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    Buying Guide Food Prep Refrigeration

    22 Jul, 2017

    Buying Guide | Food Prep Refrigeration

    Food Prep Refrigeration are a necessity for any foodservice operations preparing sandwiches, salad or any other food that requires cold prepped ingredients to add to the recipe. The combination of refrigerator and convenience working surface enhances a smooth kitchen flow. All the Refrigerated Prep Tables come equipped with a refrigerated base, a flat workspace and hotel pan storage on top.

    However, there are various types, styles, and sizes of Sandwich Prep Refrigeration and Pizza Prep Refrigeration. Before the shopping, customers need to clarify their needs and select the one is able to meet their requirements. We will highlight a few key opinions and help to explain the features.

    Type of Food Prep Refrigeration

    Refrigerated Prep Tables are divided into two main categories: Salad & Sandwich Prep Table and Pizza Prep Table. Their appearance is very similar, in fact, they perform the same essential task: allow you move down the line and add cooled ingredients to the food. However, the difference still provides specific experiment along with their own feature.

    Salad & Sandwich Prep Table

    Sandwich Prep Refrigerator or Sandwich Cooler is an under counter reach in cooler with a refrigerated area for hotel pan to rest and cutting board on top. Comparing with Pizza Prep Table, Salad & Sandwich Prep Tables have a shallower cutting board with depth of 8’’ to 20’’. The pan area can be covered by fold-down lid, which generally stands 12’’ from the surface of the cooler. Most of the units have the compressor inside coolers, there are some models that feature side mounted refrigerator.

    Sandwich-Prep-Refrigeration-Vancouver-Canada.jpg

    Pizza Prep Table

    Pizza Prep Refrigerator is made for 1/3’’ hotel pan. The top storage section is raised and at far back of the unit top. This refrigerator area rests 4-8’’ above the working surface, which means an easier access and making it easier to drop ingredients on pizzas. The cutting board is deeper with a range of 16’’ to 20’’. As the result of raised area, pans are not suspended within the undercounted refrigerator. This gives the pizza prep able a larger storage space underneath. Side mounted refrigeration is performed to most of the pizza unit.

    Pizza-Prep-Refrigeration-Vancouver-Canada.jpg

    Size

    Size not only determine the amount of storage space on both surface and underneath of cooler, but also how it fits into the kitchen. Therefore, customers need to pay attention to their floor size and amount of ingredients. Obviously, larger size is suitable for a kitchen that holds huge amount of various ingredients used for prepare food. However, to the business struggling with floor space, they have to trade-off storage space against a smaller footprint. Salad & Sandwich prep tables have the size range from 27’’ to 72’’, and pizza unit starts from 44’’ to 93’’.

    Storage

    Door or Drawer

    Customers could choose tables with doors, draws or combination based on their preference and needs. Each type has its own advantage.

    • Unit with doors is the same idea with the undercounted reach-in refrigerator. It is equipped with wire shelving which is suitable for any type of containers and packages.
    • Unit with drawer is designed to hold extra food pan to replenish what used out on the surface. It saves time by accelerating replacement time. But this type comes with less refrigerated space than door type.
    • Unit with combination seems a good choice if customers do not have obviously preference between storage space and easier access.

    Standard Top or Mega Top

    There are two types of top available on market: standard and mega. Styles of top do not change the overall width of units, but they do make a difference on storage space.

    • Standard top has 2 row of hotel pans and a wider cutting border, which is adequate for any type of sandwich.
    • Mega Top Refrigerator is a better option for operation offer a wide range of ingredients and topping. It provides 50% more space for pans by having 3 row of hotel pans. In order to hold same overall width, mega top units are a bit deeper and taller, and the cutting space is sacrificed a little as well.
    • Cutting top is a special type, which is not popular than above two. It provides same storage space with standard top units but equipped with an extra large cutting board.

    Pan Capacity

    Salad & sandwich prep table generally hold a certain amount 1/6’’ size food pan, however, there are numbers of different configurations for each size. Storage capacity should be decided based on the number of ingredients needed. Unlike salad & sandwich unit, each pan size of pizza prep table only has one configuration. There are various size of pans as well, pizza unit generally take 1/3’’.

    Refrigerator

    Methods of refrigerating seems to be neglected when thing go to prep table. In fact, the difference is easier to be revealed during the using. We will explain three main methods below to give you a brief idea.

