Preventative maintenance can extend the life and reduce service calls of commercial equipment. Maintaining a schedule for removing grease and accumulation from your equipment makes cleaning and disinfecting much easier. You should always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning and maintenance. We’ve put together a checklist that will help you stay on track.
Refrigerator Maintenance
You already know that your reach-in refrigeration units are essential to the daily operations of your kitchen. If you take steps to maintain your commercial refrigerator properly, you can ensure many years of uninterrupted use. Make sure you review and follow all manufacturer guidelines on cleaning and maintenance. You may need to consult a certified professional to perform some of the more technical tasks below:
Refrigerators Daily
- Check that the temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit
- Clean the shelves and interiors
- Use an approved cleaner to clean the gasket
Monthly
- Check for tears in gaskets
- Condenser coils and evaporator coils should be cleaned
- Clean fan blades
- Check compressor operation
Quarterly
- Check refrigerant levels
- Test temperature controls
Griddle and Range Top Maintenance
Daily cleaning of your flat-top griddle or charbroiler will not only prevent grease buildup but also make sure that your food tastes great. Stale grease can quickly ruin your food. This is also a fire risk that can easily be avoided with regular maintenance. Always follow the instructions in your owner’s guide before performing any griddle maintenance.
Commercial Ranges Daily
- Flat-top griddle plates or Charbroiler grates
- If necessary, season the cooking surface
- Empty the grease container or waste bin.
Monthly
- Check and calibrate the thermostat.
Quarterly
- Visually inspect the unit
- Check for signs of stress or cracks on the cooking surface
- Replace worn knobs and controls
Ice Machine Maintenance
Cleaning and sanitizing your ice machine can result in a failed inspection. Operators often forget that ice can be considered food and that any surface, bin, or scoop that comes into contact with ice must be treated as food-contact surfaces. Be sure to use approved cleaning chemicals before following our cleaning tips.
Ice Machines Daily
- Check the temperature settings
- Check if the ice maker is working
- Make sure that the drain pipes are clean and free of debris
Weekly
- Clean the ice machine exterior
Semi-Annually
- Interior bins should be cleaned and sanitized.
- Clean condenser
- Replace water filter cartridges
- Replace or clean air filters
Fryer Maintenance
Your deep fryer is a perfect example of how regular equipment maintenance can actually improve your product. It’s essential to develop an oil filtration and replacement schedule so that your fried foods taste fresh and crispy with no flavor transfer. Our guidelines are a general recommendation and could vary depending on how often you use your fryer and the amount of product you sell each day:
All Deep Fryers
- Clean the exterior of your fryer
- Cleaning fryer baskets
- Filtering the oil
Weekly
- Replace filter oil
Monthly
- Remove the fryer from its wall and thoroughly clean the surrounding area
- Inspect pilot light
- Check the o-rings on the drain connection and drain pain
- Cleaning the blower and vents