If you’re thinking about renting a fridge trailer, or if you already have, you might have realized that fridge trailers aren’t like kitchen fridges and require more attention than simply plugging them in.
We’ll be providing you with a quick explanation of the importance of fridge trailer temperature and then reveal the correct temperatures for the most popular cargo choices. By the end of this blog, your cargo will be cool, calm, and collected!
Why is Fridge Trailer Temperature Important?
Moving perishable cargo without a refrigerated trailer is a recipe for disaster! The inside of a trailer can become much hotter than the temperature outdoors because the hot air gets trapped inside the trailer and grows. Your cargo will rot and wither away incredibly quickly without refrigeration.
A couple of degrees of difference in temperature can cause a temperature imbalance and ruin the food even with a refrigerated trailer. It’s critically important to the health of your food, plants, and other cargo items to set the fridge temperature correctly for this reason. Failing to set the correct temperature can ruin your cargo and cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in wasted money.
Note that fridge and freezer trailers are not intended to cool down cargo, but rather, to maintain their temperature. You’ll be in for a shock if you try to save already-warm perishable foods by putting them in the trailer!
What Fridge Temperature Should My Food Be Stored At?
Produce
Produce is among the most temperature-delicate foods you’ll be transporting in your refrigerated trailer rental. The texture and appearance of the produce is something every customer will be looking out for, so it’s important to make sure that it’s in top condition. The tricky situation with produce, however, is that each type of produce demands different temperatures.
- 0°C – 2°C for grapes, cruciferous vegetables, apples, and berries.
- 3°C – 5°C for cranberries and avocados
- 5°C – 7°C for potatoes and green beans
- 7°C – 9°C for watermelon, cucumbers, bananas, and tomatoes
Meat, Dairy, and Fish
The largest concern with these types of products is the potential for toxic bacteria growth. We recommend you store these foods in a freezer trailer and keep everything frozen until it’s ready to be sold.
Bacteria won’t be able to move easily while frozen, making this a sure way to combat rotting. Furthermore, you should make sure that the temperature of the freezer trailer is set considerably below 0°C to ensure the cargo is frozen.
Best Practices for Storing Plants in Refrigerated Trailers.
Food isn’t the only cargo that can freeze! Plants are also biological items that will degrade significantly if stored incorrectly. They love cool temperatures, but not too cold! Your plants will be the healthiest around 0°C – 1°C, any higher or lower can impact the integrity of the plant.
Keep in mind that humidity plays a factor in the integrity of your plants and flowers. Use a humanity gauge to make sure your plants are kept fresh and healthy.
Reliable Fridge Trailers in Ontario
Contact the team at Curt’s Coolers to secure your fridge trailer! Whether you’re moving plants, produce, or meat products, we guarantee that our refrigerated trailers will keep your cargo at the perfect temperature at all times.
Curt’s Coolers has been providing Southwestern Ontario with mobile refrigerator and freezer trailers since 2011 and we’ve only grown in size and quality since. Rest assured that your needs are our priorities. Our 24/7 emergency support is available to handle any problems you may have whenever and wherever you need it!
