If you are looking for a way to prepare submarine sandwiches and salads for your restaurant or sandwich shop, as well as storing the ingredients, you will probably want to purchase a commercial sandwich/salad preparation refrigerator. Not all sandwich prep refrigerators are alike, however. To make the best choice, consider your needs and the volume of customers you have. The following is a list of 9 features to look for when choosing a sandwich prep refrigerator:

1. Front Ventilation

If you are looking to save space in your restaurant kitchen, you will probably want to place your prep refrigeration unit either against the wall or alongside of other equipment. If the refrigeration prep table has vents or bumpers in back or on the sides, however, this will be difficult, if not impossible, to do. Therefore, your prep unit should have the "breathing" vents in front of the unit, saving you much-needed kitchen space to work with.

2. Adaptable Pan Depth

The prep table should hold pans of various depths. This will allow you to keep larger quantities of product such as cold cuts and tomatoes in the deeper pans, while storing smaller and lighter products such as onions in the more shallow pans. Not all sandwich prep refrigeration tables will hold pans of various depths, so this is a good feature if you can find one that does.

3. Self-Closing and "Stay-Open" Doors

Look for a refrigeration prep table with doors that are self-closing to ensure your food stays within a safe temperature. In addition, the doors should stay open when you need them to, such as when you are cleaning the interior of the unit.

4. Polyurethane Foam Insulation

This type of insulation is energy efficient. Polyurethane foam insulation means it will require less energy to operate while keeping your food cold. This material is also strong to withhold the daily use of your business.

5. Removable Cutting Board

The cutting board will be used for preparing sandwiches and cutting vegetables, and this board will need to be sanitized regularly. Some individuals may find it much easier to clean and disinfect if the cutting board is removable. A bamboo cutting board is environmentally friendly and sustainable, does not scratch as easily as plastic and does not absorb as much liquid as other materials.

6. Exterior Thermometer

Your commercial sandwich prep refrigeration table should include an exterior thermometer. This makes it easy to monitor the temperature in order to maintain food safety standards. An exterior thermometer will always be visible, making it more convenient than having to peek inside the unit to check temperatures.

7. Casters

Your prep table may not always be kept stationary. There are times when you will need to pull out the unit to clean behind it, or perhaps relocate the prep table entirely. This is why it is important to choose a prep table with caster wheels for mobility.

8. Ergonomic Design

Ergonomic designed equipment is very important for workers in the food industry. Without proper ergonomics, workers may be more prone to injury and stain due to slouching over to utilize the equipment. How can you be certain your prep table is ergonomically designed? Primarily, there should be a height adjustment for the work surface. Adjustable height can significantly reduce the risk of stress and strain on joints. The height of the working surface should be easily adjusted for individual needs.

9. Magnetic Snap-In Gaskets

Less fuss removing the gaskets for cleaning or replacing means more production time. Look for this high-end feature in your food prep refrigeration unit. It also ensures a tight seal with cold air staying inside the unit.

For more information, check out a company like Louis Wohl & Sons Inc.