Every restaurant needs shelving. From ingredients to dishware, storage shelves help keep your restaurant organized. But what kind of shelving should you choose?
It’s important to find a solution that works for your restaurant and your kitchen layout. To help you make the right decision, we’re going to share storage shelves reviews of our top shelves and some points to keep in mind when comparing your options.
How to Choose Commercial Shelving?
Choosing the right shelving isn’t just about finding the right size. There are other factors to consider, like:
Construction Materials
What materials are used to make the shelves? There are several options to choose from, and they all have their advantages.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is arguably the most popular and practical choice for restaurants. Why? Stainless steel is naturally resistant to corrosion and easy to clean. It works well in both refrigerated and dry areas, so they’re highly versatile.
Epoxy-Coated
Epoxy-coated shelves are a great choice for restaurant kitchens because they’re resistant to humid environments.
The epoxy coating provides solid protection against corrosion.
Chrome-Plated
Chrome-plated shelving units are great for dry storage areas. They’re durable and have a sleek, modern look. The only drawback is that exposure to humidity over long periods of time can lead to corrosion.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene or polymer shelves are also corrosion-resistant because they’re coated with durable plastic. These shelves typically have a metal framework and an outside layer of plastic for added durability.
The great thing about these types of shelves is that they’re dishwasher-safe.
Types of Shelving
Along with construction materials, it’s important to consider the type of shelves that are on these units.
You have a few options here:
Vented
Many restaurants prefer vented shelves because they help promote air circulation throughout the shelving unit. They also make it easy to see which items are stored on the shelves for easy access.
The only drawback is that spills and drips could become a problem with certain items. Smaller items may be more challenging to store if the vents are too large.
Solid
Solid shelves have many benefits, especially if you need to store smaller items. They’re easier to clean because dirt and dust won’t get trapped between wires. And they can typically hold more weight compared to wired shelves.
Number of Shelves and Dimensions
Of course, you’ll also need to consider the size of the shelving unit and the number of shelves it offers.
Choose a size that will fit in your restaurant while meeting your storage needs.
6 Storage Shelves Reviews for Every Restaurant Size
Now that you know what to look for when choosing your shelves, let’s look at some of the best-selling shelving units in our online shop.
1. Omcan 23988, 48-inch Stainless Steel Double Deck Overshelf
Omcan’s 48-inch overshelf will help maximize the storage space in your kitchen. These units feature two shelves made from 18-gauge 430 stainless steel. They’re highly durable and easy to clean.
- Length: 48”
- Width: 14”
- Height: 32”
You'll find these shelves will fit perfectly in nearly any space.
2. Prepline PDOS-1860, 18x60-inch Stainless Steel Double Deck Overshelf
Prepline’s PDOS-1860 industrial shelving unit is a two-tier shelving option that features stainless steel construction and dimensions of:
- Length: 68”
- Width: 18”
- Height: 32”
These industrial storage racks use 18-gauge stainless steel and are anti-corrosive. Sound-deadening tape is used to help reduce noise if someone places items on the commercial shelving too hard.
Both feet on the legs are adjustable, allowing you to easily balance the unit even on uneven flooring.
3. Winco VEXS-1848, 18x48x74-Inch 4-Tier Wire Shelving Set, Epoxy Coated
The VEXS-1848 is an epoxy-coated industrial metal shelving unit that is perfect for storing large food items. You'll find that the coating protects against moisture and the four shelving tiers are great for storing cooking oil, flour and other items.
Heavy-duty wire construction allows each shelf to hold up to 1,400 pounds.
Dimensions for these industrial storage shelves are:
- Length: 48”
- Width: 18”
- Height: 72”
4. Winco VCS-2448, 24x48x72-Inch 4-Tier Wire Shelving Set, Chrome Plated, NSF
If you have the space, the VCS-2448 is a great option for industrial shelves because each of the four shelving tiers has a 48” width, allowing it to hold significantly more items on a single shelf. Dimensions of this unit are:
- Length: 48”
- Width: 24”
- Height: 72”
Optimal for heated and dry environments, these open wire shelves are chrome-plated and have a maximum holding capacity of 1,400 pounds.
5. Winco VCS-2436, 24x36x72-Inch 4-Tier Wire Shelving Set, Chrome Plated, NSF
The Winco VCS-2436 has four-tier shelving and a chrome-plated design that makes it fit perfectly into any commercial kitchen. Stationary, the unit has dimensions of:
- Length: 36”
- Width: 24”
- Height: 72”
You can place this industrial shelving in the freezer or out in the kitchen thanks to safe temperature ranges from -100°F - 500°F. Unit capacity is 1,400 pounds.
6. Winco VCS-1836, 18x36x72-Inch 4-Tier Wire Shelving Set, Chrome Plated, NSF
Winco VCS-1836 is the final industrial shelf on our list, but it’s a versatile option that can be at any position on our list. Featuring a four-tier, wire shelving unit, this model is chrome-plated and has the following dimensions:
- Length: 36”
- Width: 18”
- Height: 72”
Featuring an aluminum construction, these industrial shelving units are extremely durable yet weigh just 7.4 pounds. Assembly is tool-free and the open-wire design allows for 100% unrestricted airflow.
Each shelf can hold up to 850 pounds, and the total holding capacity for the unit is 1,400 pounds.
Metal industrial shelves offer an integral component for every restaurant. You can use shelving to hold prepared food that the server needs to take out to a guest, place pots and pans on them or use them for countless other requirements.
The commercial shelving units above are all great options to help you organize your interior space with greater ease.