Why You Should Keep Your Walk-in Cooler Organized

Food costs make up 25-40% of the monthly budget for most restaurants. Depending on your industry, this might change. Grocery stores spend much more on food, and convenience stores might spend less. Regardless, if you sell food and beverages, you need to store them somewhere for easy access and in a place where they won’t spoil. Organizing your walk-in cooler is essential for ordering more products, controlling the unit’s temperature, and preventing contamination.

Three Reasons to Organize Your Walk-in Cooler

When it comes time to organize your unit, you must do so with purpose. Merely stacking items wherever they fit might seem like a good idea initially, but it won’t help you in the long run. Here are three reasons to organize your food storage.

Product Ordering

When you properly organize your refrigerator or freezer, you can see which ready-to-eat foods and products you need to order. Because everything will be in a set system of FIFO (first in, first out), you simplify the ordering process.

You can order more without worrying about food waste as you begin running low on prepared food.

Temperature Control

Airflow is essential in walk-in coolers for food safety. However, crowding the unit with food boxes inhibits a freezer’s ability to keep things frozen. Therefore, the best way to keep food fresh is to allow airflow throughout the unit. Space is your best friend in this situation. When there is ample space around the food, the unit doesn’t have to overwork, and the fans can circulate the cold air for optimal results and reduce freezer burn.

Contamination Prevention

Keeping your cooler or freezer organized helps you preserve your food. A good rule of thumb is to keep the bottom shelf 6 inches or higher off the ground. Doing so makes cleaning easier and prevents rodents from getting into the stored food. Additionally, keep all meats on the lower shelves in case marinades or juices leak out.

The last thing you want is cross-contamination from raw meat leaking into your vegetables and growing bacteria. Ignoring these simple steps for a clean kitchen will result in health code violations.

Conclusion

Organizing your cooler units is crucial for food quality and food safety. But all of this preparation is for naught if your walk-in cooler’s door gaskets are subpar. To help you with this, PGS sells the highest quality America-Made gaskets. Contact us today to make the final touches on your unit and maximize your cooler.