See the best types of refrigerators food trucks use for cold storage
Food trucks are mobile kitchens on wheels which means they have most of the commercial catering equipment you will see in cafes, bars, and restaurants. And just like fixed restaurants, food trucks also need to keep food cold.
However, mobile catering units are smaller than most fixed establishments which means they are more limited in the amount of cold storage they can fit inside. Therefore, cold food storage space MUST be more space efficient.
So what is the best refrigeration for a food truck or trailer?
The best refrigerators for food trucks include under-counter fridges, which free up precious countertop space, sandwich/salad fridges which offer prepped food storage and reach-in fridges which offer the most amount of cold storage.
However, which one you go for will depend on the number of people you will be catering to and the size of the mobile catering unit it’s going in.
So to help you choose I’ve put together 5 of the best refrigerators for food trucks.
Contents:
- Buyers Guide
- Ice Jungle Undercounter Refrigerator
- Arctic Air AUC48R 48″ Undercounter Refrigerator
- Kratos Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table
- Arctic Air AWR25 Reach-in Commercial Refrigerator
- Lucky Kitchen Reach-in Commercial Refrigerator
- Related questions
- Key takeaways
Buyers Guide
There are three main types of commercial refrigerators that food trucks use for cold storage and each model has its benefits and drawbacks.
Undercounter fridges
Undercounter fridges are good for maximizing space and help to keep worktops clear for prepping and serving food or for placing additional equipment on.
However, they have limited storage space which means less space to keep food products cold and may not be suitable to cater to cater for large numbers of people. Therefore, additional refrigeration may be needed for larger events.
Pizza & salad fridges
Pizza, salad, and sandwich refrigerators are similar to under-counter refrigerators but have additional storage on the countertop for keeping chopped ingredients cool and ready for serving or making the dish in question and additional surface space for prepping.
Like under-counter fridges, they are good for maximizing the space you have in a mobile catering unit.
However, they may not be suitable for all food operations (think burger food trucks that need counter space for flipping burgers) and can take up additional surface space that could otherwise be used for serving or placing equipment.
Reach-in fridges
Reach-in fridges are the largest type of refrigeration for food trucks and offer a generous amount of storage space which means they are the best fridges for larger food truck events.
However, they are significantly larger than under-counter fridges which means they are more suitable for larger food trucks or trailers. You also lose surface/counter space with these types of fridges.
1. Ice Jungle Undercounter Refrigerator
Features:
- Type: Undercounter fridge
- Capacity – 5.3 Cubic Feet
- Safety lock
- High & Low-temperature alarm
- Quiet cooling system
Pros:
- Generous features
- Space-saving design
Con’s:
- Not suitable for larger events
The Ice Jungle under-counter refrigerator has a sleek-looking and space-saving design and offers 5.3 cubic feet of cooling space for drinks and food.
It also comes with some handy features such as a safety alarm that notifies you when the fridge temperature is too high or too cold, which helps to minimize food waste, and has a safety lock for additional security.
However, this under-counter fridge is one of the smallest fridges you can get for a food truck which means you may want something a little bigger if intend to do larger events.
2. Arctic Air AUC48R 48″ Undercounter/Worktop Refrigerator
Features:
- Type: Undercounter -worktop fridge
- Capacity – 12 Cubic Feet
- LED temperature display
- Stainless steel
- Castors
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- On wheels (easy to move)
- Self-closing and stay-open doors
Con’s
- Not suitable for larger events
The Arctic Air AUC48R 48″ Undercounter Worktop Refrigerator is a step up in size and offers more under-counter fridge space than the Ice Jungle.
It has double the capacity at 12 cubic meters (compared to 5.3 cubic meters) which means you can store twice the amount of cold produce.
It has self-closing and stay-open doors which are handy if your hands are full during busy periods. It’s also on wheels which makes it easier to move around the food truck and to clean underneath the unit by pulling it out.
However, this model may not be suitable for large events where you need enough storage for food to cater to hundreds of people or for more than a 1-day event.
Related articles:
- What Equipment Do I Need For A Food Truck?
- How Many Sinks Do You Need In A Food Truck?
