- Image courtesy of Jaako on Flickr
Many of us have been thinking of ways to earn more, and having your own business seems to be the answer for most. And perhaps, one of the most profitable ventures you could dabble in is food-related.
Everybody needs to eat, and as long as you can serve them delectable dishes to eat, then there’s no stopping your business from thriving. But to provide consistently good food and for your food business to flourish, you need not just cooking and business expertise and the right attitude. You also need other things like a well-planned location and even top-quality equipment that are well-maintained.
Freezers and Fridges Mean Fresh Food
- Image courtesy of conbon33 on Flickr
A freezer and refrigerator are among the items that you should really invest money and effort in acquiring and maintaining. Good thing that you can now find rental options for commercial kitchen appliances like these, if you don’t think it’s wise to buy just yet. Freezers and fridges will help keep your products stored properly before it reaches your stove or your customers’ plates. And choosing the best ones is the easier part. Maximising their functions and life is another thing.
Here’s one basic fact about these appliances that you need to keep in mind: You’ll be subjecting them to frequent opening and closing of their doors. Each time the door opens, you let heat get inside the compartment. As a result, the compressor is forced to work doubly hard to eliminate the heat. Freezers and refrigerators used in restaurants are opened more frequently than the normal fridge used at home, so obviously, more amount of heat goes in. You, therefore, need one with a stronger compressor that you can only find in commercial grade freezers and refrigerators.
Before Buying Them
Prior to shopping around for these appliances, you need to consider the following so you can decide wisely:
• How much space do you need? The size of the commercial freezer and refrigerator should depend on the size of the business you run.
• The cost of the appliance as against your overhead expenses. The commercial types of freezers and refrigerators that cost less are most likely to consume more electricity, while an expensive one warrants lower operation cost given that it consumes less electricity. Check the energy-saving capabilities of the appliances you should be looking for when shopping. Try to strike a balance between cost and energy consumption based on foresight. Calculate how much money you can save over a 5-year period if you buy one and compare it to the total cost if you have the other.
• Warranty. A warranty will be your protection in case the appliance you bought suddenly stops working properly. If possible, spend a little more money on extended warranty. Doing without one could lead to unrecoverable losses, and that’s the last thing you want for your business.
Maintain Them Properly
- Image courtesy of USDAgov on Flickr
If you’re asking how to use your commercial freezer and refrigerator properly, the answer is two words: proper maintenance. As long as you know how to take care of the appliance, then most probably, you know how to use it correctly.
And how can you maintain your appliances well? Aside from routine cleaning, here are three things you should do:
1. Schedule and perform periodic maintenance checks. This is something you could ask the manufacturer of the appliance. You might be required to enroll the unit for regular check-ups. A trained maintenance tech should visit your business regularly to perform routine tests on the unit where he should be able to identify and correct potential problems even before they get out of hand.
2. Always check the door gasket. The gasket ensures that your freezer and refrigerator doors are completely sealed every time you close them. When the gasket is busted, heat would easily slip through it, making the compressor work double-time.
To check if the gasket needs replacing, try to insert a dollar bill between the gasket and door frame, then close the door. If your gasket is working as it should be, you’d have a hard time pulling the bill out. Otherwise, you’d need to call for a gasket replacement.
3. Check the unit’s holding temperature. The quality of the food you serve would depend on whether the ingredients are stored properly. This often involves the right temperature during freezing or refrigeration.
If the temperature isn’t right, food would most likely spoil or get freezer burn. So you need to check the holding temperature several times during business hours to ensure everything’s as it should be. If you’ve checked repeatedly and the temperature still is too low or high, you need to have the appliance repaired immediately.
By doing maintenance tips here, you’d know you’re putting your appliance to good use. Of course, don’t skip reading the user’s manual to see more ideas on how to keep your commercial freezer and refrigerator running effectively.
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