How to select the right commercial bar fridge for your restaurant
If you run a restaurant or bar that handles many drinks like beer, wine or soft drink, a commercial bar fridge is always an excellent appliance to purchase. Choosing the right bar fridge for your needs is not difficult; you only need a well-planned approach to ensure that the refrigerator you buy serves your needs. To get the best return on your investment, consider the following points. If you are replacing an existing bar refrigerator, you can directly start from the 3rd point unless you are eyeing a bigger one this time.
Space
Start with measuring the space that you can allocate to the device. Keep in mind larger bar fridges will naturally take up more floor space than upright display fridges and freezers of the same volume. Measure correctly, and you will have a clear idea about the size you should get. Also, consider if only your staff will handle it, or it will be placed at the front of your restaurant to promote visual merchandising. If space is not an issue, which means you can accommodate even the larger bar refrigerators, then start with considering your requirements.
The storage requirements
Being clear about how exactly you are going to use the appliance will end doubts. Will you use it for storing only cans and bottles in your storage area, or will it work as a walk-up fridge for customers to make their pick? Would you also like to store some other small things along with the bottles and cans, or would you keep it exclusive for drinks? It would help if you also consider your business volume to know the storage space you need in the fridge. These considerations are essential to make sure that you buy what you need.
The size
Once you are clear about the available space, where you will place the bar refrigerator, and your storage needs, it’s time to decide the right size to fit into your requirements. Commercial bar fridges are generally available in multiple door variants, and you can pick any depending on your needs.
These refrigeration units come in different height, width, and depth. The width varies typically in the 600mm to 2280mm range, and the number of doors increases with the width. For the depth, you can find options anywhere between 630mm and 800mm. If the space is narrow or beside a passage, opt for a slimmer style with less width. In height, you can get models between 860mm and 910mm. If you will place the refrigerator under a built-in cabinet or existing bar like the under bench fridges and freezers to save space, select the height with care.
The right door type
You must choose not only the number but also the type of door that will better fit your needs. Unlike the square or curved glass cake display, these refrigeration units are available in solid and glass door variants.
Now, both these variants have their pros and cons. The solid variants are more energy-efficient, and they are also comparatively cheaper than their glass counterpart, but they add nothing to the display.
On the other hand, the glass door units are great for display, but they are more expensive and are not as energy-efficient as the solid ones. Suppose you are planning to place the unit in your kitchen storage or in a place where it will be visible only to the staff. In that case, a solid door variant is naturally a better choice. But to score on visual merchandising, you should spend on the glass bar fridges.
Apart from the material, there are also a few small things to consider about the door. In the glass variety, you will get swing and sliding doors. While sliding is perfect for small spaces, they always run the risk of being left open after use.
Always look for a magnetic automatic door closing system to ensure the doors are not left open mistakenly. It is better to opt for the recessed ones instead of the barred variety. As the doors will be opened and closed repeatedly, bar handles will tend to wear more quickly than the recessed ones.
The exterior finish
Unlike pizza prep tables or salad bars, back bar refrigerators are available in two main exterior finishes - the evergreen stainless steel and the colorbond. Stainless steel is naturally more resilient, runs no risk of chipping or peeling, dent-resistant, and needs minimum maintenance. The colorbond exterior looks classy and is cheaper than its stainless-steel counterpart. On the downside, the colorbond exterior can crack and break when impacted, whereas stainless steel will only dent.
Warranty
Before you buy a commercial bar refrigerator for your restaurant, looking at the warranty offered is undoubtedly essential. The good thing is if you are buying commercial bar fridges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide, or Perth from a renowned supplier, most probably you won’t even need to use the warranty. The appliances for commercial kitchens are built for heavy usage, and the best quality ones can easily survive through the daily load of commercial kitchens.
But selecting a product with an extended warranty on parts and labour is undoubtedly the way to go. The warranty shows the confidence of the manufacturer in the product, which is essential. Simco offers two years full warranty on parts & labour and two years extended warranty on parts.
Supplier
To get the best product per your requirements and choice, you should consult a reputed commercial bar fridge supplier near you. Commercial kitchen equipment is a significant investment, and you must buy all your appliances from a reliable source so that you can get full assistance if you face some issues with the equipage.
A reputed supplier will always help you pick the best product for your needs instead of selling the most expensive one, thus helping you make the right decision. To serve the commercial food and catering businesses of Australia with international quality equipage at the most economical price, Simco is now offering commercial bar fridges for sale. Check out the stock and make your pick.
