If you are going to open a restaurant or catering business, you’ll have to buy commercial appliances. The types of appliances you have available are very important for your business, so it is vital that you have the right equipment for cooking and preparing tasty food for patrons.
Considering all the choices available, setting up your commercial kitchen for a restaurant can be overwhelming. Here is our guide to some of the different types of commercial appliances available.
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Commercial Ranges – Gas or Electric?
One thing to know about commercial ranges is that they are made in gas or electric models. Both types have their benefits and disadvantages.
Gas commercial ranges are a lot more powerful, and better suited for large scale commercial operations. The appliances heat up quicker and are generally more durable. For cooking, gas ovens are the best type for chefs. Gas fryers and stoves are often used in commercial kitchens as they provide more power. Overall, this range of commercial range has fewer parts and is easier to maintain and undergo less commercial repair.
That said, commercial electric ranges offer benefits as well. For example, electric stoves offer superior baking options – such as convection capabilities. Electric commercial appliances are often easier and safer to use, and are less expensive. Most of the smaller commercial appliances, including toasters, are always electric.
Different Types of Commercial Appliances
There are loads of different commercial appliances for purchase, all of which are designed for your exact needs. Here are a few of the various types of commercial appliances that you can purchase.
Commercial Exhaust Hoods
Exhaust hoods are an important part of any commercial kitchen. They’re necessary for safe operation of the kitchen, as well as keeping in code with health regulations.
Commercial exhaust hoods provide a couple of different purposes. They can be used to reduce fumes, steam, and hot air from a kitchen during cooking. They can also be used to filter grease and food particles.
No commercial kitchen could function with no proper ventilation system. There are a number of different brands of exhaust hoods available for your specific kitchen and spacial requirements.
Commercial Walk-In Freezers
A walk-in freezer isn’t something you would expect to find in a domestic kitchen! However, they are very normal in restaurants. These large freezers are mandatory for any food service operating at a very high volume. Commercial kitchens require plenty of room to keep frozen food and ingredients and that’s why a walk-in is needed.
These commercial freezers are also necessary for kitchens that need to freeze very large objects or boxes that cannot fit inside of a conventional freezer. You can get many different sized walk-in freezers. They’re custom-sized to the amount of room you have in your kitchen.
Commercial Walk-In Coolers
You cannot have a successful commercial kitchen without a lot of food. Commercial walk-in coolers are important for keeping a lot of stock chilled. If you’re running a large scale restaurant, then a standard-sized refrigerator will not be enough. Walk-in coolers make it far more convenient to stash away food, as well as easier to grab out what you need. As with a commercial freezer, these commercial appliances will have to be specially fitted for your specific kitchen space.
Commercial Fryers
From chicken wings to french fries, a deep fryer can cook many tasty food in your kitchen. Some of these foods just can’t be made unless there is a commercial fryer available. These are appliances that will soon be invaluable assets for preparing meals and appetizers.
You can choose between gas or electric fryers. Electric fryers do take a longer to heat up, but they also recover quicker after frying cycles. They’re also much simpler to use. Gas fryers can go to higher temperatures, and they also heat up faster than electric.
Beyond gas or electric, you can buy stand-up fryers or countertop fryers. These can come in all varieties of different sizes and volumes, dependent on your needs.
Commercial Grills
The grill is typically the focus of a commercial kitchen. This is where so much of the hot meals are cooked, and it’s vital that your grill performs to your needs. Commercial grills are available in all shapes and models, and it’s important to purchase the model that’s best suited to what you’re cooking in your restaurant.
You can have electric or gas grills. Gas grills provide faster and higher heat. They also grill more evenly than electric. Electric grills are typically cheaper and may have more functions. However, electric grills heat slowly and can be difficult to maintain.
Commercial Steam Cooking Equipment
Steam cooking is a great method that can be used for a variety of meals. This style of cooking is energy-efficient and low-cost. Commercial steamers come in countertop, floor, or microwave models. You can also purchase steam kettles, combi ovens, steam generators and portion steamers.
Steam cooking is healthy for you, not to mention fast and efficient. It also presents a ideal way of keeping prepared food warm and not drying out.
Commercial Toasters
Commercial toasters are required for kitchens and restaurants that provide breakfast. Toasters can be very different, depending on what their specific use is. You can have flat press toasters (excellent for paninis), commercial pop-up toasters, roller toasters, bun-grilling toasters and more. Even waffle irons will fall under this category.
For commercial kitchens that serve a lot of breakfast foods, fast and efficient commercial toasters are desired.
Commercial Specialty Cooking Equipment
Some special food items cannot be cooked with standard appliances – especially if you need them cooked at a high rate. This is when specialized cooking appliances comes in.
Specialty equipment serves a single unique function. If you’re focused on preparing something specific, you may 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 seem like a difficult job. It’s important you know the types of commercial appliances available to buy beforehand. The appliances that you buy will need to be specifically based on your kitchen space, and the kind of food that you’ll be cooking.
Within the different types of commercial appliances, there are many products available. Purchasing the right appliance for the job can make all the difference to the success of your kitchen.