- 5 Best Silent Generators for food trucks 2021
3. Kratos Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table
Features:
- Type: Sandwich/salad table fridge
- Capacity – 13.8 Cubic Feet
- Removable cutting board
- LED temperature display
- Stainless steel
- Castor Wheels
- Easy-grip handles
Pros:
- Doubles as a prep table
- Space-saving design
- Hinged food cover
Con’s:
- The prep area may not be suitable for all operations
- Not the largest capacity
If you are looking for slightly more under-counter fridge space for your food truck with the added benefit of a dedicated prepping space then the Kratos Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table could be for you.
It has a generous 13.8 cubic feet of refrigeration space in the main unit and additional covered cold refrigeration for freshly chopped food.
It also has a removable chopping board which you can wash in the sink and gives you the option to use the surface to rest equipment on.
Other useful features include easy grip handles which are useful when you have wet or slippery hands and it is on casters which make it easy to clean underneath the unit.
The main downside of this product is it is not suitable for all catering operations. Take for example a small burger food truck that uses most of its counter space for griddles to fry burgers on.
As an under-counter type fridge it also only offers limited space for catering to larger events so you may want to look at reach-in fridges which we come onto next.
4. Arctic Air AWR25 Reach-in Commercial Refrigerator
Features:
- Type: Reach-in refrigerator
- Capacity – 25 Cubic Feet
- LED temperature display
- Reversible doors
- Stainless steel
- Castor Wheels
Pros:
- Large capacity (better for larger operations)
- Good for medium-sized food trucks
Con’s:
- Takes up more space
- Loss of surface/prep space
The Arctic Air AWR25 Single Refrigerator is what is known as a reach-in fridge and provides double the amount of cold storage space at 25 cubic feet than the largest under-counter fridge on our list (the 13.8 cubic feet Kratos Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table).
It has all the standard features you would expect from a commercial refrigerator for a food truck or trailer such as a stainless steel design, which makes it easy to clean, castor wheels for easy movement, and an LED display.
It also has reversible doors which is a useful feature as it gives you more options of where to place the fridge in a food truck or trailer.
The only real downside to this model is it takes up more space than under-counter fridges and you lose countertop space for prepping and placing equipment.
It is also on the smaller side for a reach-in refrigerator so if you want something that can handle most events then you may want to consider the next model on our list.
5. Lucky Kitchen Reach-in Commercial Refrigerator
Features:
- Type: Reach-in refrigerator
- Capacity – 49 Cubic Feet
- Digital control
- Door locks
- Stainless steel
- Castor Wheels
Pros:
- Massive capacity
- Good for large food trucks
Con’s:
- Takes up a lot of space
- Loss of surface/prep space
- Expensive
Last but certainly not least is the Lucky Kitchen Reach-in Commercial Refrigerator, which at 49 cubic space storage capacity is probably one of the largest reach-in fridges on the market.
Again this model has all the features you would expect from a commercial model such as a stainless steel design and mounted on castors, but it also has door locks which I think is a very good feature for added security.
This is certainly a model that provides enough cold storage for large events but it comes at a cost and takes up a look of space. Like all large reach-in fridges, you lose precious countertop space.
This is a model, therefore, that is more suitable for larger food trucks and trailers and not smaller types of mobile catering vehicles.
Related articles:
- 5 Best Cool Boxes on Wheels
- 5 Best Silent Generators for food trucks 2022
- How Does A Food Truck Get Power?
Key Takeaways
If you have a small food truck or trailer and are limited in the amount of space you have available for equipment then I recommend going for the smaller under-counter refrigerator models.
The Arctic Air AUC48R 48″ Undercounter/Worktop Refrigerator offers a generous amount of cold storage space at 12 cubic feet and provides additional worktop space for prepping or storing equipment.
If on the other hand, you have more room for manoeuvre and have a larger food truck and want the extra capacity to cater for larger events then a reach-in refrigerator is probably more appropriate.
The Lucky Kitchen Reach-in Commercial Refrigerator is one of the largest on the market and provides a mammoth 49 cubic feet of cold storage which means you shouldn’t run out of stock when you have a queue of hungry customers.
Author
Gavin D is the founder of Street Food Central and Tru Foo Juice Bar Co. and has worked in the mobile catering industry for over 7 years.