Refrigerated vs. Non-Refrigerated Cake Display Counters: Which One Should You Choose?

Cake Display Counters
19 Sep, 2025

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the food industry cares about appearance. To create the best exhibiting system, it is crucial to invest in equipment that fit your business’s concept. The decision between ordinary refrigerated display cases and commercial refrigerated bakery display cases can influence the issues for displaying food products, especially in bakeries, delis, and restaurants.

We will go over the main differences between these two types of cake display counters in our in-depth guide, which will also explain why businesses and professionals who want to master the art of product presentation choose commercial refrigerated bakery display cases.

Why Does Choosing the Right Cake Display Counter Matter?

 
Cafes and eateries often use a display cake fridge as a marketing tool to display their offerings to patrons. Although most patrons of your cafe or restaurant are there for meals or snacks, having a cake display fridge may persuade them to order the cake for dessert, which will ultimately increase your sales. Both non-refrigerated and refrigerated cake display counters feature glassed or open front designs that let customers view and choose baked goods. This saves you time because you don’t have to show each cake individually; instead, they can see and choose for themselves.

Types of Cake Display Counters You Can Go For

A thoughtfully arranged cake display does more than store these treats; it transforms them into desirable centrepieces.

The two primary types of cake display counters:

  • Refrigerated

Cakes that need to be kept cold to stay fresh are excellent candidates for refrigerator counters. Cream cakes, cheesecakes, mousse cakes, and other desserts that spoil quickly benefit from their cooling systems, which maintain a constant temperature and humidity. These counters typically feature movable shelves, clear glass, and interior lighting to present the cakes appealingly.

  • Non-refrigerated

For dry cakes, brownies, pastries, and bread that don’t need to be kept cold, non-refrigerated cake display counters are ideal. They are designed to present things attractively. These counters are frequently inexpensive, lightweight, and portable. They can be used by cafes and bakeries to present goods enticingly without having to chill them. The cakes you sell and the storage requirements of your company will determine whether you should use a refrigerated or non-refrigerated counter.

Refrigerated vs. Non-Refrigerated Cake Display Counter

The decision between regular refrigerated cake display counters and commercial refrigerated bakery display cases is crucial when purchasing professional kitchen equipment. Although the basic function of both is to present and preserve food items, commercial refrigerated bakery display cabinets are specifically designed to satisfy the particular requirements of bakery businesses. 

These cases improve the art of product presentation and create a remarkable client experience with their unique temperature management, specially designed shelves, improved lighting, and durability.

Therefore, a commercial option is the best choice if you run a restaurant, bakery, or deli because it will present your products as enticingly and effectively as possible.

Choosing the Right Cake Display Counter for Your Bakery

There are a few things to think about while buying a display cabinet. Here is a list of factors you should look for when buying a refrigerated deli case or cake display cabinet to help you discover a display counter that best fits your needs.

  • Shelves

Since the main function of a display cabinet is to showcase goods, it’s critical to select visually appealing shelving options. By moving items closer to the front, tiered shelving systems make them easier to see from any shelf position. Compared to wire shelving, glass shelving lets light in and gives you more room to showcase objects.

  • Lighting

The best lighting choices improve visibility of content and boost sales. LED lights that are brighter are more effective and produce less heat. You can choose to use shelf lighting in addition to LED lights for your top shelf. Each shelf receives additional light rather than depending on the above illumination.

  • Additional Specifications

Not only should your case be temperature-controlled, aligning with your product specifications, but you also need to ensure that its positioning satisfies certain requirements for intake and exhaust air. Before purchasing the case, ensure it fits the limitations of your restaurant by consulting the product’s specifications sheet.

  • Style

When purchasing a refrigerated cake display counter, style is crucial because the way your product is exhibited can have an impact on sales. The two types of RDCs that are commonly available are curved and straight glass variants. Either technique will work, depending on the type of your restaurant and the desired appearance.

  • Product Preservation Ability

Choosing the correct type of cake display cabinet is not only essential for the right marketing and consumer pull, but also for preserving the served and baked items. Because refrigerated displays are multi-shelf, easily restocked, and cooled, they allow bakeries to showcase, store, and preserve a wide range of goods, including cakes, pastries, and other delicacies. They effectively keep the perishable baked items fresh, refrigerated, and edible by storing, refrigerating, displaying, and preserving them.

Trends and Useful Tips To Incorporate in Cake Display Counters

Here are some other things to consider when buying a reach-in glass door refrigerator:

  • Glass door refrigerators can carry both open and packaged food products, but remember that glass door merchandisers, which are units that customers can enter, should only hold packaged goods.
  • Price strips, bottle shelves, mirrored panels, transparent shelving, and brilliant inside lighting can all improve the appearance of your glass door merchandiser display.
  • LED lights are more energy-efficient, produce less heat, have a brighter output, and are generally more effective at lighting your display case.
  • A mirrored end panel improves the brightness and can give the impression that your case is fuller.
  • Since you might need to clean your unit several times a day, accessibility should be a key factor. Accessing and cleaning display cases with a lift-up front glass is simpler. Some curved and angled glass types have a tilting function that allows the front to open for simple cleaning, even though reach-in merchandisers with doors are often easy to clean.

Discover Cake Counters That Display Your Business Voice

The way you promote your products determines how successful your business will be; thus, how you present your products can make or destroy it. Selecting a display case that fits your demands, budget, and available space is essential, regardless of the kind of food business you run. Looking for the best cake display refrigerators for your beloved bakery business? Riddhi Display, a leading cake display counter manufacturer, offers the perfect refrigeration solutions for any kitchen or commercial space- whether it’s your cafe or restaurant.

Explore our diverse selection of bakery display counters with sizes that fit your kitchen or interior space, with strong performance, a long lifespan, and high-quality requirements. 

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