Mitchell Kitchen Innovations Kitchen

Commercial refrigerators must maintain 40°F (4°C) or below for food safety compliance. Walk-in freezers should be at 0°F (-18°C) or below. Many food safety programs require refrigerators to run at 35-38°F for proper margin. If your unit struggles to maintain proper temperature, especially during busy service periods or in hot kitchen environments, call a technician — compressor capacity or refrigerant levels may be the issue.

Commercial ice machines should be professionally cleaned and sanitized every 6 months at minimum, or more frequently in hard water areas. The FDA Food Code requires ice machines to be clean and sanitized to prevent mold, slime, and bacterial growth. Between professional cleanings, staff should clean the exterior, ice bin, and scoop holder regularly. Many operators who skip cleaning face costly repairs from scale buildup and potential health code violations.

Chemical dispensing problems are typically caused by: clogged or faulty chemical pumps, incorrect dilution ratios, empty chemical containers, broken injection lines, or control board issues. In low-temperature machines, proper chemical concentration is essential for sanitization — test strips should verify concentration after every repair. Many chemical distributors offer free testing; alternatively, a technician can verify and repair the dispensing system.