3 Tips for Maintaining Your Food Storage Units

In many respects your refrigerator and freezer are your restaurant’s most important assets. Without fully-functional food storage units, keeping your various meats and produce fresh is all but impossible. That being the case, it’s every restaurateur’s responsibility to keep these devices in prime condition. Doing so ensures fresh ingredients, high-quality meals, and happy diners. When working to preserve your restaurant’s food storage units, heed the following tips. 

1. Empty and Clean Once a Week

In the interest of keeping your fridge and freezer sanitary, your staff will need to empty them out and thoroughly scrub them at least once a week. While this may sound like an arduous task, it shouldn’t prove terribly difficult, provided multiple people are working on it. In fact, once your staff becomes accustomed to carrying out this chore, they should be able to pull it off in under an hour.

2. Promptly Replace Defective Components

Any time one of your food storage units finds itself saddled with a faulty component, take care to replace it posthaste. The longer you allow a fridge or freezer to operate with a defective part, the more problems you’ll ultimately have to deal with. Fortunately, affordable refrigerator freezer parts can always be found at O-Reps’ online store. 

3. Have Them Regularly Inspected

Having your refrigerator and freezer regularly inspected can help nip prospective problems in the bud. For best results, adhere to the inspection schedule recommended by the devices’ respective manufacturers. This varies by brand and model, but most large-scale food storage need to be inspected once or twice a year. A licensed inspector will give each device a thorough once-over and make you aware of any potential problems she encounters.

No restaurant can function without working food storage units. As such, it behooves you to properly maintain your refrigerators and freezers. Weekly cleanings, expedient component swap-outs, and regular inspections can go a long way in keeping your storage devices up and running.

3 Tips for Increasing Energy Efficiency in Your Kitchen

If you’ve been looking for ways to decrease your kitchen’s carbon footprint while increasing its energy-efficiency, it’s time to rethink your approach to energy consumption. Even if you’re not particularly passionate about matters concerning the environment, taking steps to consume less energy can help your financial bottom line.

Luckily, becoming energy efficient is much easier than many restaurateurs think. A little bit of effort and ingenuity can go a long way in saving you money and making your establishment more eco-friendly. 

1. Stay on Top of Equipment Maintenance

Performing regular maintenance on your kitchen equipment can help tremendously in the quest for energy efficiency. This entails cleaning stoves, ovens and refrigeration units on a regular basis, as well as swapping out damaged and defective components as needed. Keeping your food storage units outfitted with top-of-the-line refrigerator freezer parts can prove particularly helpful.

2. Separate Heating and Cooling Devices

Keeping heating and cooling devices far apart can do wonders for your kitchen’s energy consumption. When refrigerators and freezers are placed in the immediate vicinity of stoves, ovens, and other sources of heat, both types of devices have to work extra hard to account for the extreme temperatures, effectively reducing their respective life-spans and driving up your energy costs.

3. Educate Your Staff on Energy Efficiency  

Educating your staff on energy efficiency can lead to an immediate reduction in your energy costs and consumption. When bringing your crewmembers up to speed, place a strong emphasis on the little things. For example, meticulously closing refrigerator doors, shutting off burners and turning off faucets when they’re not in use are all simple – yet highly effective – ways to promote energy efficiency.   

With an ever-increasing number of eateries making efforts to go green, you don’t want your restaurant to be left in the dust. Becoming energy efficient doesn’t mean upending the way your staff does things or spending a princely sum. Properly maintaining your equipment, separating heating and cooling devices, and keeping your staff in the know are all easy ways to do your part for both the environment and your restaurant’s finances.

Practical Moneysaving Tips for Fledgling Restaurateurs

Going into the restaurant business represents a tremendous challenge. No matter where your eatery is based, attracting clients, cultivating a favorable reputation and promoting the business can be an uphill battle. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of restaurateurs operate at a loss during their first year in business. That being the case, any moneysaving measures you can enact during this time frame are sure to help out.

Use Social Media to Your Full Advantage

In any locale, promoting a restaurant can be expensive. Buying ad time on local television and radio outlets and purchasing ad space in local newspapers and circulars is liable to cost a pretty penny. Conversely, promoting your eatery on social media can help you connect with thousands of prospective diners without costing you a dime. With this in mind, create accounts for your restaurant on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media mainstays and start posting. 

Keep an Eye out for Discount Equipment

Purchasing used or refurbished equipment for your kitchen can effectively save you tens of thousands of dollars. Furthermore, finding places that sell discounted refrigerator freezer parts can help keep your refrigeration system up and running without putting a strain on your finances. Anyone on the hunt for heavily-discounted refrigerator, freezer, oven, grill, broiler or toaster components would do well to pay a visit to O-Reps.com. 

Limit Freebies

Many restaurants provide diners with assorted freebies, like fresh-baked bread and chips with salsa. While this is a great way to show customers your appreciation, it isn’t exactly conducive to saving money. As such, consider placing limits on these freebies. For example, each customer — or group of customers — should only receive one basket of bread or bowl of chips. You may also consider only offering such freebies to diners who specifically request them. 

Restaurant ownership requires a heightened degree of fortitude and an unwavering passion for your craft. In light of all the money lost during their respective first years, a staggering number of restaurateurs have no choice but to close their doors within the aforementioned time period. To prevent your eatery from becoming just another failed restaurant, put the previously-discussed pointers to good use.   

Great Deals on Commercial Refrigeration Parts at O-Reps

Without fully functional refrigeration units, no restaurant would be able to stay open. Good food is the cornerstone of any successful eatery, and without commercial refrigeration, there’s no efficient way to prevent large amounts of ingredients from going bad. For this reason, it’s imperative that restaurant owners and managers take steps to keep their refrigeration units in prime condition. Swapping out defective parts when needed can go a long way in maintaining these units. Fortunately, great deals on commercial refrigeration parts can always be found at O-Reps’ online store.  

