Your gas fridge stores every must keep chilled ingredient for the day: the milk for the teas, the sausages, bacon and burgers, all held at a temperature that stops food poisoning bacteria growing. Of everything in the van, this is the appliance your customers’ safety depends on.
The temperatures that matter
By law your fridge needs to keep food at 8 degrees or below; in practice aim for 0 to 4 degrees, with any freezer compartment at minus 18 or below. A good fridge holds those temperatures all day, which matters most in summer. Rules are enforced by your local EHO, so if in doubt about your setup, ask them; they would far rather help you get it right.
Members get promotions on over 100 pieces of catering equipment, average saving £42, up to £500 on one item.
All brand new, genuine, CE and UKCA marked, with warranty.
See how the promotions work →Record your temperatures daily
Wherever you trade these days you are expected to keep a daily written record of your fridge temperatures. An external fridge thermometer makes this painless, showing the inside temperature at a glance. Mine had a built in alarm that sounded if the temperature rose, and I would not have traded without it.
Every LPG appliance needs a Gas Safe engineer
Whatever you cook on, gas kit must be fitted and certificated by a Gas Safe registered engineer before you trade, it’s the certificate your insurer and the EHO both ask to see. The MobCater app’s directory lists 61 verified engineers who work on catering trailers and vans, search by region, check ratings and experience, and call straight from your phone.
Find a Gas Safe engineerThe directory comes with Business-Ready · the app itself starts free, no card needed
Dual fuel, and the fridge lock trick
Some gas fridges are dual fuel, running on LPG while you trade and plugging into the mains when you get home, which saves emptying the fridge every night. And fit a fridge lock so the door does not fly open while you are driving; you only make that mistake once.
Cleaning and the EHO
Wipe the fridge out regularly with soapy water, or a water and vinegar mix works wonders, so I have been told. Expect surprise visits from environmental health officers who will want to look inside, so keep it clean and always store your raw meats and high risk foods at the bottom of the fridge.
Buying a fridge
Think about capacity: does it need to hold a range of cold drinks for summer trading? Ice cold drinks are a strong seasonal seller, and customers hate warm cans in July. An LPG or dual fuel fridge is the efficient choice for mobile catering fridges at mobcater.com; an electric only fridge means you will also need a decent generator.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a catering van fridge be?
8 degrees Celsius or below by law; aim for 0 to 4 degrees in practice, with freezer compartments at minus 18 or below. Check with your local EHO if you are unsure about your setup.
Do I have to record fridge temperatures in a food van?
Yes, a daily written record is expected wherever you trade, and the EHO will ask to see it. An external thermometer, or the temperature logger in the MobCater app, makes it a ten second job.
Are gas fridges safe in a catering trailer?
Yes, when installed and certified by a Gas Safe registered engineer like every LPG appliance in your unit. Dual fuel models add the convenience of mains power at home.