Selecting the best commercial blast chiller for your needs can be difficult. There are many factors to consider. We’ve selected three similar units to compare Size, Environmental Impact, Price and more.

1. Delfield CV5E 33″ Self-Contained Blast Chiller / Shock Freezer
2. PrepRite PBF 4.0 Undercounter Blast Chiller Freezer – 4/5 Pan – R290 Refrigerant – Stainless Steel
3. Carpigiani Nordika-200 Blast Chiller / Freezer – 208-230V

Each unit offers its own strengths and unique features, but for our purposes here, the ideal blast chiller has a small footprint, is eco-friendly, energy-efficient, straightforward to use, and—of course—priced competitively.

The following feature comparisons provide details on each and declares a winner by category.

Chill Capacity & Shelves

Blast chillers come in sizes from personal use size to industrial scale. The three units compared here fall into a similar size range, one sizeable enough for a restaurant kitchen but still compact and space-saving.

The PBF 4.0 has a chill capacity of 40lbs. and can accommodate (4) food pans 12” x 20” x 2.5” deep or (5) food pans 12” x 20” x 2” deep. The Delfield has a chill capacity of 44lbs. and can accommodate up to (5) Food Pans at 12″ x 20″ x 2 1/2″. The Nordika unit boasts a generous 53lb. chill capacity with space for (12) 5L Gelato Pans or (4) food pans 12” x 20” x 2.5” deep.

                                    Winner: Carpigiani Nordika-200 Blast Chiller

Size

Kitchens can be tight on space, and new equipment can eat up the remaining footage quickly. Blast chiller size often determines its location in your kitchen: countertop, under counter, or freestanding.

The Delfield CV5E unit comes in at 33.125” W x 30.375” D x 35.375” H. The PBF 4.0 is 25.25” W x 27.25” D X 33.5” H. The Nordika is much larger at 31” W x 27.5” D x 52” H.

When it comes to space saving, the PBF 4.0 inches out the competition with the smallest footprint.

                                                               Winner: PrepRite PBF 4.0

Operating Location

When determining the ideal location in your kitchen to house the Nordika, consider that its controller is on the lower portion of the unit. Combine that with its size, and it requires designated floor space.

Another consideration is whether—and how often—the unit may need to be moved, either for maintenance or cleaning. Neither the Nordika nor the Delfield unit include casters. For this feature, look to the PBF 4.0 unit which comes standard with casters.

If keeping it stowed neatly under counter suits your kitchen best, then look to the PBF 4.0.

                                                               Winner: PrepRite PBF 4.0

 Display and Controls for Ease-Of-Use

All three blast chillers feature front-facing controls, making operator use easy. From there, the controls diverge for distinctly different operating experiences.

The Delfield features a back lit, touch control panel on the top of its door. It has a multi-language display for quick access by staff, as well as 22 buttons and indicators to program specific settings. The Delfield’s included core temperature probe measures for internal temp. readings and records dates, temperatures, and times of different cycles. These can be configured and exported via USB for easy record-keeping.

The Nordika unit includes manual display/controls for customization based on temperature, time, blast chilling, blast freezing, thawing, and more. Easily identifiable icons make use straightforward and simple.

The PBF 4.0 has a 2.4” OLED display with clear icons for easy programming and operation. It comes standard with both a core temperature probe and an air probe to monitor temperatures and control the unit while operating in the fully automatic mode. It also utilizes a USB slot for simple downloading of HAACP records, as well as the ability to track timing for repeatable recipes and consistent results.

Each blast chiller offers its own strengths in display and controls, but the Delfield sweeps this category with its easy-read display and intricate control options.

                                                               Winner: Delfield CV5E

 Environmental Impact and Energy Use

Environmental regulations, both state and federal, continue to evolve. Buying a blast chiller with eco-friendly features in mind can put you ahead of future regulations while saving money on operating costs.

The Delfield CV5E requires a professionally installed, hard-wired 208-240V electrical connection for operation. This could be an obstacle for some. The Nordika requires a 208-230V electrical connection and a NEMA 6-15P plug for operation. The PBF 4.0 is a plug-and-play unit, able to be instantly operational from any standard U.S. outlet at only 115V.

Of the three blast chillers, only the PBF 4.0 uses R290 propane. R290 is a non-toxic, refrigerant grade propane. Highly pure, R290 has a low environmental impact and almost zero global warming potential (GWP). It is considered one of the most climate-friendly and cost-effective refrigerants available on the market today. R290 is the preferred hydrocarbon alternative of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), substituting more harmful fluorocarbon refrigerants like R22, R134A, R404A, and R502.

Comparatively, both the Delfield and the Nordika unit use R-404A refrigerant. This leaves a clear winner with the eco-friendly, energy-efficient PBF4.0 blowing by the competition.

                                                               Winner: PrepRite PBF 4.0

 Shipping and Lead Times

Lead times have increased nearly across the board. But we need something when we need it. Consider how quickly you’d like the blast chiller. Will it arrive when you need it?

Currently, the Nordika unit ships in 8-10 weeks. The Delfield unit ships in 3-4 months. The PBF 4.0 blast chiller ships in only two days, edging out the competition with several weeks to spare.

                                                               Winner: PrepRite PBF 4.0

Price

The final feature—price—often makes or breaks the decision to purchase.

But does price determine quality? Not necessarily. Many factors contribute to the cost of an item, including materials used, size, features available, manufacturing location, and more.

All three blast chillers are made of quality stainless steel. All three have warranties. All three ensure blast chilling efficacy that brings food to safe temperatures. But one unit delivers all of these features at a significantly lower price point.                  

                  Delfield’s current cost: $18,668.00 + shipping costs

                  Carpigiani Nordika’s current cost: $10,279.00 + shipping costs

                  PBF 4.0’s current cost: $7,149.99 + shipping costs

For cost savings, the PBF 4.0’s competitive pricing is the undisputed victor.

                                                               Winner: PrepRite PBF 4.0

Which blast chiller is the best? The answer depends on your needs. Each unit shown here offers its own strength in features, from size and price to shipping lead time. Which features are the most important—and which is your best fit—is yours to determine.

                                     The Ultimate Winner: You! Enjoy the benefits of a blast chiller.

INTERESTED IN PREPRITE BLAST CHILLERS? LET’S CONNECT!