When you arrive at your commercial kitchen at 7 am and switch on the lights, and hear complete silence, it means your freezer has an issue. When it stops working, your entire stock starts warming up slowly. If you have prawns and ice creams, plus sauces prepared for the day’s service, you can feel sweat forming on your forehead. You need to act quickly to avoid the impact of the commercial freezer breakdown and stop it from becoming a disaster.
Steps You Should Take When Your Commercial Freezer Stops Working
Keep the Fridge Door Shut
Opening the fridge and checking the items inside can be tempting. However, if you do, warm air goes in. A closed freezer can easily maintain the temperature for a few hours. For this reason, it is better to keep it shut while you look into the issue. Here, you have to start planning for your next move at the same time.
Look at the Simple Things
Don’t panic. Instead, look at the basics. It becomes important to know whether it is still plugged in properly. Check if the circuit breaker is off or a fuse has tripped. Sometimes, power dips overnight and affect the freezer. Take two minutes to look at everything properly. It can help you save the call-out fee.
Keep a Record of Temperature
Use the thermometer to check the stock temperature. Later, write it down on paper with the time. Keep frozen food below -18℃. It helps you know whether you can keep the ingredient. This way, you can show environmental health officers that you’re maintaining food safety guidelines.
Shift Your Stock
If your freezer takes longer to fix, move high-risk and valuable items. Use another freezer if one is available on site. Here, you can decide to borrow a space from a nearby business location. However, you can also hire a temporary refrigerator unit. Ice packs and cool boxes can help if you need to handle a small load.
Call a Qualified Engineer
If your freezer has an issue, don’t try to fix it yourself. Instead, hire a qualified engineer for a repair service. When you speak with the experts over the phone, tell them the make and model. If there is one, tell them the error code. With that information, they can handle it better. This helps them fix the freezer quickly.
Have an Idea of When to Throw the Food
Once the food is defrosted, don’t refreeze it. Cook the food immediately or throw it in the bin. If a food item is sitting warm for hours, there is always a risk. If you doubt it, don’t use it. Using rotten food can lead to food poisoning and cause even greater losses.
If you’re dealing with a commercial freezer breakdown, it can be stressful. However, stay calm to protect your stock. Experienced engineers from AWS Catering & Refrigeration can find a solution for you. Call or contact us today to get service.