Everything You Need to Know About Walk-In Coolers

When it comes to keeping ingredients fresh and close at hand, walk-in coolers can make things much easier on your cooking team or catering staff. At Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies, we’ve helped many commercial kitchens and foodservice companies select the best walk-in freezer and refrigerator for their needs and we’ve gathered some important facts for you here.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about today’s modern walk-in coolers, so read on!

What is a Walk-In Cooler?

A walk-in cooler is exactly like it sounds: a large cooler where you can store your important ingredients that can be walked into, unlike the average standalone freezer or cooler. They’re enclosed and insulated to provide optimal efficiency and are most common in places like supermarkets or commercial foodservice processing and packaging companies that work with a lot of ingredients on a daily basis.

How Does a Walk-In Cooler or Freezer Work?

Walk-In coolers/freezers often operate at a temperature that is just above freezing (often between 0°C-13°C). The room is cooled by a split refrigeration system consisting of a compressor that’s usually mounted on the outside of the room, an evaporator fan coil, and a water or air-cooled condenser coil. Cooling is accomplished by running refrigerant through the system that circles in a closed loop from the compressor and condenser, to the expansion device and evaporator.

Much like today’s average HVAC unit, the refrigerant of your walk-in cooler absorbs the heat present inside and expels it via your refrigeration system through condensation and evaporation.

How Do I Choose the Best Walk-In Cooler for Me?

When shopping for the right walk-in cooler, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as:

• The functions your refrigeration unit will need to perform (whether it’s cooling, freezing, or both).
• The optimal temperature your unit will need to maintain.
• The best configuration to provide you and your staff easy access to its interior and whether you also want a display unit included.
• The speed at which you’ll need to cool or freeze your ingredients to maintain the best quality and adhere to health and safety standards.

Location: Indoor or Outdoor Walk-In Units

Wondering about indoor versus outdoor? We've set up plenty of both, and Zanduco units adapt easily to what your space demands.

• Indoor setups blend into busy kitchens, keeping everything handy without stealing prep room.
• Outdoor thru-wall designs give you that extra storage boost while freeing up your main floor.
• Just consider your local weather, we can tweak seals or insulation to match.

Size & Storage Capacity

Sizing a walk-in right can be tricky, but it makes all the difference in daily operations. Our options flex to fit restaurants big or small.

• Modular panels build out in easy increments, tailoring perfectly to your layout.
• Combo cooler-freezer units handle both fresh and frozen without doubling your footprint.
• Pro tip from installs we've done: Track a week's worth of ingredients to dial it in.

Key Benefits Over Reach-Ins

Reach-ins are fine for basics, but when volume picks up, walk-ins really shine for pros like you. Here's the real-world payoff.

• They store loads more with steady temps, cutting down on any waste headaches.
• Energy stays efficient, so no need for a row of reach-ins consuming power all day.
• Staff moves faster too, slipping in and out even when service hits full throttle.

Structural and Safety Components

These units are made to handle the rough-and-tumble of commercial life, complete with safeties that check every box. Right from Zanduco.

• You'll get sturdy insulated panels with eco-friendly foam and reliable locks built in.
• Door choices like hinged, sliding, or glass stand up to constant use.
• Essentials such as interior panic bars, anti-ice heaters, and pressure vents keep things safe.

5 Ways to Increase Efficiency

If you’re like most of today’s commercial foodservice companies, you’ll want to invest in the most efficient walk-in freezer/refrigerator possible. Thankfully, these days there are a host of options out there. Some of the ways you can boost efficiency are by investing in a cooler with:

Energy-Efficient Lighting

Some of the best walk-in coolers will come equipped with energy-efficient lighting options, like fiberoptic lighting or LED lighting systems, as well as sensors that turn lights on only when a person is inside the cooler.

Enhanced Insulation

Most walk-in coolers and freezers will come with improved insulation options like better gaskets and sealing material for doors, as well as improved insulation for the ceiling, walls, and floor.

Easy & Efficient Access

You can choose a variety of access options to make your walk-in cooler easier to get in and out of, such as automatic door opening and closing systems and vestibule entryways or revolving doors, as well as air curtains or strip curtains to prevent cool air loss. Additionally, many models will offer automatic evaporator fan shut-off whenever your cooler door is open.

