It allows you to set a temperature that can only keep drinks cool. You can’t store vegetables or other items in it.

2.  Counter high compact

This variety of small fridge is also called under the counter fridge that means you can fit them under the counter. They are available in single door and double door varieties. Unlike the mini-fridge, they have more storage space and allow you to store anything including food, drinks, etc. They come with dispense, lock, freezer, and light. You can easily fit them in your kitchen or dining hall. However, they will cost you a little expensive than other mini-fridges.

3.  Cube Mini Fridges

These varieties of mini-fridges are extensively used due to their compact size and cost-effective prices. They are compact and come with fewer compartments that mean you don’t have more space to place the items. Moreover, these fridges have a reversible door that means the door can be opened from right to left and left to right.

4.  Mid-size

As compare to cube mini-fridges, these fridges provide you more storage areas. They have more numbers of shelves which increased their storage capacity and also have a freezer in it. Due to more storage area, they will cost you more than cube mini-fridges.

5.  Travel mini fridges

If you love traveling then this category of a mini-fridge is designed for you. They are a portable refrigerator and can be easily carried from one place to another. You can easily carry them when you are going for travelling like a picnic, camping, etc. They are very durable and provide enough space to store both food items and beverages. As compare to min fridges, travel mini-fridges will cost you less expensive.

Are you also looking for an outstanding range of top quality Small Refrigerators and Mini Fridges? If yes, then buy them online from trusted online stores like HorecaTraders at great prices. At online stores, you can find a wide range of kitchen appliances and equipment of different brands under one roof.  Online stores also provide warranty benefits as well as provide hassle shipping services so that you will receive your product at your doorstep.

Introduction of different types of display fridges and coolers

Commercial display fridges are one of the huge investments that not only benefits in keeping the drinks and food chilled at the right temperature but also efficiently merchandise your products to maximize the sales. You can see these types of display coolers and fridges in canteens, bars, and takeaways with front display. They are capable of holding large quantities of stock with less maintenance while offering easy access for staff or customers. 

In this blog, we are discussing top display coolers and the fridge’s so you can choose the one as per your need. 

1.      Beer fridge

Bar fridges/beer fridges or back bar display cooler is extensively used in pubs, bars, clubs, and leisure centers. Undercounter back bar chiller is a common type of beer fridge that offers easy access to chilled bottles and canned beverages. These fridges come with sliding and hinged doors with attractive lighting features to draw customer attention especially in clubs or bars. When it comes to buying these fridges, you need to consider the right capacity and access according to your need. There are some other varieties of beer fridges that come with high capacity and capable of accommodating a large number of bottles. 

2.      Wine fridge or cooler 

Wine fridges or wine bottle coolers look similar to beer fridges but from the inside wine fridge is quite different. Different wine varieties need to store in different serving temperatures where wine fridge/cooler is the ideal option to keep the temperature constant and bring the best flavor for the wines you offered. Some wine chillers come with multiple temperature zones so that you can keep your red and white wines in a separate section in the same appliance. Secondly, these fridges have wooden shelves because wire racks can easily bend due to the heavyweight of bottles and can scratch the label. You should consider both capacity and appearance when buying wine fridges or wine bottle coolers.

3.      Multideck display fridge

Multideck display fridges have large open-fronted merchandiser that enables the customers to easily pick the chilled products directly off the shelf. These are mostly seen in convenience stores, cafes and sandwich shops to attract customers for increasing sales. They are large so when you are purchasing this display makes sure that it has enough capacity and a number of shelves for your business purpose. 

4.      Display freezers 

In summer’s everyone likes to have chilling and delicious ice creams or lollies. In the same way, providing a takeaway service of frozen food items or merchandising ready boxed meals can help you to bring a profit with a commercial display freezer. These chilled food displays give you plenty of choices like a display chest freezer, ice cream counter, and upright display freezers for merchandising frozen foods. They are generally used in convenience stores, leisure facilities, and takeaways.

5.      Other chilled food displays 

There are different types of food machines available that help to keep your food cold for quick services. For example, a chilled salad bar is mainly used for presenting pre-prepared desserts and salads. There are also used to highlight new products to the customers.

Are you also looking for different varieties of Commercial Refrigerators and freezers or display Coolers? If yes, then you can buy them online from trusted stores like HorecaTraders with warranty benefits. At an online store, you can find the exclusive range of all commercial appliances including refrigerators, freezers, bottle coolers, wine fridges, and more under one roof. 

Things you should consider while buying a commercial refrigerator and freezer

During the summer months, the temperature is very high which leads to refrigeration problems and it becomes very frequent. At this time, refrigerated units need to work hard and require proper maintenance. But, by choosing the right set of a commercial refrigerator according to your business type you can get more efficient use out of it. When you search for commercial refrigerators and freezers you will find various options in the market but you need to pay attention and choose the right one as per your need. In this article, we are sharing a few tips that will help you in finding the right reach-in refrigerator or freezer for your commercial kitchen.

