Foodservice operators have lots of reasons to pay attention to the temperature of the commercial freezers in their facilities.
Customers expect food items to be safe for consumption.
Government regulators expect food to be kept at the proper temperature.
Foodservice operators also need to conserve energy and keep utility costs low.
Follow these commercial freezer temperature tips to keep food products safe, remain in regulatory compliance and keep customers happy.
Storing Food Safely in Commercial Freezers
The temperature ranges for commercial freezers are typically colder than those of commercial refrigerators.
Generally, a reach-in freezer should be set to between 2F and -2F.
Keep in mind that commercial freezers take time to stabilize after the temperature is set.
The larger the commercial freezer, the more time it will need to reach a stable temperature..
Commercial freezers also experience small temperature fluctuations every time the doors are opened and closed. If the thermostat is located near the doors, this may result in a false reading.
That’s why it is important to give the unit a few minutes to stabilize before checking the temperature.
Keep doors closed securely to avoid cold air from escaping the unit. One way to avoid this problem is to purchase a commercial freezer with a self-closing door.
Another way to prevent foodborne illnesses is to purchase a commercial freezer that automatically locks when the temperature reaches an unsafe level.
Does Food Type Affect Safe Storage in a Commercial Freezer?
Some foods are more sensitive to cold temperatures than others, so the type of food stored in a commercial freezer matters.
Food packaging and food thickness can affect also freezing time. For example, thick meats can take at least two hours to freeze.
Stacking food items in a commercial freezer can also affect how fast they freeze. For this reason, it is better to stack them after they are frozen solid.
Improperly freezing foods can cause freezer burn. Freezer burn is caused by dehydration and oxidation when food reacts with air due to inadequate packaging.
Freezer burn is not a health issue like those involving bacteria. However, freezer burn does make foods taste bad, smell bad and change colors. Freezer burned food is unattractive to customers.
To prevent freezer burn, make sure the food products stored in a commercial freezer have airtight packaging that has not been compromised during transport or handling.
Maintaining the proper temperature for a commercial freezer ensures businesses are serving healthy food to customers. Today’s innovative commercial freezers make doing so easy, cost-effective and energy efficient.
If you are looking for more information on commercial freezers or refrigerators for the foodservice industry, please visit http://imberafoodservice.com/products/
The VFS 24 freezer from Imbera Foodservice is a high-efficiency freezer with glass-doors, intelligent cooling and more. For more information on the VFS 24 freezer, please visit us.
