In a busy commercial kitchen, speed depends on more than cooking equipment. Chefs also need ingredients to be organised, easy to identify and positioned close to the point of preparation.
Traditional undercounter refrigerators provide useful general storage, but staff may still need to bend down, open doors and search through shelves to find the product they need. A commercial drawer fridge offers a different approach, placing chilled ingredients into clearly separated, easily accessible drawers directly beneath the preparation surface.
The SKOPE ReFlex six- and nine-drawer undercounter fridges are designed around this way of working. Available from Hubbard Systems, both models combine GN-compatible refrigerated drawers, stainless steel preparation surfaces and dependable commercial refrigeration performance.
Why choose a commercial refrigerated drawer unit?
A commercial drawer fridge allows chefs to open a specific storage section and look directly down at its contents. This makes it easier to organise ingredients by preparation station, menu item or product type.
Instead of searching through a larger shared cabinet, frequently used ingredients can be placed exactly where they are needed. This can help reduce unnecessary movement around the kitchen and support a faster, more consistent service.
Refrigerated drawer units are particularly useful for:
• Cooking lines and preparation stations
• Pizza, sandwich and salad preparation
• Meat, fish and vegetable sections
• Pastry and dessert stations
• Hotel and banqueting kitchens
• High-volume restaurant kitchens
• Healthcare and education catering
• Contract catering operations
The stainless steel worktop above the drawers also provides a practical preparation surface, allowing one piece of equipment to perform two important functions within the kitchen.
SKOPE ReFlex Six-Drawer Undercounter Fridge
The SKOPE ReFlex RF7.UBR.2.D6 provides six fully extendible refrigerated drawers arranged in two banks of three.
With a width of 1290mm and a net capacity of 90 litres, it provides organised point-of-use refrigeration without requiring the space of a larger three-bay cabinet.
Each drawer is designed to accommodate a GN 1/1 gastronorm pan up to 100mm deep. Gastronorm pans are available separately, allowing the internal arrangement to be configured around the ingredients used at a particular station.
The six-drawer model is particularly suitable for:
• Individual cooking or preparation stations
• Independent restaurant kitchens
• Pub and hotel kitchens
• Pizza and sandwich preparation
• Pastry sections
• Sites requiring localised chilled storage
Two separate banks of drawers can also help operators divide stock between different menu sections or members of the kitchen team.
SKOPE ReFlex Nine-Drawer Undercounter Fridge
For larger kitchens and more demanding preparation areas, the SKOPE ReFlex RF7.UBR.3.D9 provides nine refrigerated drawers arranged across three banks.
The cabinet measures 1750mm wide and offers 136 litres of net refrigerated storage. Its additional drawer bank gives chefs more space to separate ingredients while retaining the convenience of direct access beneath the worktop.
Like the six-drawer model, each drawer accepts a GN 1/1 pan up to 100mm deep. This makes the unit suitable for operations managing a wide selection of prepared ingredients, garnishes, sauces and portioned products.
The nine-drawer fridge is a practical choice for:
• Busy restaurant cooking lines
• Hotel and banqueting kitchens
• High-volume catering operations
• Multi-user preparation stations
• Production kitchens
• Healthcare and education catering
• Large pizza, sandwich or salad sections
The three-bank arrangement can help several chefs access different ingredients without relying on one shared door opening or central storage cabinet.
Keep ingredients organised by station or menu section
Organisation is one of the main advantages of refrigerated drawer storage.
Each drawer can be allocated to a particular ingredient group, dish or kitchen section. A pizza station, for example, could separate cheese, meats, vegetables, sauces and prepared toppings. A pastry section could organise dairy products, fruit, fillings and garnishes in individual drawers.
This can support:
• Faster ingredient selection
• More consistent portioning
• Clearer separation of products
• Better stock organisation
• Easier rotation of prepared ingredients
• Reduced movement between preparation areas
Individual built-in key locks also allow each drawer to be secured where required. This may be useful when storing controlled, high-value or specialist ingredients.
Fully extendible drawers for easier access
The stainless steel drawers extend fully, giving chefs access to the complete storage area rather than only the front section.
This makes it easier to see what is available and retrieve ingredients positioned towards the back of the drawer. It may also help reduce the risk of older stock being overlooked behind newer products.
Looking down into a drawer can be more practical than searching through shelves inside a conventional undercounter fridge, particularly during a busy service when speed and accuracy are essential.
GN 1/1 compatible ingredient storage
Both SKOPE ReFlex drawer refrigerators are designed around the GN 1/1 gastronorm format commonly used in professional kitchens.
Each drawer accepts a GN 1/1 pan up to 100mm deep, allowing operators to transfer compatible containers between preparation, refrigeration and other areas of the kitchen.
Using a standard gastronorm format can simplify ingredient handling and make it easier to create a consistent storage system across several preparation stations. The pans are not supplied with the refrigerators and should be selected separately to suit the application.
Stainless steel worktop and cabinet construction
Both models are constructed from 304 AISI stainless steel throughout the interior and exterior.
