How to choose a commercial upright fridge
Solid door or glass door?
Solid door fridges are built for back-of-house storage. The insulated doors hold temperature better, cost less to run and hide the clutter of a working kitchen. Glass door fridges are built to sell: LED lighting and a clear view of the stock turn drinks, desserts and grab-and-go food into impulse sales. If customers will see the fridge, choose glass. If only staff will use it, solid doors are the more efficient choice. Keep glass door fridges out of direct sunlight, as the sun makes the compressor work much harder.
How many doors and how much capacity?
A single door upright usually holds around 550 to 600 litres, a double door around 1,000 to 1,200 litres, and triple door models suit high-volume kitchens and supermarkets. For example, the Atosa JBF40RSGR single door is 654mm wide with 552 litres, the double door JBF80RSGR is 1314mm wide with 1,090 litres, and the Skipio SRT45-2G two glass door model holds 1,215 litres. Measure the space you have, then allow some room to grow. Four door (half door) models like the Skipio SRT45-4 let staff open a smaller door, so less cold air escapes every time someone grabs an item.
Top-mounted or bottom-mounted compressor?
A top-mounted compressor sits up away from floor dust, flour and grease, and its heat rises away from the cabinet, which suits busy kitchens. Most of our Atosa storage fridges are top-mounted. A bottom-mounted compressor puts the lowest shelf at a more comfortable height and makes the unit easy to reach for cleaning, which is why it is popular on display fridges like the NovaChill SM range.
Temperature range and ambient rating
Most commercial upright fridges hold between 2°C and 8°C, and some go down to -2°C for extra-cold drinks or seafood. Australian food safety rules require chilled food to be kept at 5°C or below, so set the thermostat with that in mind. Just as important is the ambient rating: the hottest room the fridge is designed to work in. If the fridge will sit near a cooking line, in an outdoor kitchen or in northern Australia, choose a model rated for high ambient temperatures. Several of our display fridges are rated to 43°C.
Hinged or sliding doors?
Hinged doors seal tightly and are easy to clean. Sliding glass doors, like the Crusader CCE1130S, are ideal in narrow aisles or behind a counter where there is no room for a door to swing open. Always check the door swing clearance before you order.
Energy use and refrigerant
Look for natural refrigerants such as R290 and R600a, which have a much lower environmental impact than older gases like R404A. Fan-forced cooling, LED lighting, self-closing doors and automatic defrost all help a fridge recover quickly after busy periods and keep running costs down.
Storage fridge, display fridge or drinks fridge?
- Storage fridges have stainless steel cabinets and adjustable shelves for gastronorm pans and containers. Best for the kitchen.
- Display fridges have glass doors, LED lighting and a black or white finish to show off stock. Best for cafes, delis and convenience stores.
- Drinks fridges, like the Thermaster LG range, are a lower-cost way to chill and sell bottles and cans.
Installation and care
Place the fridge on a level floor with clear space for air to flow around the compressor, and follow the manual for how long to let it stand after delivery before switching it on. Do not overload the shelves or block the internal fan, as cold air needs to circulate. Clean the condenser coil regularly, because a coil clogged with dust and grease is the most common reason a commercial fridge struggles in summer. Check the door seals often and replace them if they are torn.
Our upright fridge range
- Atosa: top-mounted solid and glass door storage fridges in single, double and triple door sizes.
- Skipio: stainless steel 1, 2 and 4 door storage fridges and glass door models up to 1,215 litres.
- Crusader: single, double and triple glass door display fridges in black or white, including sliding door models.
- NovaChill: bottom-mount glass door display fridges from compact single door up to triple door.
- Thermaster: single and double glass door drinks fridges.
- Conquest: single and double solid door storage fridges.
- Anvil: 400 and 600 litre single door upright fridges with a stainless steel or glass door.
- Inomak: single and double door upright fridges with stainless steel or glass doors that take 2/1 GN trays, plus slimline models only 768mm deep, made in Greece.
- Glacian: single and double door stainless steel upright fridges (550 and 1170 litres) that take 2/1 GN pans, and the BCC0016 refrigerated banquet cart.
- Saltas: 1, 2 and 3 door glass door display fridges (420 to 1260 litres) with fan-forced cooling, LED lighting and Dixell controllers.
Selling flowers? See our Flower Display Fridges, which have tiered display rows designed for buckets and bunches.
Delivery, warranty and our price-beat guarantee
We deliver Australia-wide by tailgate truck, usually within 2 to 5 business days to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide and 4 to 12 days elsewhere. Every fridge comes with the manufacturer's warranty, and prices are shown ex GST with the GST-inclusive price alongside. Found a lower price? Send us the link under our Price-Beat Guarantee and we'll send you a one-off discount code.
Commercial upright fridge FAQs
What temperature should a commercial fridge be set at?
Between 2°C and 5°C. Australian food safety rules require chilled food to be kept at 5°C or below, so most kitchens set their fridges at around 3°C to allow for door openings.
What is the difference between a commercial and a domestic fridge?
Commercial fridges are built for constant door opening, recover temperature much faster, are made from food-safe materials and are rated for hotter rooms. Domestic fridges are not designed for that workload, and their warranties usually do not cover commercial use.
Which uses less power, glass or solid doors?
Solid doors. Insulated solid doors lose less cold than glass, so a solid door fridge is the most efficient choice for back-of-house storage.
Can I put a commercial fridge in a hot kitchen?
Yes, as long as its ambient rating suits the room. Check the rating on the product page; several of our fridges are rated to 43°C. Give the compressor plenty of ventilation and keep it away from fryers and ovens.
How much space does an upright fridge need?
Allow for the cabinet width plus the door swing, and leave the ventilation gap recommended in the manual, especially above top-mounted models. Measure your doorways too, as delivery is to your door, not inside.
Do you deliver Australia-wide?
Yes. We deliver to every state by tailgate truck. Delivery to Perth and Tasmania usually takes 4 to 8 business days.