    • Air cooled is the most common method used on salad & sandwich prep table. Because of low maintenance and labour cost, it is an excellent option for new business. However, air cooled unit has lower power than alternative.
    • Cold wall is suitable for a greater variety of pans and configuration, since it has refrigerant line through table structure. It is a great solution for customers want to place various pans. However, this unit does not work well on keeping uniformity temperature.
    • Liquid jacket is the newest technology that is able to keep uniformity temperature with lower consuming of energy. It typically used on pizza prep table, and cost will be an issue.

    Common Food Prep Refrigeration

    EFI Sandwich Prep RefrigerationEFI

    • Cabinet Construction – The exterior sides and front are covered in 24 Gauge, type 430 Stainless Steel.
    • The interior walls and doors are covered in 22 Gauge, type 430 Stainless Steel and the floors are covered in 24 Gauge, type 304 Stainless Steel.
    • The inside corners are rounded for easy cleaning.
    • The units come equipped with adjustable PVC coated shelves.
    • The entire unit is built using a high density Polyurethane insulation that is foamed in place.
    • Doors – Recessed handles for smoother front and reduced space requirements.
    • The gasket is magnetized to provide easy removal for cleaning. Self-closing doors equipped with “stay open” feature when opened past 90 degrees.
    • Refrigeration –  Oversized factory balanced system designed to hold 33 – 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • The refrigeration system uses R134A that is CFC and HCFC free.
    • Condensor unit is easily accessible for routine cleaning and maintenance.
    • Electrical – Units come factory wired and ready to connect with 115/60/1 phase, 15 amp dedicated plug and cord.

    EFI Pizza Prep RefrigerationEFI

    • Cabinet Construction – The exterior sides and front are covered in 24 gauge, type 430 Stainless Steel.
    • The interior walls and doors are covered in 22 gauge, type 430 stainless steel and the floors are covered in 24 gauge, type 304 stainless steel.
    • The inside corners are rounded for easy cleaning.
    • The units come equipped with adjustable PVC coated shelves.
    • The entire unit is built using a high density Polyurethane insulation that is foamed in place.
    • Doors – Recessed handles for smoother front and reduced space requirements.
    • The gasket is magnetized to provide easy removal for cleaning. Self-closing doors equipped with “stay open” feature when opened past 90 degrees.
    • Refrigeration –  Over sized factory balanced system designed to hold 33 – 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • The refrigeration system uses R134A that is CFC and HCFC free.
    • Condenser unit is easily accessible for routine cleaning and maintenance.
    • Electrical – Units come factory wired and ready to connect with 115/60/1 phase, 15 amp dedicated plug and cord.

    True Sandwich Prep RefrigerationTrue

    • Design – True’s commitment to using the highest quality materials and oversized refrigeration systems provides the user with colder product temperatures, lower utility costs, exceptional food safety and the best value in today’s food service marketplace.
    • Refrigeration System – Factory engineered, self-contained, capillary tube system using environmentally friendly (CFC free) 134A refrigerant.
    • Oversized, factory balanced refrigeration system with guided airflow to provide uniform temperature in food pans and cabinet interior.
    • Patented forced-air design holds 33°F to 41°F (.5°C to 5°C) product temperature in food pans and cabinet interior. Complies with and listed under ANSI/NSF-7-1997-6.3.
    • Sealed, cast iron, self-lubricating evaporator fan motor and larger fan blades give True sandwich/ salad units a more efficient, low velocity, high volume airflow design.
    • Condensing unit access in back of cabinet, slides out for easy maintenance.
    • Cabinet Construction – Exterior – stainless steel front, top and ends. Matching aluminum finished back.
    • Interior – attractive, NSF approved, clear coated aluminum liner. Stainless steel floor with coved corners.
    • Insulation – entire cabinet structure and solid door are foamed-in-place using Ecomate. A high density, polyurethane insulation that has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and zero global warming potential (GWP).
    • 5″ (127 mm) diameter stem castors – locks provided on front set. 36″ (915 mm) work surface height.
    • Door – Stainless steel exterior with white aluminum liner to match cabinet interior.
    • Door fitted with 12″ (305 mm) long recessed handle that is foamed-in-place with a sheet metal interlock to ensure permanent attachment.
    • Positive seal self-closing door with 90° stay open feature. Door swings within cabinet dimensions.
    • Magnetic door gasket of one piece construction, removable without tools for ease of cleaning.
    • Shelving – Four (4) adjustable, heavy duty PVC coated wire shelves 21 9/16″L x 16″D (548 mm x 407 mm). Four (4) chrome plated shelf clips included per shelf.
    • Shelf support pilasters made of same material as cabinet interior; shelves are adjustable on 1/2″ (13 mm) increments.
    • Model Features – Evaporator is epoxy coated to eliminate the potential of corrosion.
    • 113/4″ (299 mm) deep,1/2″ (13 mm) thick, full length removable cutting board. Sanitary, high-density, NSF approved white polyethylene provides tough preparation surface.
    • Stainless steel, patented, foam insulated lid and hood keep pan temperatures colder, lock in freshness and minimize condensation. Removable for easy cleaning.
    • Comes standard with 12 (1/6size) 67/8″L x 61/4”W x 4″D (175 mm x 159 mm x 102 mm) clear polycarbonate, NSF approved, food pans in countertop prep area. Also accommodates 6″ (153 mm) deep food pans (supplied by others).
    • Countertop pan opening designed to fit varying size pan configurations with available pan divider bars. Varying size pans supplied by others.
    • NSF-7 compliant for open food product.
    • Electrical – Unit completely pre-wired at factory and ready for final connection to a 115/60/1 phase, 15 amp dedicated outlet. Cord and plug set included.
    True Mega Top Prep Refrigeration

