The kitchen is the heart and soul of every food establishment. It’s where the mouth-watering dishes come to life and is what fills the stomachs of your hungry customers. But all of this won’t be possible if your kitchen isn’t equipped with the essentials needed for creating amazing food. If you’re just starting out on your food business or renovating your existing one, it’s crucial that your kitchen is well-equipped to ensure the success of your business.
To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of equipment essentials that we believe every commercial kitchen should have. Get your notes ready and list these items down.
1. Cooking equipment
Behind every great chef is the type of cooking equipment they use and you want to get this right if you wish to create tantalizing dishes. Make sure your kitchen is complete with these items to make cooking that much easier:
Commercial ovens – Commercial ovens are the quintessential equipment of a modern kitchen and can serve as a workhorse for your daily operations. They’re available in gas or electric versions and can come in either a benchtop or standalone variation.
Gas ranges – No commercial kitchen is complete without a gas range. These offer the convenience and versatility of an oven and a burner in one single unit, allowing you to save space inside the kitchen and provide more flexibility in your kitchen layout.
Griddles – heat up quickly and provide even cooking temperature, making them ideal for fast food applications and the like. Stainless steel griddles are far superior compared to cast iron ones because it’s easier to clean and doesn’t affect the taste of certain foods when cooked.
Grills – are designed to meet the robust requirements of steakhouses and roadside stops. Whether you’re using charcoal or gas grills, this equipment produces that “smokey” flavour that everyone loves.
Deep fryers – provide even consistency when frying large amounts of food. Cafes, burger joints, and fast-food restaurants should have at least one deep fryer inside their kitchen to cook plenty of food in hot oil.
2. Benchtop equipment
Great chefs rely on quality benchtop equipment to go about their tasks efficiently. Operating inside the kitchen requires speed and accuracy and this can be achieved by using the right benchtop essentials.
Food processors – With the ability to chop, slice, dice, and grind almost every ingredient out there, it’s no surprise that food processors are a staple in most commercial kitchens.
Kitchen salamander – You don’t see this equipment often, but we believe that a kitchen salamander is a versatile piece of equipment that your kitchen should have. It can grill, toast, caramelize, and glaze food in a matter of minutes, thus saving you plenty of time and energy.
Beverage brewers – If your food business serves high volumes of hot beverages, then a brewer is a no-brainer. Coffee brewers and beverage machines are made to satisfy high customer demand and deliver consistent results with each use.
Microwaves – Microwaves have proven their worth as a mainstay in every commercial kitchen and for good reason. They deliver faster cooking times and are capable of defrosting, reheating, and cooking food in a jiffy.
3. Refrigeration
In order to keep food fresh for longer, you need a refrigeration system inside your kitchen space. There are a number of refrigeration solutions that offer the perfect balance between function and space savings, all while meeting the specific needs of your kitchen.
Freezers – Freezers are an amazing way to keep food fresh for longer. They’re designed to hold food at -18 °C or 0 °F for long-term storage. Walk-in freezers are the most expensive of the bunch, but they hold insane amounts of food and are the ideal choice for large food businesses while upright freezers are suitable for small to mid-sized restaurants.
Fridges – Fridges are most suitable for keeping perishables like dairy, meat, and cooked food because it holds a temperature of around 0 °C or 32 °F. Counter fridges are what most restaurants use because it increases prep space while providing efficient refrigeration.
Ice machines – Ice machines are reliable pieces of equipment for creating ice in large quantities. If your business requires a steady supply of ice, then it’s worth investing in ice makers. We recommend modular and under-bench ice machines to meet the demands of your restaurant
4. Commercial dishwashers
Unless you want to wash all of your dishes by hand, a commercial dishwasher should have a space inside your kitchen. These heavy duty machines can make quick work of washing dozens of dishes in a matter of minutes.
Pass-through dishwashers – Pass-through dishwashers pack the power and versatility to handle the high demands of a commercial kitchen. It combines a sizeable wash capacity with a space-saving design so you can add more kitchen equipment while streamlining the whole dishwashing process.
Glass washers – Pubs and cafes will benefit greatly from glass washers. Your glasses will come out clean and spotless which is crucial when serving liquids and beverages.
Pot and utensil washers – For the extremely busy kitchens, pot and utensil washers can be a lifesaver. Thick soups and baked-on grime are no match for these washers and they can accommodate high-volume wash loads. Considering that pots and utensils are one of the most difficult items to wash, investing in an equipment specifically for this task will help speed things up inside the kitchen
5. Ventilation systems
Ventilation systems are necessary to maintain the right temperature inside the kitchen. These are designed to filter out fumes, airbourne grease, smoke, and steam and draw them out of the kitchen to help keep things nice and cool.
Commercial exhaust canopies – Exhaust canopies are a commercial-grade hood that filters air coming out of the appliance installed underneath it. It can be custom-made to fit any kitchen equipment and is an absolute must for keeping the kitchen well-ventilated.
Inline and roof exhaust fans – Exhaust fans draw out air and fumes out to the other side of the building to regulate airflow inside the kitchen. Consider installing both inline and roof exhaust fans to provide good ventilation.
The needs of each commercial kitchen will vary depending on their area of expertise, so make sure to refer to this list and find out which equipment deserves a space inside your kitchen.
