One of the most efficient ways to ensure your food business thrives and grows is always to serve safe, fresh, and healthy food. This is why you need a commercial freezer or commercial refrigerator. However, just owning a commercial refrigerator is not enough. To ensure food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, you must always ensure that all food items in your freezer or commercial refrigerator are stored at the ideal temperature.
But what is the ideal temperature to store food in your commercial freezer or commercial refrigerator? Does the same temperature apply to both? And most importantly, why must the food be stored at that specific temperature?
This blog will answer all your questions and clarify any doubts you may have. Let's begin with a commercial refrigerator.
Storing Food Items in Your Commercial Refrigerator
When it comes to storing food in a commercial refrigerator, the rules are clear: food should be stored at an internal temperature between 35°F and 38°F (1.7°C and 3.3°C). This temperature range minimizes bacterial growth, prevents freezing, and keeps the food fresh for the longest. Let's break down why the 35°F to 38°F (1.7°C to 3.3°C) range is typically recommended, even by the FDA.
i. It Prevents Bateria Growth
The most effective way to minimize bacterial growth is to keep your commercial refrigerator just below 40°F (around 35°F to 38°F).
- According to the FDA, bacteria grow rapidly in temperatures between 40°F and 140°F (4.4°C and 60°C), and so any food stored within this temperature range is in the “danger zone” and at risk of contracting foodborne illnesses.
- Any temperature between 35°F and 38°F works for a commercial refrigerator because it keeps the food out of the danger zone without freezing items that should not be frozen.
ii. It Ensures Food Quality and Freshness
When temperatures in your commercial refrigerator are close to freezing, perishable items like dairy, vegetables, and prepared foods stay fresh longer. Proteins like meat and fish are also better preserved.
- Maintaining a controlled temperature within this range slows down spoilage and maintains the texture and flavor of fresh foods.
iii. The Food Stays Fresh Without Freezing
Temperatures between 35°F and 38°F are perfect for your commercial refrigerator because the food items are cold and fresh without freezing. This is important because you are likely to store foods with high water content, such as fruits, lettuce, and dairy, in your refrigerator.
- Setting the refrigerator too close to 32°F (0°C) can cause foods like these to freeze, eventually damaging their texture and making them unusable.
- A buffer above 32°F (around 35°F to 38°F) ensures all food items stay fresh without freezing.
iv. Regulatory Compliance and Food Safety Standards
Another good reason to keep temperatures just between 35°F and 38°F is that the law says so. The FDA, USDA, and many health departments and safety organizations recommend that commercial refrigerators be kept under 40°F but above freezing to ensure compliance with food safety standards.
But make sure you confirm with local guidelines because different types of food storage (like seafood) may have specific temperature requirements.
WHAT ABOUT A COMMERCIAL FREEZER?
When it comes to a freezer, the rules are different. Generally speaking, the ideal temperature to store food items in a commercial freezer is anywhere between -10°F to 0°F (-23°C to -18°C). However, certain products require even lower temperatures. Products like ice cream need to stay firm and maintain a creamy texture, so they generally require even lower temperatures—between -10°F to -20°F (-23°C to -29°C).
If you store specialty items, setting the freezer closer to -10°F can benefit these products while still preserving other frozen goods. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of why the ideal temperature range of -10°F to 0°F works and why it is the optimal temperature for a freezer.
1. Food Safety: Why 0°F (-18°C) Is a Key Threshold
The first and most important reason the temperatures in your commercial freezer should always be 0°F (-18°C) or below is that this temperature inhibits bacterial infection: bacterial growth is halted. The bacteria and microorganisms that can cause food spoilage or illness can’t multiply when the temperature in your freezer is low, so the food stays safe indefinitely.
2. It Slows Down Enzyme Activity
When food is left stored at the wrong temperature in a freezer, it starts to change in texture, color, and flavor. These changes are caused by the enzymes in the food. When temperatures are at 0°F or below, enzyme activity slows significantly, which helps preserve the quality of frozen food and slows down the speed or rate at which it goes bad.
3. It is the Law (At least in some countries)
If you live in the United States or the United Kingdom, you will know that food safety authorities (the FDA and FSA, respectively) require that all commercial freezers maintain a minimum temperature of 0°F. This strict measure ensures that food remains safe for consumption, and it is effective for the first two reasons.
4. It Prevents Freezer Burn and the Formation of Ice Crystals
Temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) are ideal for a freezer because they not only prevent food from going bad but also protect the quality of the food, ensuring that it remains edible and in a healthy condition. Let’s discuss how low temperatures help preserve the food in your freezer.
5. It Prevents Freezer Burn
Freezer burn occurs when moisture evaporates from the surface of food stored in the freezer. The food becomes dry and tough, and you start noticing discolored spots (especially on meats and vegetables).
Whenever freezer burn happens, it is because temperatures get warmer or fluctuate within the freezer. So, keeping the freezer at or below 0°F is an efficient way to lock the temperature in place, reduce the risk of freezer burn, and preserve the taste and texture of your food.
6. Ice Crystal Control
Keeping the temperature in your freezer below 0 also prevents the growth of ice crystals on the food, which can degrade its texture. When temperatures get close to or above freezing, these larger ice crystals begin to form, and they tend to cling to food items.
In even, consistently low temperatures, like -10°F to 0°F, these ice crystals remain small and less intrusive. This is particularly important for foods like ice cream, where texture plays a huge role in quality.
7. The Food Retains its Nutritional Value
Low temperatures slow down nutrient degradation, which is another reason why temperatures in your commercial freezer should always remain below 0°F. Your fruits and vegetables retain more of their vitamins and minerals, and the meats maintain their protein content.
8. Energy Efficiency: Balancing Cost and Temperature Needs
Commercial freezers are designed to operate most efficiently within the -10°F to 0°F range. It is possible to set the freezer to a temperature lower than -10°F, but the energy demand will increase, raising the overall cost of operations in your kitchen. This is ill-advised because there is no proportional benefit to food preservation.
9. It Helps Reduce Wear and Tear
Keeping the freezer within the -10°F to 0°F range helps extend the freezer's life by reducing the workload on its components. When temperatures are set to be extremely low (e.g., -20°F), there is an additional strain on the compressor and other mechanical parts. In the long run, this can shorten the lifespan of your freezer.
Quick Summary of the Benefits of -10°F to 0°F Range
- Food Safety: Prevents bacterial growth and ensures compliance with health standards.
- Quality Control: Minimizes freezer burn and ice crystal formation, preserving taste and texture.
- Cost Efficiency: Balances preservation needs with energy consumption.
- Durability: Reduces wear on equipment, extending the life of the freezer.
How Good Is Your Commercial Refrigerator?
Another best practice is to ensure that the commercial kitchen always acquires top-quality commercial refrigerators. It is no secret that best practices only apply to the quality of the equipment used. Wilprep’s Kitchen is a top provider of reliable commercial kitchen equipment, including refrigerators, food warmers, commercial ranges, and industrial ovens.
Wilprep’s collection of commercial refrigerators includes a variety of models, including display refrigerators, reach-in refrigerators, and open-air models, to suit the needs of diverse businesses. Check out Wilprep for the right materials to grow your business and more information on implementing best practices in your commercial kitchen, including a guide on selecting the ideal refrigerator.
