The Chef’s Guide to Restaurant Equipment: Everything You Need to Know

Operating a restaurant business is not just about cooking tasty foods and presenting them to the customers. Every delicious meal and impeccable plate has its back in a well-stocked and fitted kitchen.

What is Restaurant Equipment?

Restaurant equipment encompasses any apparatuses, technologies or tools utilized in the preparation and cooking of foods for sale in a restaurant. intention is that these items should be hard-wearing, efficient and robust enough to meet the challenges of a commercial kitchen.

What Basic Equipment Every Commercial Kitchen Should Have

Some of the most necessary equipment any restaurant, when established, must have are as follows: These are items needed to prepare and cook food and therefore are among the most essential for your restaurant.

Commercial Ovens:

Having a reliable oven is crucial in any restaurant kitchen they should have it. They have different sizes and styles, such as the convection deck along with the conveyor oven for various cooking purposes.

Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers:

Storing food in appropriate ways helps a lot in avoiding food borne illnesses and also enhances food quality. There is a variety of commercial refrigeration equipment available and it can be customized to fit the business needs of the restaurant.

Commercial Ranges and Grills:

Grills and ranges are vital in the preparation of different foods since it can grill different foods as well as sauté different foods too. They have a variation in the number of burners and have griddle/grill choices depending on the user’s cooking needs.

Food Preparation Equipment:

Pots, pans, baking trays, blenders, toasters, trolleys, and choppers; utensils like spoons, forks, ladles, spatulas, grilling machines, and soup kettles are some of the food preparation tools required in restaurants.

Dishwashers and Sinks:

Organization in a restaurant kitchen is very vital The dishwashing and waste disposal systems are important to ensure cleanliness in the kitchen. The sizes of dishwashers are unlimited, but the sizes of sinks can be installed based on your available space in the kitchen.

Storage and Shelving:

Proper arrangement of the shelving and storage systems makes storing of the ingredients, dishes or utensils a less cumbersome task. These should be tough, easy to manage and should be well formatted so that the kitchen operations could go well.

Smallwares and Utensils:

Smallwares and utensils are commonly used items that are used in the preparation of food and for serving. Saying that, purchasing professional tools will contribute to your staff’s performance increase and work quality enhancement.

Specialized Restaurant Equipment

Apart from the basic equipment, other important equipment varies from restaurant to restaurant depending on the kind of food they prepare and the needs of their kitchen. Here are some examples of specialized restaurant equipment:

Pizza Ovens:

Every restaurant that offers pizza must have a dependable pizza oven because it is a star kitchen appliance. Deck, conveyor and wood-fire ovens are some of the types that exist to suit different appetites of people.

Sushi Preparation Equipment:

The sushi restaurants need specific accessories that include sushi mats, rice cookers, and rice sifters since sushi preparation needs the best equipment.

Coffee and Espresso Machines:

Coffee is consumed in almost every other restaurant. A good and durable coffee or espresso machine should be purchased.

Ice Machines:

Often many restaurants need ice for different types of drinks and for some types of food products. Ice makers can also be small or large, standard or custom-built, depending on your particular requirements.

Bakery Equipment:

For restaurants that prepare baked foods, it is vitally important to have equipment such as mixers, proofers and food ovens.

Buffet and Catering Equipment:

Restaurants that provide service to events or those restaurants providing buffet services require equipment such as chafing dishes, insulated food transport containers, and serving trays.

Selection Criteria for Restaurant Equipment

Picking the right restaurant equipment is always a key for success in the restaurant business. Here are some factors to consider when selecting equipment for your restaurant:

Type of Cuisine:

Your restaurant cuisine will determine the kind of equipment that will be used in your restaurant. For instance, a sushi restaurant will likely need sushi-making equipment and a pizzeria needs a good oven for baking pizzas.

The Volume of Customers:

Think about how many customers you expect to be able to serve and pick equipment that it will be able to withstand.

Available Space:

Evaluative the available space in your kitchen and make sure that the equipment you use fits well without crowding the place or limiting traffic flow.

Budget:

Know the amount of money that you intend to spend in procuring equipment and make sure that you get equipment that is durable.

Energy Efficiency:

Choose energy-efficient tools to fight spiraling operating costs and slow the rate of depletion of natural resources.

Durability and Maintenance:

Purchased long-life, high-cost equipment that is less likely to break down often, thus requiring less frequent replacement.

Caring For Your Restaurant Equipment

Maintenance is equally important in ensuring that the restaurant equipment is always in good working condition and will thus have a longer life span. Here are some tips for maintaining your restaurant equipment:

Regular Cleaning:

Wash equipment frequently to remove grease, dirt and bacteria, which may lead to equipment malfunction and hazardous working conditions.

Routine Inspections:

Over time, your equipment is likely to develop certain common problems, such as worn-out cables and frayed wires. It is important to carry out a routine check of your equipment to ensure that they are in good condition and correct any defects noted.

Scheduled Maintenance:

It is therefore advisable that in order to take good care of the equipment they follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for the equipment.

Training Staff:

Inform your employees on right practices for the usage and care of machinery to reduce accidents or damaging effects.

Replacing Worn-Out Parts:

Worn-out, damaged parts should be replaced immediately to avoid any equipment breakdown or compromise the integrity of the safety requirements.

Professional Repairs:

For major repairs or functional breakdowns, it is advisable to contact a professional repair service so as not to cause more problems or deal with them in the wrong way, thus causing more time out of order.

Buying Used Restaurant Equipment

People understand that if they are not well endowed in terms of cash or would wish to spend less on buying restaurant equipment they should consider buying modified used equipment. Here are some tips to follow if you need used restaurant equipment:

• Inspect the Equipment: Always check up on the condition of the equipment by looking at signs of damage, rust, or if it has any mechanical problems.
• Ask About Maintenance History: Ask about the age of the equipment, if and how it has been serviced, and if any significant repairs have been done on it so that it will not develop faults while in use.
• Buy from a Reputable Seller: If you decide to buy used equipment, it is always important to go to reputable sellers or suppliers who have the strength of having sold good equipment in the past.
• Consider the Warranty: Where possible try and get equipment that comes with a warranty or some form of guarantee to cover any eventualities.
• Negotiate the Price: Beware: Prices of used equipment are flexible and the seller may be willing to set a lower price if you are purchasing more than one item or if you have established a business relationship with him.

Conclusion

If you are going to invest money in your restaurant business, it is vital that you get the right equipment. Keeping your equipment clean and performing routine checkups will go a long way in making your kitchen efficient and making your equipment last longer.

Only by reading this ultimate guide to restaurant equipment will you have all the knowledge necessary for choosing the equipment and maintaining all the equipment to ensure your restaurant’s success.