A refrigerated salad bar holds cold food in pans where guests or staff can reach it, and keeps it at 41F or below while it is on display. Choose one by three things: countertop or freestanding, self service or staff service, and how many pans you need to show at once.
Shop the equipment in this article: Coldline CTP48SG 48 inch countertop salad bar, Coldline CTP60SS 60 inch countertop salad bar and Coldline CTP80SG 80 inch countertop salad bar. Freight is included on every order.
Delis, cafeterias, pizzerias, hotels and grocery stores use them for salads, toppings, fruit and cold sides. Here is how to pick the right one from the models we carry.
Countertop or freestanding
A countertop salad bar sits on a counter you already have. It takes no floor space and suits delis, pizza counters and small cafes. A freestanding salad bar is a complete unit with its own base, and makes a station wherever you put it, which suits cafeterias and buffets.
- Coldline CTP48SG 48 inch countertop salad bar, glass rail, 4 pans.
- Coldline CTP60SS 60 inch countertop salad bar, stainless rail, 6 full size pans.
- Coldline CTP80SG 80 inch countertop salad bar, glass rail, 9 full size pans.
- CBT-48-CSG 48 inch refrigerated salad bar buffet table, with a sneeze guard canopy.
On the countertop models the pans are not included, so add them to the order. Compare the whole range of commercial salad bar refrigerators.
Self service or staff service
Decide who serves before you choose the model. A self service bar has guests on one or both sides and needs a food guard over the pans. A staff service bar puts the employee on one side building plates, often with a cutting board along that edge.
- CBT48-LT 48 inch employee service salad bar, with a 10 inch deep cutting board and casters already fitted.
- CBT60-LT 60 inch employee service salad bar, with a lighted glass sneeze guard.
- CBT60-SG refrigerated salad bar.
Food guards
The FDA Food Code says food on display must be protected from contamination by packaging, by counter, service line or salad bar food guards, by display cases, or by other effective means. For a self service bar that means a guard between the guest and the food. Check whether the model includes one, and ask your local health department what it expects, because it has the final say.
Glass rail or stainless rail
Some countertop bars have a glass topping rail and others a stainless rail. Glass shows off the food. Stainless is plain and hard wearing. Both hold pans the same way, so choose by the look you want.
How many pans
List every item you want on the bar. Each item gets one pan, and it is worth adding a spare position for a special. Fractional pans, such as sixth or ninth size, fit more items into the same length. As a guide from our own range, a 48 inch countertop bar takes 4 pans, a 60 inch takes 6 full size pans and an 80 inch takes 9.
Temperature and food safety
Cold food must be held at 41F or below under the Food Code. A salad bar is built to hold cold food, not to cool warm food down, so chill everything in the walk-in first. Check pan temperatures during service and write them down. Do not fill pans above the chilled zone, since food piled on top warms up.
Placement and power
Keep the bar away from ovens, fryers, doors and direct sun. Leave the clearance the manual asks for around the refrigeration vents. Confirm the voltage and plug type before delivery. Guests need room to line up on one side and staff need room to restock from the other.
Plan the restock route
A salad bar empties fast at lunch. Keep back-up pans filled and cold in a nearby reach-in or prep table so staff can swap full pans in seconds. Never top off an old pan with fresh product. Swap the whole pan, then wash the old one.
Cleaning
Remove and wash pans every day. Clean and sanitize the pan wells, and wipe the guards and glass. Clean the condenser coil on the schedule in the manual so the unit keeps cooling.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying a staff service model for a self service line.
- Counting on the bar to chill food that went in warm.
- Forgetting to order pans for a model that ships without them.
- Putting the bar in the sun or beside the pizza oven.
- Overfilling pans so the top layer sits above the cold air.
Frequently asked questions
Does a salad bar need a sneeze guard?
For self service, displayed food has to be protected, and a food guard is the usual way. Your health department sets the details.
What temperature should a salad bar hold?
41F or below for foods that need temperature control, under the Food Code.
Are pans included?
Not on the Coldline countertop models listed here. Check each product page.
What about delivery and returns?
Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price. Powered items have a 7 day return window, and Coldline units carry 1 year parts and labor with 5 years on the compressor, parts only.
Next steps
Count your pans, decide who serves, then compare models. For the rest of the line, see catering and buffet equipment and steam tables.
Models in this guide at a glance
The models linked above are listed here with the main points from each product page, so you can compare them side by side before opening the full listings.
Coldline CTP48SG Salad Bar – 48″, Glass Rail, 4 Pans (model CTP48SG)
- Brand: Coldline
- Warranty: 5-Year Compressor / 1-Year Parts & Labor
Coldline CTP60SS 60″ Refrigerated Countertop Salad Bar, Stainless Rail (model CTP60SS)
- Brand: Coldline
- 60″ refrigerated countertop salad bar with stainless steel topping rail.
- Holds 6 full size food pans (pans not included).
- Sits on an existing counter – no floor space required.
- Warranty: 5-Year Compressor / 1-Year Parts & Labor
Coldline CTP80SG 80″ Refrigerated Countertop Salad Bar, Glass Topping Rail (model CTP80SG)
- Brand: Coldline
- 80″ refrigerated countertop salad bar with glass topping rail.
- Holds 9 full size food pans (pans not included).
- Sits on an existing counter – no floor space required.
- Warranty: 5-Year Compressor / 1-Year Parts & Labor
CBT-48-CSG 48″ Refrigerated Salad Bar, Buffet Table with Sneeze Guard (model CBT-48-CSG)
- Brand: Coldline
- CBT-48-CSG 48″ Refrigerated Salad Bar, Buffet Table
- Heavy Duty Stainless Steel
- Sneeze Guard Canopy Included
- Warranty: 5-Year Compressor / 1-Year Parts & Labor
CBT48-LT 48″ Refrigerated Employee Service Salad Bar with Cutting Board (model CBT48-LT)
- Brand: Coldline
- CBT48-LT 48″ Employee-Service Salad Bar
- 10″ Depth Cutting Board
- Pre-installed Casters
- Warranty: 5-Year Compressor / 1-Year Parts & Labor
CBT60-LT 60″ Refrigerated Employee Service Salad Bar with Cutting Board (model CBT60-LT)
- Brand: Coldline
- 60″ Employee-Service Salad Bar
- Lighted Glass Sneeze Guard
- Heavy Duty Stainless Steel
- Warranty: 5-Year Compressor / 1-Year Parts & Labor
Before you order
- Measure the space and every doorway on the delivery path, and compare them with the dimensions on each product page.
- Check the spec sheet for power, gas or water requirements and match them to what your building has.
- Compare capacity with your busiest day rather than your average day.
- Read the warranty terms for the brand before you order.
Delivery, warranty and payment
- Delivery: delivery within the continental US is included in the price on the product page, and freight orders include liftgate service.
- Warranty: each product carries its manufacturer warranty. Terms by brand are on our warranty page.
- Financing: lease-to-own financing through Clicklease is offered on items of $500 and up. See how financing works.
- Quotes: buying for a business and need a written quote? Call +1-877-558-2253 or use our contact page.
Not sure which model fits?
Call +1-877-558-2253 with your space, power supply and daily volume, and we will help you narrow it down.