If you are looking to open a restaurant or catering business, you’ll have to purchase commercial appliances. The types of equipment you have in your kitchen are very important for your business, therefore it is vital that you buy the correct equipment for cooking mouth-watering food for guests.
Considering all the choices out there, setting up a commercial kitchen for a restaurant can be daunting. Here is our guide to most of the types of commercial appliances you can buy.
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Commercial Ranges – Gas or Electric?
One thing to know concerning commercial ranges is they’re available in electric or gas models. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
Gas appliances are much more powerful, and a lot better suited towards large scale commercial businesses. The gas appliances heat quickly and are typically more durable. For preparing meals, gas ranges are the preferred option for chefs. Gas fryers and gas ovens are typically used in commercial kitchens because they generate more power. Overall, this type of commercial range has fewer parts and will be easier to maintain and undergo less commercial repair.
That said, commercial electric appliances offer benefits too. For example, electric ovens offer superior baking features – such as convection. Electric commercial appliances are often easier and a lot safer to use, and are cost-effective. A majority of the smaller commercial appliances, such as toasters, are always electric.
Different Types of Commercial Appliances
There are many different commercial appliances for purchase, all of which can be especially designed for your specific needs. Here are a handful of the various subcategories of commercial appliances you can buy.
Commercial Exhaust Hoods
Exhaust hoods are necessary addition to any commercial kitchen. They are required for safe operation of the kitchen, as well as keeping in code with health laws.
Exhaust hoods serve a few different purposes. They can be used to eliminate smoke, steam, and hot air from a kitchen while cooking. They can also be used to filter grease and food particles.
No commercial kitchen would be able to function with no working ventilation system. There are a number of different types of commercial exhaust hoods available for your specific kitchen and requirements.
Commercial Walk-In Freezers
A walk-in freezer isn’t something that you would find in a domestic kitchen! But, they are normal in restaurants. These enormous freezers are necessary for any restaurant operating at a high volume. Commercial kitchens require a lot of room to keep frozen food and ingredients and that’s why a walk-in freezer is needed.
These commercial freezers are also a must-have for kitchens that need to freeze large objects or boxes that can’t fit inside of a conventional freezer. You can get several different sizes of walk-in freezers. They are custom-made to the kind of space you have in your kitchen.
Commercial Walk-In Coolers
You can’t manage a successful commercial kitchen without a lot of food. Commercial walk-in coolers are necessary for keeping a lot of food fresh. If you’re managing a large scale business, then a residential-sized refrigerator will not do. Walk-in refrigerators make it much more convenient to store away food, as well as to easily grab out what you need. As with a walk-in freezer, these commercial appliances need to be specially fitted for your specific kitchen space.
Commercial Fryers
From chicken wings to french fries, a commercial deep fryer can cook many delicious food for a restaurant. Some of these foods just can’t be cooked without a commercial fryer. These are commercial appliances that will soon become invaluable assets for preparing meals and appetizers.
You are able to choose between gas or electric fryers. Electric fryers do take a little while longer to heat up, but they recover quicker after frying cycles. They are also much easier to use. Gas fryers are able to reach higher temperatures, and they also heat up faster than electric.
Beyond gas or electric, you can get stand-up fryers or countertop fryers. These are available in all kinds of different sizes and volumes, dependent on your requirements.
Commercial Grills
The grill is typically the focus of a commercial kitchen. This is where most of the hot food is prepared, and it is important that your grill performs to your needs. Commercial grills are sold in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it is important to choose the model that is best suited for anything you are cooking in your restaurant.
You can have electric or gas grills. Gas grills offer higher and faster heat. They also cook more evenly. Electric grills are typically cheaper and sometimes have more features. However, electric grills heat slower and can be more difficult to maintain.
Commercial Steam Cooking Equipment
Steam cooking is a great technique that can be used for a variety of meals. This type of cooking is energy-efficient and less expensive. Commercial steamers are available in countertop, floor, or microwave models. You can also purchase steam kettles, combi ovens, steam generators and portion steamers.
Steam cooking is healthy, not to mention fast and efficient. It also provides a ideal way of keeping cooked food warm and not cooling.
Commercial Toasters
Commercial toasters are necessary for kitchens and restaurants that serve breakfast. Toasters can be very different, based on what their specific use is. You can purchase flat press toasters (ideal for sandwiches), commercial pop-up toasters, roller toasters, bun-grilling toasters and more. Even waffle irons can fall under this category.
For commercial kitchens that sell a lot of breakfast, fast and efficient commercial toasters are desired.
Commercial Specialty Cooking Equipment
Some special food items cannot be cooked using standard commercial appliances – especially if you want them cooked at a high rate. This is when specialized cooking equipment comes in.
Specialty equipment serves a custom unique purpose. If you are focused on preparing something specific, you may want the exact appliance for the job. This equipment might include pasta cookers, crepe makers, waffle cone makers, sous vide immersion circulators and more.
Commercial Appliances In Review
Equipping a commercial kitchen can feel like a challenging task. It’s very important that you know the models of equipment available beforehand. The commercial appliances that you buy will have to be specifically determined by your kitchen space, and the kind of food that you’ll be cooking.
Within the different categories of commercial appliances, there are so many products available. Choosing the best appliance for the job can make all the difference to the success of your kitchen.
