What are the Best Commercial Refrigerator Brands?
There are so many options it can be overwhelming to determine the best commercial refrigerator brands. We're here to help determine the best brand for you.
Memphis Ice Machine
Oct 19, 2022
In the world of commercial refrigeration, there are many brands to choose from. If you’re just getting started with your commercial kitchen equipment, it can be overwhelming to determine the best brand for your new foodservice business.
Whether this is your first experience buying restaurant equipment or you’re a pro looking for new service-industry trends and brands, we’ve got you covered. We’ll unpack our #1 brand for commercial refrigeration, and give some context along the way. By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to make a smart decision about buying a commercial refrigerator.
Related: 4 Key Considerations When Buying Commercial Refrigeration
Types of Refrigerators
Without the right type of commercial kitchen refrigeration, your business can incur losses from wasted food and lost time due to a lack of efficiency. So before we compare commercial refrigeration brands, we need to unpack the different types of refrigerators used in restaurants, bars, and other food service businesses. This will ensure you’re not only buying the right brand, but also the right type of refrigerator for your business.
Upright Reach-Ins
Upright Refrigerators & Freezers
This is as basic as it gets in commercial refrigeration in backend kitchens. Reach-in refrigerators and freezers are designed to keep the contents within arm’s reach, making it easier and faster to get food moving. There’s not a lot of variety in these models, but most units are available with glass or stainless steel doors.
Undercounters
Undercounter Refrigerators & Freezers
The smaller, more compact younger sibling to the upright reach-ins, undercounter refrigerators and freezers are used mostly in workspaces where there isn’t a lot of extra room. They’re usually used to store products that are going to be used immediately and need to stay accessible.
Glass Door Merchandisers
Glass Door Refrigerators & Freezers
When you want to show off your goods, you need a glass door merchandiser. Merchandising refrigerators put your products front and center without compromising the interior temperature. This is especially helpful for cold drink displays and frozen food displays at convenience and grocery stores.
Pro Tip: look for a model that has vertical fluorescent lights so your products have the spotlight they deserve.
Prep Tables
Sandwich, Pizza & Open Top Prep
When you need to keep the service line moving, you need a prep table that helps you keep your cool. Refrigerated prep tables are essential for delis, pizzerias, and sandwich shops because they keep meat and produce cool while still being accessible.
Prep tables are a great space saver, too, because your refrigerator is also part of your working space. These units are designed to optimize your space, so you can choose from several lid lift and mount types to ensure your kitchen space is put to the best use.
Back Bars
Solid & Glass Door
Back bar refrigeration units are designed to keep a low profile and keep drinks and mixers cold for alcoholic beverages. The glass door option is ideal for bottled or canned drinks served directly to customers, while the solid door is best for mixers or large bottles.
You can easily customize the thermostat in these models for precise refrigeration.
Drafts
For bars that serve beer on draft, the draft back bar is essential. The refrigerated interior keeps kegs cool so the draft is pulled at the optimal temperature.
Chef Bases
The convenience of a refrigerator drawer, but portable. Chef bases are designed to be stacked under other restaurant equipment (like griddles) so that the compact refrigerated drawers can be accessed as the chef needs the ingredients.
Counter Top Display Cases
When you’re really serious about putting on a show, refrigerated counter top displays are the way to go. Sliding doors allow easy access to food while still keeping the interior cool. This type of display is usually used for cold buffets or fresh meat displays.
What to Look For in a Commercial Refrigerator Brand
Now that you know what you’re looking for, you’re ready to start looking for the best commercial kitchen appliances for your business. When you’re exploring restaurant refrigeration brands, keep in mind that trust and product history go a long way. You can usually trust a brand if they provide consumer securities like warranties or insurance. Product history will also show you the lifespan of the product and whether it has a track record of quality and consistency. Consumer reviews are your friends here, and they’re also a great way to see how the company responds to complaints and repairs.
Brands We Like
Trusted brands that we’ve encountered over the years include Turbo Air, Amerikooler, Migali, and Everest.
Everest: The Peak of Commercial Refrigeration Systems
For us, Everest stands out as providing the best innovative technologies in commercial refrigeration. Their products have been tested against time and still provide exceptional quality. Everest refrigeration systems are loaded with features that optimize your kitchen’s workflow, storage, and food prep.
Top or bottom-mounted condensing units make repair and maintenance easy while maintaining high performance. The best technologies come standard with Everest refrigerators and freezers. Even standard units come with dual evaporator fan motors and an airflow back-guard to ensure a fast temperature drop through forced-air cooling.
Related: We’re Your Local Commercial Refrigeration Repair Experts
Everest chef bases and work tops boast an air chamber ventilation system and high heat insulation tech mats, which enables the work top to withstand up to 500°F without causing warping or bubbling of the sheet metal.
It’s this kind of attention to quality and product longevity that sets Everest at the height of commercial refrigeration for us.
Reach New Heights With Memphis Ice: Your Certified Everest Refrigeration Dealer
At Memphis Ice Machine Company, we know more than just ice. We’re your local experts on everything cool. So when you’re ready to take the next step in your commercial refrigeration journey, we’re here to help. Click here to view all our commercial refrigerators and freezers and get a quote.
Schedule a call to speak with one of our refrigeration experts. If you’re looking for commercial refrigeration in Memphis, TN or the MidSouth, Memphis Ice Machine Company is your one-stop-shop for products, repairs, and friendly expertise.