Clean Out Your Refrigerator!

While we’re sure that you understand the importance of cleaning a commercial refrigerator, it’s still nice to have a little reminder. It doesn’t take long for a restaurant fridge to get messy and filled with items that need to be used or tossed. November 15th is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, and we think it’s the perfect reminder for busy restaurant owners in the St. Louis area. Here are a few things you can do to get your fridge back to its sparkling clean state.


Steps for Cleaning and Organizing Your Fridge

This chore may seem daunting, especially if you’ve put it off, but before the holidays hit is the perfect time to get started. Check out these steps for cleaning out your walk-in fridge.

1. Unplug the Units

This is a pretty obvious first step, but you don’t want to risk electrocution. Start by unplugging the fridge and freezer. If you’re delegating this job to someone else, make sure they realize the importance of unplugging the units. This helps prevent work-related injuries.

2. Empty Each Shelf

Now it’s time to remove all of the products from the fridge and freezer. Actually, move the containers, and don’t just move them from shelf to shelf. If you’re getting ready to receive a new shipment, now is THE time to clean things out, because your fridge will be on the emptier side. If you have food that you want to save, move it to another cooler for now.

3. Throw Out Everything That is Expired or Bad

It’s not hard for perishables to get lost in the crowd when you have a busy kitchen. They may be concealed behind other items, which is why you should pull everything out. When in doubt, just go ahead and throw it out. You don’t want to accidentally serve something to someone if it’s spoiled.

4. Wipe Down the Interior

Get a bucket with warm, soapy water and a sponge because it’s time to get the insides of your fridge and freezer clean. Absorbent microfiber cloths are great for scrubbing down the inside, as well as removing messes that have accumulated since the last cleaning. If areas are hard to reach or clean, you can try a toothbrush to get those hard areas.

5. Disinfect with Sanitizer

After some time, bacteria and mold can accumulate in the fridge, so now is a great time to disinfect everything. You’ll want to use a food-safe sanitizer since you’ll be placing food back in the fridge. Remember that you don’t have to go crazy with the sanitizer, a little will go longer than you think.

6. Vacuum the Condenser and Coils

Did you know that dust and debris can sap the power that is created from your refrigeration unit’s condenser and coils? That same dust and debris can also clog the air intake. Take a few moments to dust the refrigerator coils by removing the protective grill on the top or bottom of the unit. Bus the coils and fan unit to free up the dirt and dust, and then use a vacuum to remove it completely.

7. Clean underneath the Units

The area around your fridge and freezer is just as important as the insides. Mop the floors under and around your fridge and freezers. If your units have casters, you can pull them away from thew all to reach behind the units as well.

8. Restock and Organize

Your fridge and freezer are finally clean, and it’s time to restock them back. Plug everything in, and start placing food back in your fridge. Make sure that you put ready-to-eat foods like produce, butter, and condiments on the top shelf. Then you’ll place seafood, and then whole cuts of raw meat. Beneath the raw meat should be ground meat and then raw poultry should go on the bottom. This helps prevent bacteria from dripping and contaminating.

You can also organize your fridge and freezer by using labels to opened products, color-coded bins, as well as first in, first out methods.


Is Your Fridge Working Properly?

If you notice that your fridge has been lagging lately, either the temperature is not getting down to the right numbers, or something sounds off, we can help. Fast Fix is here to get your units back up and running … FAST! Give us a call for any commercial kitchen equipment repairs that you may find in your Missouri restaurant. We also serve areas in Western Illinois, along with Missouri. Visit our website to learn more, or give us a call at the phone number below.


Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Equipment Service & Repair - 

One Call Does It All! 




Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Services
3362 State Road JJ
Kingdom City, MO 65262

Columbia: 573-544-0456
St. Louis: 636-327-8349

Location: Kingdom City, MO, USA

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