Stainless steel provides the durability, hygienic finish and professional appearance required in demanding commercial foodservice environments. The coved internal construction also helps simplify routine cleaning by reducing difficult corners where debris can collect.
A heavy-duty 45mm stainless steel worktop is incorporated into each cabinet. This allows the refrigerator to function as a food preparation counter as well as a chilled ingredient storage unit.
For kitchens where floor space is limited, combining refrigeration and workspace within one footprint can help make more efficient use of the available area.
Reliable refrigeration in ambient temperatures up to 40°C
Refrigeration installed near a cooking line may need to operate alongside ovens, grills, fryers and other heat-producing equipment.
The SKOPE ReFlex six- and nine-drawer fridges are climate class 4 units designed to operate in ambient temperatures of up to 40°C. Certified M1 performance provides a standard food-storage temperature range of +1°C to +4°C.
This makes the drawer models suitable for demanding professional kitchens where consistent chilled storage is required during busy services and periods of warmer weather.
The temperature can also be adjusted from -2°C to +15°C through the SKOPE Connect app, subject to the requirements of the products being stored and correct food-safety procedures.
SKOPE Connect included as standard
Both drawer refrigerators include an SCS Connect controller compatible with the SKOPE Connect smartphone app.
Using a Bluetooth connection, operators can access cabinet information from a compatible device. Available functions include setting temperatures and alerts and viewing temperature and energy information.
This additional visibility can help kitchen managers maintain consistent equipment settings and identify changes that may require attention.
SKOPE Connect can be particularly useful for:
• Multi-site foodservice operators
• Facilities and kitchen managers
• Healthcare and education catering
• Businesses with documented temperature procedures
• Operations using several refrigeration cabinets
Removable refrigeration cartridge for easier servicing
Commercial refrigeration is critical equipment, so ease of maintenance should form part of the purchasing decision.
The six- and nine-drawer ReFlex models incorporate a side-mounted, fully removable refrigeration cartridge. This gives service engineers more straightforward access to the refrigeration system and can help reduce disruption during maintenance.
The cartridge contains the main refrigeration components and can be removed from the cabinet in line with appropriate servicing procedures.
For dealers, service providers and operators, the design can support:
• Faster access for maintenance
• More straightforward servicing
• Reduced disruption around the cabinet
• Improved equipment uptime
• Easier long-term equipment management
Front ventilation for flexible installation
Both cabinets are fully front-breathing, with no ventilation clearance required above, behind, beneath or at the sides.
This allows the units to be installed flush beneath work surfaces or incorporated into fitted kitchen layouts, subject to the dimensional tolerances and installation guidance for the project.
The units are supplied with removable castors, while height-adjustable legs are available as an option. No plumbing connection is required, and each model is supplied for connection to a standard single-phase electrical supply.
This can make the range suitable for new commercial kitchens, refurbishment projects and the replacement of existing undercounter refrigeration.
R290 natural refrigerant
The SKOPE ReFlex drawer fridges use R290 natural refrigerant.
The six-drawer model has an 80g refrigerant charge, while the nine-drawer model uses 95g. The removable cartridge is designed to deliver low heat discharge, low noise output and efficient refrigeration performance.
R290 has a substantially lower global warming potential than many traditional commercial refrigerants, making it a widely adopted choice for modern foodservice refrigeration.
Three-year warranty protection
The SKOPE ReFlex counter refrigeration range is backed by a full three-year warranty, providing added reassurance for dealers, kitchen designers and foodservice operators specifying the equipment.
Combined with the removable refrigeration cartridge and support available through Hubbard Systems, this helps give customers confidence in their long-term refrigeration investment.
Six drawers or nine: which model is right for your kitchen?
The right model will depend on the size of the preparation area, the number of ingredients being stored and how many chefs need access during service.
The six-drawer RF7.UBR.2.D6 is suited to compact and medium-sized preparation stations. Its two-bank configuration provides clear ingredient separation while occupying a 1290mm-wide footprint.
The nine-drawer RF7.UBR.3.D9 offers greater capacity and a third bank of drawers. It is more appropriate for larger sections, high-volume operations and workstations shared by several members of the kitchen team.
Before specifying a commercial drawer fridge, consider:
• The available width beneath the work surface
• The number and type of ingredients being stored
• Required gastronorm pan configuration
• Peak service volume
• Number of chefs using the station
• Position relative to cooking equipment
• Access for cleaning and servicing
Find the right SKOPE refrigerated drawer solution
The SKOPE ReFlex six- and nine-drawer undercounter fridges provide organised, accessible chilled storage designed around the way professional kitchens work.
Fully extendible GN-compatible drawers keep ingredients close to the point of preparation, while stainless steel construction, high-ambient performance, SKOPE Connect and a removable refrigeration cartridge support dependable long-term operation.
Hubbard Systems can help dealers, consultants and foodservice operators select the most appropriate SKOPE refrigeration solution for new commercial kitchens, refurbishment projects and equipment replacement programmes.
Contact the Hubbard Systems team for dealer pricing, product availability, technical information and project support.
Call 01473 350046 or complete the online enquiry form.
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