When running a supermarket, retail food business, restaurant, café, catering business, or any other foodservice operation, maintaining proper food storage is critical. A reliable commercial fridge not only preserves freshness but also ensures food safety and compliance with health standards.
But not all fridges are created equal.From storing beverages to prepping ingredients and displaying ready-to-eat items, there’s a wide range of commercial refrigeration units designed for specific tasks. In this blog, we’ll break down the most common types of commercial fridges and how to choose the right one for your business.
1. Reach-In Refrigerators
Best for: Back-of-house cold storage
Reach-in fridges are the most common type used in restaurant kitchens. They come in single, double, or triple-door models and offer ample adjustable shelving to organize produce, ingredients and prepared foods. Some models feature split compartments for refrigerator and freezer use.
Key Features:
- Vertical storage space
- Easy access
- Temperature stability
- Solid or glass door options
- On castors easy to move so easy to clean
2. Undercounter Refrigerators
Best for: Line stations and space-saving setups
Undercounter fridges are compact units designed to fit beneath prep tables or counters, making them perfect for kitchens or serving area with limited space. These are ideal for storing frequently used ingredients within arm’s reach, such as prepping stations, coffee machines , blenders/mixers etc. They come with glass or solid door. Normally solid door for the kitchen/back or house area and glass door at front of house.
Key Features:
- Space-efficient
- Available with drawers or doors and solid or glass door
- Often used on cook or prep lines
3. Worktop Refrigerators
Best for: Prep areas with refrigeration needs
These combine refrigeration with a stainless steel work surface, making them extremely efficient in kitchens where prep and storage need to happen in the same footprint.
Key Features:
- Integrated prep surface
- Refrigerated base
- Saves time and space
4. Display Refrigerators
Best for: Front-of-house merchandising
Display fridges are designed to showcase beverages, desserts, sandwiches, and other grab-and-go items. Available in upright or countertop models, they often feature glass doors or can be open fronted and comes with LED lighting to attract customers.
Types Include:
- Dairy and produce fridges
- Bakery display cases
- Open-air merchandiser fridges
- Butchers Display
- Flower Fridges
- Pet Food Display Fridges
5. Bar and Beverage Coolers
Best for: Bars, clubs, and cafes
These specialized units store and chill bottles, cans, and mixers. They come in back-bar models (often with sliding or swing doors) and undercounter styles for easy access behind a bar.
Key Features:
- Adjustable shelving
- Glass or solid doors
- Often include LED lighting
6. Prep Table Refrigerators
Best for: Pizza shops, sandwich delis, and salad bars
Also known as prep stations, these units have refrigerated bases and a top section for ingredient pans. They allow chefs to assemble dishes quickly and keep ingredients at safe temperatures. These units are also available with a glass canopy and front for preparation in front of customers or for more back of house with a stainless steel flip lid
Types Include:
- Sandwich/salad prep tables ( with stainless steel pans, cutting board, internal dry shelf, internal LED light, refrigerated storage, night covers and rear sliding doors )
- Pizza prep tables (with larger boards, stainless steel pans, top stainless steel flip lid/cover)
7. Walk-In Coolers
Best for: Large-scale storage needs
For operations that require bulk storage of perishable goods, walk-in coolers are essential. These can be custom-built to fit your space and are used by restaurants, grocery stores, and food distributors.
Key Features:
- Massive storage capacity
- Custom sizing
- Often used with shelving and organizational systems
8. Glass Door Merchandisers
Best for: Retail environments and self-service
Common in convenience stores and supermarkets, glass door merchandisers are upright fridges designed for customer access. They’re great for displaying drinks, dairy, meat and dairy products, flowers or pre-packaged foods.
Key Features:
- LED-lit displays
- Energy-efficient glass doors
- Multiple adjustable shelving options
- Clear view doors so product is easily seen,
Choosing the Right Commercial Fridge
When deciding on a commercial fridge, consider:
- Your space limitations
- What products you’ll be storing
- What ambient conditions the unit will be working in
- Energy efficiency ratings
- Ease of cleaning and maintenance
- Access (staff-only or customer-facing?)
It’s often smart to have more than one type of fridge in your setup to optimize workflow and meet different storage needs.
Conclusion
Investing in the right commercial refrigeration equipment is key to keeping your kitchen running smoothly. Whether you’re serving drinks, prepping fresh ingredients, or displaying food for sale, there’s a commercial fridge designed to meet your needs.
If you’re unsure what fits your business best, talk to Artisan Food Equipment who give you all the advice you require on 1300278472 or sales@artisangroup.au who can help assess your operation and recommend the ideal equipment.
