Many businesses (including, but not limited to, food-related ones) need to keep their products cold throughout the day, even as they are taken out, handled, displayed, and rearranged. In the food industry, legality and safety are major considerations because perishable foods must be kept at 40°F to keep harmful bacteria at bay. It’s important to note that this only slows bacterial growth; after a certain amount of time, foods stored at this temperature will have to be thrown out if they are not consumed or moved to a freezer in time.

Alcoholic beverages such as beer can be kept in the cooler longer than food. Flowers are an example of a non-food product that may require a commercial cooler. Improperly refrigerated flowers obviously do not pose the same health risks to customers as improperly refrigerated food, but many varieties need to be kept even colder than food (between 34°F and 36°F) to ensure a long shelf life.

Many businesses need a variety of types of cooling unit to ensure that all products reach the customer in tip-top condition. Here’s an overview of the main types of coolers used by restaurants, catering companies, delis, bakeries, grocery stores, florists, and more.

Storage Coolers

These are not intended for long-term use, but rather to store foods before preparation or between preparation times, such as during the day at a sandwich shop.

Walk-In Coolers

Much like a walk-in closet, a walk-in cooler is a small (and in this case, temperature-controlled) room that has walls, a floor, and a ceiling—in other words, it’s a cooler where employees can “walk in.” These usually have extensive shelving for storing food items efficiently.

Rapid Pull-Down Units

This type of cooler is intended to chill foods or food products rapidly. They’re perfect for quickly cooling down hot food items.

Display Coolers

Often seen in bakeries and other establishments, this type of cooling unit lets store owners keep a product on display behind the counter for the customer to see while still maintaining regulation temperatures. There are several different varieties available, with various door setups, and each is tailored to specific uses, foods, and climates.

Refrigerated Food Prep Units

These often have open tops or open condiment rails, and some examples used in various food industry establishments include pizza or sandwich preparation stations.

Refrigerated Buffet Units

Buffet units keep meal items cool and fresh at customer self-service bars. They may be used for locations with salad bars, breakfast buffets, and similar areas.

Beverage/Beer Coolers

These are specifically designated for storing or displaying packaged beverages. These may include soda, wine, and beer, among other drinks. They may appear in establishments—like breweries—that do not necessarily serve food.

Floral Coolers

This type of cooler is used in flower shops and other establishments, such as grocery stores. The requirements for these cooling units are not as stringent, but they are generally a bit chillier. These come in display case and walk-in varieties. The latter is often much bigger than a walk-in food cooler and can sometimes be as big as the entire floral shop.

Business owners should evaluate the different types, styles, and sizes of these commercial cooling options and select the ones best suited to the needs and purpose of their establishment.

Thanks to Open Grid Scheduler on flickr for the image used in this post.