•          Brand 

As the commercial refrigerators are offered by different brands so you should choose the one that you can trust upon. Some of the brands focus on providing the finest quality units without comprising the value at the best possible price. You need to research well and choose the best brand which has a good reputation in offering these units like Afinox refrigerators, Husky Display Bar Fridges, etc.

•          Placement 

First, you need to consider the environment where you place your reach-in refrigerator. Are you running a pizza parlor and planning to place the refrigerator next to the oven? If you put your refrigerator in a hot storage room with no temperature control then it needs to work harder to keep the food safe. The long term exposure to the high heat can adversely impact the compressor therefore proper maintenance becomes very important for it. You should keep your reach-in refrigerator in the place where temperature fluctuation is not too much. If you require a fridge for a crowded kitchen then choose a heavy-duty name brand refrigerator that can handle the heat. The entry-level models are not made to withstand such conditions for a long time. 

•          Choose a size

Commercial Refrigerators and freezers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. To choose the right set of a refrigerator, you should first measure the space in your kitchen where you want to place it. Don’t forget about the doorways because your fridge or freezer needs to fit in it. Another thing needs to be considered is the interior dimensions. You should be clear how much storage space you need for business. Many units have good exterior dimensions but have different spaces available in interior cubic feet. You should consider your stock purchases and how many customers you need to serve regularly. After this, you can decide a unit that can accommodate your business needs. 

•          Check for warranty 

There is nothing that lasts forever and even the best refrigerators also need proper servicing. You should know that all commercial refrigerators come with extensive warranty benefits and even some of the brands provide it with up to 3 years parts and labor coverage. It means you can get the services from certified technicians if anything happens wrong with the unit under the warranty period. Before buying any unit you should first ask about the warranty that gives you peace of mind for any type of future mishap. You can ask warranty related questions like how does warranty service work? Who do you need to call for it? 

•          Compressor Location

The refrigerator compressor is mostly mounted on either the bottom or top of the unit. If you are confused about which one you should purchase for your business then it completely depends on how you use the unit and where you place it in the kitchen. After considering the below-listed facts you can decide which one is a better choice for you.

Bottom-Mounted Compressor Features

•          It provides easy service because you don’t need to use a ladder for it

•          You can easily stack items on the top of the unit 

•          Perfect option to use nearby cooking lines 

Top-Mounted Compressor Facts

•          You cannot stack products on top of reach in

•          Perfect option for storing dry ingredients 

•          Have a low bottom shelf with easy access. Similarly, top-shelf height is also lower and provides an easy way to operate especially for a shorter individual

These are a few points that can help you in choosing the right Commercial Refrigerators and freezers for your business. You can also browse online to find the exclusive range of commercial appliances and equipment’s with great deals to save your money. For example, Horecatraders is one such online store which has been engaged in offering a wide range of commercial appliance and equipment with warranty benefits. You can explore their website to buy top quality refrigerators and freezers for your business purpose.

All About Bain Maries and its different types

A Bain Marie is a food warming appliance that has been used to keep pre-cooked food ready to eat for a long period. They are also called a double boiler which usually comes in large size and gastronorm compatible machine utilized as a part of a self-service buffet or in service area. It comes in both gas and electrical versions as well as with wet and dry heat options. When you buy Bain-Maries; you have wide choices in different sizes, shapes, and types. 

It surrounds the food by giving gentle heat and warms the dishes like melting chocolate, sauces, etc. Additionally, it is also used for pre-cooked foods like chili, baked beans, curry, etc. to keep the food safe at the right temperature for extended periods. The temperature can be changed through thermostat according to the type of food you are holding. 

Types of Bain Marie

1.      Wet Heat Bains Marie

Wet heat Bains Marie keeps the food warm by using a chamber of hot water. 

It works in different ways:-

• Gentle heat- The water temperature doesn’t exceed the boiling point a result food will not burn or stick to the pan.
• Steaming: - The stem comes from the hot water that will prevent the food from drying out. Keep the bain-marie lid on to maximize its effect.
• Gastronorm compatible:- It is easy to swap down the pans during services
• Even heat: - Once you set the temperature, the food pan will stay at the same temperature as the water has no hot or cold spots.

If you used it for an extended period then you may need to refill the water. After the service, drain out the excess water and check the units with drain taps to make the process safe.

2.      Dry Heat bain-marie

Dry Heat bain-marie involves a heating element that directly heats the base of food pan; as a result, it doesn’t need hot water for heating.

• Rapid heat-up- there is no need for hot water in it, dry heat bains-maries are ready to use and provide great mobility for catering.
• Efficient: - These models are more efficient as compared to wet heat Bain, as you don’t need to put effort to keep a large pan of hot water.
• Convenient: - You should know your responsibilities when you are serving hot food. If you have inexperienced staff then this model is an ideal option as they are easy to operate.
• Safe:- There is no hot water is used therefore the chances of getting burnt through steam or spillages are less.
• Compatible with Gastronorm:- It is easy to swap out the pans even when you are serving.

Dry Heat bain-marie works well to quickly dry out hot sauces like custard or gravy. 