    True

    • Design – True’s commitment to using the highest quality materials and oversized refrigeration systems provides the user with colder product temperatures, lower utility costs, exceptional food safety and the best value in today’s food service marketplace.
    • Refrigeration System – Factory engineered, self-contained, capillary tube system using environmentally friendly (CFC free) 134A refrigerant.
    • Oversized, factory balanced refrigeration system with guided airflow to provide uniform temperature in food pans and cabinet interior.
    • Patented forced-air design holds 33°F to 41°F (.5°C to 5°C) product temperature in food pans and cabinet interior. Complies with and listed under ANSI/NSF-7.
    • Sealed, cast iron, self-lubricating evaporator fan motor(s) and larger fan blades give True sandwich/ salad units a more efficient, low velocity, high volume airflow design.
    • Condensing unit access in back of cabinet, slides out for easy maintenance.
    • Cabinet Construction – Exterior – stainless steel front, top and ends. Matching aluminum finished back.
    • Interior – attractive, NSF approved, clear coated aluminum liner. Stainless steel floor with coved corners.
    • Insulation – entire cabinet structure and solid door are foamed-in-place using Ecomate. A high density, polyurethane insulation that has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and zero global warming potential (GWP).
    • 5″ (127 mm) diameter stem castors – locks provided on front set. 36″ (915 mm) work surface height.
    • Door – Stainless steel exterior with white aluminum liner to match cabinet interior.
    • Door fitted with 12″ (305 mm) long recessed handle that is foamed-in-place with a sheet metal interlock to ensure permanent attachment.
    • Positive seal self-closing door with 90° stay open feature. Door(s) swing within cabinet dimensions.
    • Magnetic door gasket of one piece construction, removable without tools for ease of cleaning.
    • Shelving – Four (4) adjustable, heavy duty PVC coated wire shelves 21 9/16″L x 16″D (548 mm x 407 mm). Four (4) chrome plated shelf clips included per shelf.
    • Shelf support pilasters made of same material as cabinet interior; shelves are adjustable on 1/2″ (13 mm) increments.
    • Model Features – Evaporator is epoxy coated to eliminate the potential of corrosion.
    • 87/8″ (226 mm) deep,1/2″ (13 mm) thick, full length removable cutting board. Sanitary, high-density, NSF approved white polyethylene provides tough preparation surface.
    • Stainless steel, patented, foam insulated lid and hood keep pan temperatures colder, lock in freshness and minimize condensation. Removable for easy cleaning.
    • Comes standard with 9 (1/6size) 67/8″L x 61/4”W x 4″D (175 mm x 159 mm x 102 mm) and 3 (1/9size) pans 4«1/4»”L x 6«15/16»”W x 4″D (108 mm x 177 mm x 102 mm) clear polycarbonate, NSF approved, food pans in countertop prep area. Also accommodates 6″ (153 mm) deep food pans (supplied by others).
    • Countertop pan opening designed to fit varying size pan configurations with available pan divider bars. Varying size pans supplied by others.
    • NSF-7 compliant for open food product.
    • Electrical – Unit completely pre-wired at factory and ready for final connection to a 115/60/1 phase, 15 amp dedicated outlet. Cord and plug set included.

    Food Prep Refrigeration