Improved Controls & Technology

These days, the most efficient walk-in coolers/freezers will come outfitted with efficient controls such as refrigeration system overrides for peak hours, air and water filtration sensors to ensure the insulation is working properly, as well as evaporator fan controls for optimal efficiency.

Cleaning & Maintenance

A little regular care goes a long way toward keeping your walk-in reliable and inspectors off your back.

Frequency	What to Do	Why It Matters
Daily	Quick wipe-down; check temperature and door seals	Keeps sanitation in check and catches issues early
Weekly	Clean coils and floor; test door operation	Maintains airflow, efficiency, and proper sealing
Monthly	Deep clean; inspect components for wear	Prevents breakdowns and extends equipment life

Where Can I Order My Walk-In Cooler/Freezer?

If you’re in the market for a new walk-in cooler, Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies carries some of today’s leading models and manufacturers, such as:

Curtis Walk-In Coolers & Freezers

The Curtis walk-in coolers/freezers available from Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies are custom and made to order. They come in size increments of 11.5 inches (292 centimeters) and consist of modular, pre-fabricated panels, making installation a breeze. For more than 80 years, Curtis has been manufacturing high-quality refrigeration products.

Some of the highlights of their walk-in coolers include:

• Ecomate Foam (the greenest foam insulation in the world).
• Door choices including hinged, sliding, or glass doors, as well as the option to select CAM locks for added security.
• A variety of different finishes, including white embossed, stainless steel, stucco/embossed aluminum, plain aluminum, and more.

Norbec – Custom Walk-In Cooler/Freezer:

These custom refrigeration/freezer units are made to order and are ideal for use in everything from supermarkets to high-volume catering businesses. Some of the leading features include:

• A variety of door options (sliding, hinged, or display glass)
• Specific temperature options (such as those for dry aging, or low humidity, etc.)
• Insulated metal panels
• High use resistance and enhanced performance
• Constructions according to your specific dimensions

One of the best things about the Norbec walk-in coolers and freezers available from Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies is that they’re custom-made to your ideal specifications. By taking your foodservice company’s available space into account, they can create multiple freezer/cooler combinations. If you need a cooler/freezer combo, it’s no problem.

Other Commercial Refrigeration Options

For those in need of additional commercial refrigeration options, Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies is the place to go. In addition to our custom walk-in coolers and freezer, we also carry a range of restaurant and commercial refrigeration equipment that’s extensive to suit every need.

Whether you’re a chef, restaurateur, butcher, or caterer, we carry every type of commercial refrigeration unit on the market today, including:

• Back Bar Coolers: Do you own a bar and a restaurant and want to provide easy access to drinks for patrons? Investing in a back bar cooler can make it easy for staff while still keeping beverages out of the way but cool and ready to serve.
• Chest Freezers: For those who want to add some freezer storage space but might not be ready for their own walk-in freezer, the chest freezers from Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies are ideal. You can have easy access to your cooking ingredients without having to sacrifice too much floor space.
• Blast Chillers: Do you frequently make dishes for patrons that need to be quickly cooled? Blast chillers are perfect for such needs. You can cool your food quickly in a safe environment and reduce the chance of bacterial growth. It can then be frozen and heated up later or stored in your cooler if it’s to be served cold.
• Fridge Freezer Combos: Want to keep all of your ingredients cool in one place? There’s no need to run back and forth between the fridge and freezer now with these combo units available from Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies. You can lower utility costs while simultaneously making your kitchen an easier place to move around in.
• Countertop Refrigerated Display Cases: Keep items cool while still showing them off with these countertop refrigerated display cases. These cases are perfect for smaller restaurants or bakeries that want to show their food items to patrons to choose, while still keeping them at optimal temperatures.
• Ice Cream Freezers: Everyone likes a sweet treat every once in a while, which is why Zanduco Restaurant Equipment & Supplies carries a variety of different ice cream freezers for your needs. Whether you run an ice cream shop or simply need to keep your frozen dessert items cool, these reach-in cases are ideal.