Why does a reach-in freezer have a defrost cycle?

Moisture from the air freezes onto the evaporator coil each time the door opens, and a layer of frost slows cooling. Automatic defrost warms the coil briefly on a timer or on demand, then drains or evaporates the water. A short rise in air temperature during defrost is normal, and the product itself should stay frozen.

Can a reach-in freezer be used to freeze food quickly?

It can freeze small amounts, but it is designed to keep frozen food frozen, not to pull large loads down fast. For batches of cooked food, a blast chiller or shock freezer brings the product down quickly and the reach-in then holds it. Check your food safety plan for its cooling requirements.

How much do commercial reach-in freezers cost?

List prices on Norpex range from $100 to $28,704.99 CAD, with a median of $5,619.52 across 85 priced models; prices are list prices before tax and shipping.

Which brands of commercial reach-in freezers do you carry?

Norpex lists 85 commercial reach-in freezers. The brands with the most models listed are Turbo Air with 26, Ikon with 10, Omcan with 9, Celcold with 6 and COLDZONE with 6.

Do you ship commercial reach-in freezers across Canada?

Norpex ships to delivery addresses across Canada. Equipment ships from distributor warehouses, so dispatch timing depends on the supplier and the destination. For items that can be bought online, shipping is calculated at checkout from live carrier rates for the delivery address and confirmed before payment. There is no automatic free-shipping or flat-rate offer.

Commercial Reach-In Freezers in Canada

Reach-in freezers are upright cabinets for frozen proteins, fries, desserts and batch-cooked food that has already been chilled. They share the one, two and three section layout of reach-in refrigerators, but run defrost cycles and usually carry heaters around the door openings to stop ice forming at the gaskets. Kitchens use them where a walk-in freezer is not practical, or as a second freezer point closer to the fryers and prep area.

About commercial reach-in freezers

Before you buy

Check the voltage, amperage and plug on the specification sheet, because a freezer cabinet can draw more current than a refrigerator of the same size and may need its own circuit.
Keep large batches of hot or warm food out of a reach-in freezer, since loading it warm raises the temperature of everything already inside.
Confirm the defrost type and whether the unit needs a drain or evaporates its defrost water on its own, so the install location is ready.
Check that the shelves or pan slides suit how you store frozen goods, since cases of fries and boxed proteins stack differently from hotel pans.
Ask whether the door gaskets snap in for replacement, because a torn gasket on a freezer quickly leads to frost build-up and longer compressor run times.

Common questions

Why does a reach-in freezer have a defrost cycle?: Moisture from the air freezes onto the evaporator coil each time the door opens, and a layer of frost slows cooling. Automatic defrost warms the coil briefly on a timer or on demand, then drains or evaporates the water. A short rise in air temperature during defrost is normal, and the product itself should stay frozen.
Can a reach-in freezer be used to freeze food quickly?: It can freeze small amounts, but it is designed to keep frozen food frozen, not to pull large loads down fast. For batches of cooked food, a blast chiller or shock freezer brings the product down quickly and the reach-in then holds it. Check your food safety plan for its cooling requirements.
How much do commercial reach-in freezers cost?: List prices on Norpex range from $100 to $28,704.99 CAD, with a median of $5,619.52 across 85 priced models; prices are list prices before tax and shipping.
Which brands of commercial reach-in freezers do you carry?: Norpex lists 85 commercial reach-in freezers. The brands with the most models listed are Turbo Air with 26, Ikon with 10, Omcan with 9, Celcold with 6 and COLDZONE with 6.
Do you ship commercial reach-in freezers across Canada?: Norpex ships to delivery addresses across Canada. Equipment ships from distributor warehouses, so dispatch timing depends on the supplier and the destination. For items that can be bought online, shipping is calculated at checkout from live carrier rates for the delivery address and confirmed before payment. There is no automatic free-shipping or flat-rate offer.

Guides

Buying guide

Reach-In Refrigerator Buying Guide: Doors, Sizes and Compressors

8 min read · Updated September 25, 2026

Explainer

What Is a Blast Chiller? Cook-Chill, Capacity and Roll-In vs Reach-In

7 min read · Updated September 25, 2026

Randell – 32″ Stainless Steel Dual Temp Refrigerator/Freezer Reach-in One-section – 9404-32DT-RBFTR (Special Order 4-6 Weeks)

Turbo Air – Super Deluxe 27″ Silver One Glass Door Reach-In Freezer with 3 Shelves – TSF-23GSD-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Celcold – 23″ Commercial Glass Door Reach-In Freezer – CF23GDM

COLDZONE – 2 DOOR FREEZER GLASS 40″

Kelvinator KCHGM48F 2 Door Reach in Freezer

Randell – 27″ Stainless Steel Dual Temp Refrigerator/Freezer Reach-in One-section – 9404-27DT-RBFTL (Special Order 4-6 Weeks)

Kelvinator Commercial – 54″ Reach-In Freezer with 2 Doors – KCHRI54R2DFE

Turbo Air M3F47-2-N 52″ M3 Series Solid 2-Door Reach-In Freezer

Reach-in freezer Lumin Cool-29F-1D

29″ One (1) Door Top Mounted Reach-in Freezer, 21.5 cu.ft. (609 L), Stainless Steel

Ikon IT28F 26.8″ Top Mount Solid 1-Door Reach-In Freezer

Turbo Air – PRO Series 17.75″ Silver Reach in Solid Door Freezer with Top Mount – PRO-15F-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Kelvinator Commercial – 27″ Reach-In Freezer with 2 Half Doors – KCHRI27R2HDF

COLDZONE – FULL SIZE GLASS DOOR FREEZER 28″

Ikon IB54FG 54″ Bottom Mount Glass 2-Door Reach-In Freezer

54″ Two (2) Door Top-Mounted Reach-in Freezer, 43.1 cu.ft. (1220 L), Stainless Steel

COLDZONE – SINGLE DOOR REACH IN FULL SIZE FREEZER 28″

Fagor – 115V Single Section Reach-in Freezers With Solid Door – QVF-1-N

Kelvinator Commercial – 27″ Reach-In Freezer with 1 Door – KCHRI27R1DFE

29″ One (1) Door Reach-in Freezer, 23 cu.ft (650 L), Stainless Steel

Turbo Air – PRO Series 17.75″ Silver Reach in One Glass Door Freezer with 3 Shelves – PRO-15R-G-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)

Kelvinator Commercial – 32″ Reach-In Freezer with 1 Door – KCHRI25R1DFE

Turbo Air M3F24‐1‐N 29″ M3 Series Solid Door Reach-In Freezer

Turbo Air – Pro Series 28.75″ Top Mount Freezer with 2 Solid Half-Doors – PRO-26-2F-N (ETA 5-6 Weeks)