Commercial Kitchen Equipment

Commercial Upright Freezers: Your Questions Answered

Buying & Choosing the Right Commercial Upright Freezer

What size commercial upright freezer do I need for my café or restaurant?

Let’s play a game. Imagine your café is thriving. Orders are coming in fast. Your chef swings open the freezer door, and, it’s either bursting at the seams or half-empty, wasting energy. That’s why size matters.


Featured: Atosa Upright Top Mounted 3 Door Freezer 1968Ltr MBF8003

Here’s a simple guide:
Small cafés & food trucks → 400–600L
Medium restaurants & bakeries → 600–1200L
High-volume kitchens & hotels → 1200L+

Not sure? Always size up, it’s better to have extra space than to run out mid-service.

What is the difference between a commercial and a domestic upright freezer?

Would you race a Ferrari against a family hatchback? Probably not. Commercial freezers are built stronger, colder, and smarter than domestic models.

  • Power & Cooling: Commercial freezers maintain -18°C to -22°C even when doors are constantly opened.
  • Durability: Heavy-duty stainless steel and powerful compressors keep up with high demand.
  • Compliance: Designed to meet Australian food safety laws, unlike household freezers.

If you’re running a café, restaurant, or bar, go commercial, your business depends on it.

What is the best brand of commercial upright freezers for high-demand kitchens?

Great chefs need great tools. Here are top brands trusted in Aussie kitchens:

🔥 Skope → Premium performance, Australian-made, industry favourite.
🔥 Williams → Tough, energy-efficient, and used by major hospitality brands.
🔥 FED-X → Budget-friendly, stainless steel workhorses.
🔥 Thermaster → Reliable mid-range option for cafés & bakeries.

Choose based on budget, storage needs, and energy efficiency, because in hospitality, every dollar and degree matters.

How do I choose an energy-efficient commercial freezer?

Energy bills in hospitality can be brutal, but your freezer doesn’t have to be the culprit. Here’s how to save:

Look for ENERGY STAR ratings – The more stars, the better.
Choose self-closing doors – Reduces wasted cold air.
Opt for LED lighting – Bright, efficient, and long-lasting.
Invest in digital temperature controls – Precision saves power.

Cutting energy waste means lower bills and a greener footprint. Win-win.

Are glass-door or solid-door upright freezers better for a commercial kitchen?

It’s a battle of visibility vs efficiency.

🔹 Glass doors → Great for display, quick access, and front-of-house (but less energy-efficient).
🔹 Solid doors → Better insulation, retains cold air longer, perfect for back-of-house storage.

For high-volume kitchens? Go solid. For display and grab-and-go? Glass is gold.

Should I get a frost-free or manual defrost commercial freezer?

Ever tried chiselling ice out of a freezer during a busy service? Not fun.

Frost-free: Saves time, keeps food visible, no manual defrosting.
🧊 Manual defrost: Cheaper upfront, but requires downtime to remove ice build-up.

For most commercial kitchens, frost-free is the way to go. The less time you spend defrosting, the more time you spend serving customers.

What temperature range should a commercial upright freezer maintain?

🔹 -18°C to -22°C → The sweet spot for frozen storage.
🔹 -23°C or lower → Ideal for meat-heavy storage (prevents freezer burn).

For compliance with Australian food safety laws, your freezer must maintain -18°C or lower, no excuses.

How does a commercial freezer’s cooling system impact food storage and quality?

Think of your freezer like a race car’s cooling system, it must work efficiently under pressure.

🚀 Fan-forced cooling → Even temperature, rapid cooling, ideal for busy kitchens.
🛑 Static cooling → Cheaper, but less consistent temperatures = uneven freezing.

For food safety and quality, fan-forced cooling is king.

Are there upright freezers designed for specific types of food storage (e.g. meat, seafood, pastries)?

Absolutely! Just like you wouldn’t store wine in the same fridge as fresh produce, different freezers suit different needs:

🥩 Meat freezers → Ultra-low temperatures, better air circulation to prevent freezer burn.
🐟 Seafood freezers → Moisture-controlled to stop dehydration.
🥐 Pastry & dough freezers → Precise temperature & humidity settings to maintain texture.

Get the right tool for the job, your ingredients (and customers) will thank you.

Can I use a standard upright freezer in a hot commercial kitchen, or do I need a heavy-duty model?

A standard freezer in a 40°C commercial kitchen? That’s like running a marathon in the desert, it won’t last long.

For hot, high-humidity kitchens, get a tropical-rated, heavy-duty freezer. These models:
🔥 Handle extreme temperatures
❄ Maintain consistent cooling under pressure
🔧 Last longer with fewer breakdowns

Don’t gamble on a standard freezer, it’ll cost you more in repairs and lost stock.

When it comes to running a successful café, restaurant, or commercial kitchen, every piece of equipment plays a role in keeping your business moving. And when it comes to food storage, your freezer isn’t just another appliance, it’s your insurance policy for freshness, efficiency, and food safety.

At Caterware, we know that not all commercial upright freezers are built the same. That’s why we stock only the best, from industry-leading brands like Skope, Williams, FED-X, and Thermaster, designed to handle the heat of a busy kitchen while keeping your ingredients at peak quality.

So whether you need a high-capacity workhorse for your restaurant or a sleek, efficient freezer for your café, we’ve got the right solution for your business.

🔥 Explore our range of commercial upright freezers today and invest in reliability, efficiency, and long-term success. Because in hospitality, the right equipment makes all the difference.

🚀 Check out our collection now!