Controlling odor in a walk-in refrigerator is essential for customer satisfaction and employee morale. The smell of a walk-in refrigerator is one of many things that can make a restaurant’s food taste worse. It will affect how customers perceive your food if everything smells like fish.

Employees may also be hesitant to enter the refrigeration unit and work in such conditions. The good news is if odors are becoming a problem, there are steps you can take to reduce their impact on your business. There are many ways to control odors in a walk-in refrigerator and tips on what you can do, including how often you should inspect your refrigerator.

Tips on Controlling Odor in a Walk-in Refrigerator

Refrigerators are a vital part of any commercial kitchen, providing safe food storage while ensuring that you’re serving high-quality meals to your customers every day. However, even the best refrigerators can develop unpleasant odors if they aren’t maintained properly.

By following these four tips on controlling odor in a walk-in refrigerator, you can keep your food fresh and prevent odors from forming inside your walk-in refrigerator.

Keep Doors Closed

Proper air circulation is crucial to keep smells from transferring from one area of your walk-in refrigerator. When you’re not using certain refrigerator areas, ensure that the entrance is kept closed.

Even if your walk-in includes a beverage cooler, don’t leave it open when not in use. It may seem like a waste of money and space, but leaving it closed will prevent odor transfer into other parts of the cooler. Keeping doors closed allows cold air to stay inside rather than escaping into an already warm kitchen or restaurant.

Place Air Fresheners

Placing air fresheners can help control any odor that might be permeating your refrigerator. If you’re having trouble getting rid of an odor, you may need to try several different kinds of air fresheners before you find one that works best.

The trick is to place them near frequently used items first, then put additional ones towards interior shelves that are not accessed often. You can also place a fan near them to circulate fresh air more efficiently. Remember, there isn’t just one solution; sometimes, it takes finding out what fits best with your specific needs and circumstances.

Be patient, and don’t give up! You will eventually get rid of whatever is causing the odor. It won’t happen overnight, but small changes will make a massive difference over time.

Keep Food Spoilage to a Minimum

The first step to controlling odor is to minimize food spoilage. Ensure that fruit and produce are properly prepped (washed and cut) before putting them in your walk-in refrigerator. Personnel should remove leaves and stems from fruit and produce before cold storage.

Store fruits separately from vegetables—each has its optimal storage temperature range. Keeping them separate helps maintain the right temperature for each item.

Find the Source and Clean

One of the best methods of reducing and eliminating odor in a walk-in cooler is to locate the source of the odor and clean up the area thoroughly. Most fridge smells can be attributed to bacteria or germs somewhere inside. If you don’t clean these areas thoroughly enough, the smell will likely intensify. This can make existing issues worse, with an unpleasant smell lingering around for days afterward.

How Often Should I Inspect My Walk-in Refrigerator?

To prevent health inspectors from finding any food safety violations in your walk-in refrigerator, you must properly clean and maintain it quarterly. Below are tips for keeping your walk-in freezer clean and working at its peak:

Wash the cooler regularly using water and soap once a week. Avoid using harsh chemicals that might lead to corrosion.

Inspect and clean evaporator fan and blades quarterly.

Check and ensure the evaporators and condensing units are clear to maximize proper airflow.

Inspect seals and hinges quarterly.

Consult with a technician and schedule program and maintenance.

What is the Best Way to Get Rid of Refrigerator Odors?

Try using a liquid chlorine bleach solution for those fridge odors that refuse to go away. Put one tablespoon of bleach per gallon in water. Use this mixture on your shelves or bins until they’re clean before wiping them down with water, then leave them to sit overnight, so all bacteria are completely removed!

Additionally, a walk-in cooler with good ventilation and daily maintenance is often enough to keep unpleasant odors from building up. Suppose you find yourself fighting a losing battle against odd smells. In that case, there are several remedies available—both store-bought and homemade—that can serve as added insurance against funky fridge smells.

Why Does My Fridge Smell Even Though I’ve Cleaned It?

It’s not something you want to deal with yourself, especially if the smell is persistent. If it turns out that there are more extensive repairs needed on your fridge (to fix any damage or worn water filters), then Elite Refrigeration Services will be happy to assist in scheduling those service calls as well!

Like any other appliance or piece of equipment, a walk-in refrigerator will develop odors over time. While these smells can undoubtedly be an issue for patrons eating inside your establishment, they can also have a significant impact on food quality and safety.

How Do You Deodorize a Fridge Naturally?

Fortunately, there are many methods for naturally deodorizing your fridge—from baking soda to lemons. Here are some simple tips for getting rid of odors naturally without chemicals or artificial scents.

Baking soda: Fill up your glassware with baking soda, placing it in one corner or at an outer edge. This will absorb any lingering odors before they have time to spread through all other areas. Alternatively, you could place anything acidic (lemon juice) close by for quick results when needed!

Vinegar: Works well both outside AND inside if placed near odor-causing foods such as fish, veggie, stew pots, etc. Use a solution of 1 Tbsp of vinegar diluted completely per cup of water.