Holding Time for food in Bain Marie

When it comes to holding the pre-cooked foods for serving canteens, buffets, or such catering environment then most of the food items can behold for a maximum of two hours. But, certain food items spoil before this time or longer if you hold food in more moisture. So, you should monitor the food carefully and get the information about how long you can hold any food in it.

Do you also want to Buy Bain-Marie Buffet Islands for your restaurant or catering business? If yes, then buy Bain-Maries only from trusted online stores. For example, HorecaTraders is one such reputable online store that has been engaged in offering top-notch quality commercial kitchen appliances with warranty benefits.

Checklist for your commercial Kitchen cleaning

Keeping your business place clean and hygienic is very important to ensure the health of any person who walks through the door. For example, the workplaces like food services, regular maintenance, and cleaning of a commercial kitchen is a key requirement to ensure complete safety and success of the business. They need to follow the health code requirement that varies from state to state but it is important to understand and follow the rules of commercial kitchen hygiene to reduce the spread of bacterial and viruses.

Difference between Cleaning and Sanitizing

The result may be similar to doing both the activities but there are key difference between cleaning and sanitizing. The cleaning process is done for removing the dirt other things come on the surface by using detergent and water. The sanitization process is focused on removing or reduction of bacteria and microorganisms from the surface. 

Sanitization is important for the surfaces that directly come in contact with food during preparation or utensils used for serving food like crockery, equipment, and utensils. The surfaces which are not utilized for food preparation need to be cleaned only not sanitized. 

To maintain the hygiene and cleaning of your commercial kitchen, you should create a list for it. There are some key jobs that need to be done several times a day while others can be done on a weekly and monthly basis. Regular cleaning is necessary to ensure complete food safety and help in reducing food waste as well as lowering overall menu costs.

You can buy hotel supplies through online stores and ensure the complete hygiene of your restaurant kitchen. 

Items should be cleaned in each cooking shift

These are common actions done by cooks and other kitchen staff. Mostly, they already complete these tasks in their schedule that will make the work complete in a timely manner. 

• Brushing the grill between cooking fish, red meat.
• Switch cutting boards
• clean the line and prep areas
• empty trash bin
• changing sanitizing water and cleaning rags

After Each Shift

After breakfast, lunch, and dinner, proper cleaning should be done to maintain hygiene in the kitchen. The items used for daily cooking should be cleaned with no gaps.

• Cleaning of fryers
• Wash and sanitized of surface including prep tables, cutting boards, etc.
• Keep all the cleaning rags in dirty laundry. Also put all aprons, chefs’ coats, etc.
• Brush the grill
• Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
• Clean the meat and cheese slicer after each use
• Washing of floor mats
• Keep the steam table empty and wiped clean
• Refill soap dispensers and replace empty paper towel rolls

Daily Tasks

There are many restaurants that hire cleaner services for cleaning purposes. They come in the night for cleaning and make sure that the kitchen is up to mark with cleaning standards for the next day of service.

• Cleaning of grease traps
• Washing of can opener
• Change foil lining of the grill, flattops, and range
• Run hood filters through the dishwasher

Weekly

The tasks that can be rotated throughout the week include:-

• cleaning of sinks and faucets
• Cleanses of coffee machine
• Cleaning of ovens including door, racks, and walls
• Boil out the deep fryer
• Use drain cleaner on the floor drains
• Sanitization of walk-in refrigerators and freezers
• Cleaning of any anti-fatigue mats

Monthly 

In weekly cleaning, these monthly jobs should also schedule so that staff shares this burden of side work.

• Cleaning behind the hotline (stove, oven, fryers) to remove the grease build-up which can lead to fire hazard.
• Clean freezers
• Empty and sanitize your ice machine
• Cleaning of storage areas
• Change any pest traps
• Wipe down the dry storage area
• Cleaning of walls and ceilings
• Restock your first aid kit

Yearly/ Annually

There are different tasks that need to be done each year to ensure the cleaning and safety of your kitchen. These tasks generally required professional help. It is important because if there are any issues or repair is needed then you can fix it on time without losing too much in business. Like:-

• Checking of fire suppression system
• Examine of fire extinguishers ( it should be done twice a year)
• Cleaning of pilot lights on any gas kitchen equipment
• Cleaning of hoods by the professional company. This work is very messy and time-consuming where professionals can easily do it for you.

By following these cleaning and hygiene schedules you can keep your commercial kitchen safe for employees and customers also. This will help in preventing possible food contamination and reduce the chances of food spoilage and waste.

Buy Hotel Supplies online

Are you looking for a wide range of hotel supplies for maintaining your restaurant kitchen hygiene? If yes, buy it from trusted online stores that deliver the best solutions to meet the hygiene of your company. Whether you want to buy hand dryers, sink or cleaning equipment, you can buy them online at great prices with doorstep shipping services. For example, HorecaTraders is one such trusted online store that assures you to provide excellent hygiene solutions in terms of products and applications for your commercial kitchen. You can buy fly killers to latest technology professional dishwashers, paper dispensers, or cleaning chemicals to tissues under one roof at HorecaTraders.