How to clean a commercial reach-in
With so many food establishments getting ready to reopen, cleaning and organizing your reach-in refrigerators and reach-in freezers has quickly become a top priority for many foodservice operators. If you are pondering “How to clean a commercial refrigerator?” we have a few tips for you.
Before you begin: you must first clean out and remove all expired food products, then relocate any food and ingredients to a separate freezer or refrigerators to avoid products from spoiling.
Unplug your unit: Before cleaning any reach-in freezer or refrigerator components, first confirm that the unit is off and unplugged. It is important that it is fully disconnected from any power supply.
Start with the interior: Completely wipe down the interior of the refrigerator or freezer, the inside should be routinely cleaned with warm water and a nonabrasive detergent or soap. Avoid using hot water, harsh chemicals, and scouring pads as they can permanently damage plastic interiors and may cause discoloring on metal, even stainless steel. The interior of the cabinet also includes the shelves, which can be removed and thoroughly wiped down. A vacuum can help by quickly cleaning out small debris.
Disinfect with sanitizer: The past year has shown us the importance of sanitizing surfaces. To avoid bacteria and mold from accumulating inside your unit, you can use a food safe sanitizer as you will be placing items back into the refrigeration units.
Clean the exterior: The exterior of your reach-in freezer or refrigerator should also be cleaned with a damp cloth, warm water instead of hot, and a nonabrasive cleaner or baking soda mixture to remove oil, grease, stains, dirt, and other debris that might have built up. For stainless steel models, use a stainless-steel cleaner like Wow or Super Shine. Ensure that you are not forgetting to thoroughly clean the door gaskets, as they are the part that encounters the most use.
For tips on how to clean your refrigerated unit condenser, click here.
Before you begin filling and organizing your refrigerated units, check that all cleaned parts are dry. After completing your routine cleaning and plugging the unit back in, wait for the cabinet to return to food-safe temperatures before restocking product. Make sure to check out our food storage containers and accessories for any organizational items you might need.
