Reach-In Refrigerator Buying Guide

A reach-in refrigerator is the cornerstone of any sized kitchen. But because of the vast selection of refrigerators available, it is imperative to know everything you can about them, in order to choose the model that's best suited for you and your business. It is integral to determine proper sizing and door configuration for reach-in refrigerators before purchasing. Upright reach-in refrigerators are most common, and are almost universally between 78"-84" high and 24"-30" deep. Reach-in refrigerators come in 1 door , 2 door , or 3 door varieties, or they can come with one or two sliding doors.

While sliding doors are beneficial in locations where space is limited, it must be kept in mind that with this design, only one door can be open at a time. Some models come with two half-size doors as well; they do offer less storage space, but allow less cold air to escape and maintain internal cabinet temperatures better. Width depends on the number of doors, from 28" for one-door models to 78 1/2" for 3-door models. Regardless of whether the doors are hinged or sliding, half-sized or full-sized, virtually all of them are both self-closing and gasketed, to prevent cool air leaking out. Hinged doors are equipped with stops to hold the door open past 90°, which makes loading and unloading easier. Unlike refrigerated or freezer merchandisers, reach-in freezers are NSF-approved to hold pre-packaged food items and opened food items.

Glass door refrigerators are becoming more and more popular, as they allow the items within the refrigerator to be seen without opening the door, thus reducing energy cost due to loss of cold air. Glass door refrigerators also have interior lighting, mirrored rear interior panels, and lighted panels located top-front for message display. Because of this, glass door refrigerators are best suited for front of the house use or self-serve operations, such as convenience stores, cafeterias, etc. Glass door refrigerators also have interior lighting, mirrored rear interior panels, and lighted panels located top-front for message display.

The most popular exteriors for reach-in refrigerators are polished stainless steel or aluminum, because both those materials are easy to maintain and sanitize. Exteriors are also available in plastic or vinyl finishes. Decorator panels can also be ordered. Interiors are more widely varied, with white, vinyl-coated aluminum, anodized aluminum, and ABS liners being three of the most common interiors. Some reach-ins will also utilize 2"-3" foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation, which helps maintain interior temperatures. There is also the option of purchasing a unit that has either side by side doors or upper and lower ones.

The location of the refrigeration unit is another option on reach-in refrigerators. The unit may be either top or bottom mounted. Bottom mounted units are more popular, and are useful when space above the reach-in is limited. Bottom-mounted refrigeration units are best suited for especially hot kitchens with low ceilings; the hot air will rise out of the way of the low refrigeration unit, and since the ceiling is low, storage space on top is not an issue. And, since the refrigeration unit is not surrounded by hot air, it will not have to work as hard, thus prolonging the life of the unit. This type of refrigeration unit does reduce interior storage space, however, and requires installation of a door about one-half the size the height of a regular door. Top-mounted refrigeration units usually increase the available storage are in the interior of the cabinet. Virtually all refrigerators offered here come with balanced and oversized refrigeration units. The location of the refrigeration unit will also determine the location of the compressor and blower, which can either be top mounted or bottom mounted. Most reach-in refrigerators have a temperature between 33°F and 38°F, but models are available that maintain 36°F to 40°F. It is critical for food safety that items in need of refrigeration to be kept at a temperature no greater than 40°F.

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