If you are planning to open a new restaurant or catering service, you will want to purchase commercial appliances. The kind of cooking equipment you have in your kitchen are very important for your restaurant, therefore it’s vital that you have the correct equipment for cooking and preparing mouth-watering meals for your patrons.
With all the choices out there, setting up a commercial kitchen for a restaurant can seem overwhelming. Here is our guide to all of the different types of commercial appliances you can purchase.
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Commercial Ranges – Gas or Electric?
Something to understand regarding commercial ranges is that they are made in gas or electric models. Both of them have their advantages and drawbacks.
Gas appliances are more powerful, and better suited towards large scale commercial operations. The gas appliances heat quicker and are generally a lot more durable. For cooking, gas stoves are the better type for culinary chefs. Gas fryers and gas ovens are often used in commercial kitchens as they generate much more power. Overall, this range of commercial range has fewer parts and can be easier to maintain and undergo less commercial repair.
That said, commercial electric appliances offer benefits as well. For example, electric stoves provide superior baking functions – such as convection. Electric commercial appliances are usually easier and a lot safer to use, and are cost-effective. A majority of the smaller appliances, such as toasters, are always electric.
Different Types of Commercial Appliances
There are many different commercial appliances available, all of which can be especially designed for your specific needs. Here are a few of the various subcategories of commercial appliances you can get.
Commercial Exhaust Hoods
Exhaust hoods are an important part of any commercial kitchen. They are required for safe operation of the kitchen, as well as keeping in code with health laws.
Exhaust hoods offer a couple of different purposes. They can be used to eliminate fumes, steam, and hot air from a commercial kitchen during cooking. They can also be used to get rid of grease and food particles.
No commercial kitchen would be able to function without a working ventilation system. There are a number of different kinds of commercial exhaust hoods for purchase for your kind of kitchen and requirements.
Commercial Walk-In Freezers
A walk-in freezer isn’t something you would see in a domestic kitchen! However, they’re very common in restaurants. These massive freezers are important for any operation operating at a high volume. Commercial kitchens require a lot of space to store frozen food and ingredients and that’s why a walk-in is needed.
These commercial freezers are also a must-have for kitchens that have to freeze very large objects or boxes that would not fit inside of a conventional freezer. You can get several different sized walk-in freezers. They are custom-sized to the kind of space you have.
Commercial Walk-In Coolers
You cannot run a successful commercial kitchen without plenty of food. Commercial walk-in coolers are needed for keeping a lot of stock fresh. If you are running a large scale restaurant, then a standard-sized refrigerator will not do. Walk-in coolers make it much easier to store away food, as well as to easily grab out what you need. As with a commercial freezer, these commercial appliances will need to be specially designed for your specific kitchen space.
Commercial Fryers
From chicken wings to french fries, a commercial deep fryer can cook many tasty food in your kitchen. Some of these foods just cannot be cooked without a commercial fryer. These are commercial appliances that will become invaluable assets for cooking meals and appetizers.
You can choose between gas or electric deep fryers. Electric fryers do take a little longer to heat up, but they recover a lot quicker after frying cycles. They’re also much easier to cook with. Gas fryers are able to go to higher temperatures, and they also heat up faster.
Beyond electric or gas, you can buy stand-up fryers or countertop fryers. These can come in all types of different sizes and volumes, depending on your needs.
Commercial Grills
The grill is generally the center of a commercial kitchen. This is where so much of the hot food is cooked, and it’s crucial that your grill performs to your needs. Commercial grills are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it’s important to have the model that is best suited to what you are cooking in your restaurant.
You can buy gas or electric grills. Gas grills offer higher and faster heat. They will also cook more evenly. Electric grills are usually less expensive and sometimes have more functions. Although, electric grills heat up slower and can be difficult to maintain.
Commercial Steam Cooking Equipment
Steam cooking is a amazing technique that can be done for a variety of foods. This style of cooking is energy-efficient and less expensive. Commercial steamers come in countertop, floor, or microwave models. You can also buy steam kettles, combi ovens, steam generators and portion steamers.
Steam cooking is very healthy for you, not to mention fast and efficient. It also presents a ideal way of keeping cooked food warm without cooling.
Commercial Toasters
Commercial toasters are required for kitchens that provide breakfast. Toasters can be very different, depending on what their use is. You can buy flat press toasters (ideal for paninis), pop-up toasters, conveyor toasters, bun-grilling toasters and more. Even waffle irons fit under this category.
For kitchens that cook a lot of breakfast, fast and efficient commercial toasters are essential.
Commercial Specialty Cooking Equipment
Some unique food items cannot be cooked using regular appliances – especially if you need them prepared at a high quantity. This is when specialized cooking equipment comes in.
Specialty equipment serves a custom unique purpose. If you’re focused on preparing something specific, you will desire the exact tool for the job. This equipment could 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 difficult job. It’s very important that you understand the kind of appliances available to buy first. The appliances that you decide on will need to be specifically determined by your space, and the types of meals that you’ll be cooking.
Within the several categories of commercial appliances, there are so many models out there. Buying the right appliance for the task can make all the difference to the success of your kitchen.