Compressors

An intact compressor is the heart of any heavy-duty freezer or refrigeration unit. This means that if your fridge finds itself stricken with a faulty compressor, you have little time to replace it. Luckily, O-Reps stocks an extensive array of heavily-discounted compressors from such renowned manufacturers as Tecumseh and Copeland. Additionally, the store’s expedient shipping options ensure that you’ll have your new compressor or any other commercial refrigeration parts within two to three days.

Thermostats

A functional thermostat enables you to control the temperature in your restaurant’s refrigeration units. Unfortunately, broken thermostats often lead to extreme increases or decreases in temperature, effectively ruining large amounts of food. To combat this problem, O-Reps sells a wide selection of replacement thermostats, many of which cost well under $100. 

Shelving

Depending on how expansive your menu is, your refrigeration units may be home to abundant amounts of ingredients. In the interest of staying organized, make sure to equip your walk-in fridges and freezers with resilient shelving. In addition to selling discounted name-brand wire shelves, O-Reps also offers abundant custom-made shelving options to more discerning customers.

In light of all the work you’ve put into your restaurant, you’re not about to let its success be hampered by a faulty refrigeration unit. By replacing broken parts in an expedient manner, you can ensure that your on-site fridges and freezers remain operational for the foreseeable future.   

Why O-Reps Is Right for All Your Commercial Freezer Needs: Part II

Your commercial freezer parts can be the most cost effective way to reduce bills for your commercial walk-in-cooler and freezer. Keeping up-to-date with all the maintenance and repair of your appliances can be a great way to save money over time. This includes paying for emergency attention to your freezer, as well as the cost of more expensive parts, or entirely new unit. Here is another reason to choose O-Reps when it comes to choose replacement parts for your commercial kitchen.

Priced-to-Own Kitchen Accessories

Although O-Reps is renowned for its heavily-discounted freezer components, the store is proud to offer restaurateurs an affordable array of kitchen accessories. Eateries in need of fryer baskets, cookware, slicer blades, blending blades, or grinder plates are urged to pay a visit to the company’s online store. 

When a freezer or refrigeration unit encounters problems, most restaurants have precious little time to fix things before food spoils. This is why it pays to acquaint yourself with a reliable parts supplier. In the quest to keep your food fresh and uphold your eatery’s reputation, O-Reps can prove exceedingly helpful. 

Need more information? Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us today at 888.289.5911 to get the very best when it comes to commercial walk-in cooler parts!

Why O-Reps Is Right for All Your Commercial Freezer Needs

There is no denying that owning and/or managing a restaurant is tough. Whether your eatery is independently-owned or part of a larger chain, the trials and tribulations of restaurant ownership are universal. As any proprietor can confirm, various pieces of kitchen equipment — most notably freezers and refrigeration units — constantly need to be repaired and have components swapped out. The busier your establishment is, the more taxed the tools of the trade are likely to be. For this reason, becoming acquainted with a consistently reliable kitchen supply company can lift a tremendous weight off your shoulders. 

Wide Selection of Parts at Rock-Bottom Prices

No matter which commercial freezer parts you’re looking for, O-Reps has what you need for a price you’re willing to pay. Compressors, gaskets, and thermostats for a wide range of models are readily available at O-Reps’ online store. On the less technical side, O-Reps also offers an extensive selection of doors, strip curtains, and shelves.

Prompt Shipping

When certain components malfunction, prompt replacement is integral to salvaging the contents of a freezer. That being the case, many restaurants want new parts shipped and delivered as quickly as possible. This is why O-Reps offers discounted one-to-four-day ground shipping with all of its parts and accessories.

Why Walk-in Coolers Are Important for a Commercial Kitchen: Part II

 As mentioned in a previous post, maintaining standards for your walk-in cooler parts can be cost effective, as well as necessary for health and safety standards. Keeping up to date with repairs and maintenance can help you lower costs over time by staying away from urgent services on your appliances which can be more costly. Here is one more tip for keeping up with your commercial kitchen and your walk-in professional cooler.

·         You Need to Save Floor Space - One of the great things about walk-in coolers is that they don't have to take up precious space in your kitchen. They can actually be installed outside the restaurant's main kitchen space, located outside the back door. This is an ideal arrangement for smaller restaurants that need refrigeration but have limited kitchen floor space.

Are you looking for walk-in cooler parts? Check out O-Reps to shop a great selection of parts for many different makes and models of walk-in coolers. O-Reps also carries other items for your professional kitchen such as fryer parts and fryer baskets, as well as other hot-side replacement pieces. O-Reps has a great reputation for having a large selection of reliable replacement parts for your profession kitchen. Check out the assortment, today!

The Basics of Industrial Cooling Equipment

Refrigeration is the best tool in your kitchen equipment arsenal. Being a commercial refrigeration owner means that it might be helpful to know the basics of your equipment. Here is a brief overview of industrial cooling equipment.

·         Hot Out – The first step in refrigeration is to use a gas, usually, tetrafluoroethane, or HFC, to move through parts of the unit to cool the space. The keys to this include the process of 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics which states that two objects of different temperatures that are close to each other can exchange temps. Meaning that when these chemicals are close to other materials, the chemical becomes warm as the object becomes cooler.

·         Keep It Moving – The second portion is a little easier to understand as it consists of constantly moving the air throughout the space to continue this chemical reaction. As the HFC warms up, it becomes a liquid and then gets evaporated into the air and the cycle continues. This will continue until the space is cooled.

Are you looking for refrigerator freezer parts? Check out O-Reps for the best selection or parts and equipment around! At O-Reps, you can find everything you’re looking for, to complete your industrial kitchen.