If you are planning to open a restaurant or catering business, you will want to buy commercial appliances. The kind of cooking appliances you have available are extremely important for your business, therefore it is crucial that you purchase the best equipment for cooking tasty food for customers.
With all the options out there, setting up your commercial kitchen for a restaurant can feel overwhelming. Here is our guide to most of the various types of commercial appliances available.
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Commercial Ranges – Gas or Electric?
One thing to know regarding commercial ranges is that they are available in electric or gas models. Both have their advantages and drawbacks.
Gas appliances are much more powerful, and a lot better suited for large scale commercial operations. The appliances heat faster and are typically a lot more durable. For cooking, gas ovens are the preferred choice for culinary chefs. Gas fryers and gas ovens are typically in commercial kitchens as they offer a lot more power. Overall, this type of commercial range has fewer components and can be easier to maintain and require less commercial repair.
That said, some of the commercial electric ranges offer benefits too. For example, electric ovens provide superior baking functions – like as convection capabilities. Electric commercial appliances are typically much simpler and a lot safer to cook with, and are cheaper. 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 utilized for your specific needs. Here are some of the various subcategories of commercial appliances that you can get.
Commercial Exhaust Hoods
Exhaust hoods are an essential part of any commercial kitchen. They are needed for safe use of the kitchen, plus keeping in line with health regulations.
Commercial exhaust hoods offer a few different functions. They can be used to remove smoke, steam, and hot air from a kitchen while cooking. They can also be used to eliminate grease and food particles.
No commercial kitchen would be able to function unless there is a good ventilation system. There are several different brands of exhaust hoods for purchase for your kind of kitchen and spacial requirements.
Commercial Walk-In Freezers
A walk-in freezer isn’t an appliance that you would expect to see in a residential kitchen! However, they’re very normal in restaurants. These massive freezers are mandatory for any restaurant running at a high volume. Commercial kitchens need a lot of space to keep frozen food and that is why a walk-in freezer is needed.
These walk-in freezers are also good for commercial kitchens that have to freeze very large objects or boxes that would not fit into a conventional freezer. You can get many different sized walk-in freezers. They are custom-sized to the kind of space you have in your kitchen.
Commercial Walk-In Coolers
You cannot run a good commercial kitchen without plenty of food. Commercial walk-in coolers are needed for keeping a lot of stock cold. If you’re running a large scale operation, then a normal-sized refrigerator won’t be enough. Walk-in coolers make it far simpler to stash away food, as well as to easily grab out what you need. As with a walk-in freezer, these commercial appliances will need to be specially designed for your kitchen space.
Commercial Fryers
From chicken wings to french fries, a commercial deep fryer can cook many tasty food for a restaurant. Some foods just can’t be made unless there is a commercial fryer available. These are commercial appliances that become excellent assets for cooking meals and appetizers.
You can decide between gas or electric fryers. Electric fryers take a while longer to heat up, but they also recover quicker between frying cycles. They are also much simpler to cook with. Gas fryers can go to higher temperatures, and they also heat up faster than electric.
Beyond gas or electric, you can purchase stand-up fryers or countertop fryers. These can come in all varieties of different sizes and volumes, depending on your needs.
Commercial Grills
The grill is typically the center of a kitchen. This is where a majority of the hot meals are prepared, and it is crucial that your restaurant’s grill performs to your needs. Grills are available in all shapes and sizes, and it is important to choose the model that’s best suited for whatever you are cooking.
You can get gas or electric grills. Gas grills deliver higher and faster heat. They also grill more evenly than electric. Electric grills are often cheaper and will have more functions. However, electric grills heat up slower and can be difficult to maintain.
Commercial Steam Cooking Equipment
Steam cooking is a fantastic method that can be used for a variety of meals. This type of cooking is energy-efficient and low-cost. Commercial steamers come in countertop, floor, or microwave units. You can also get steam kettles, combi ovens, steam generators and portion steamers.
Steam cooking is very healthy, and also fast and efficient. It also presents a good way of keeping prepared food warm and not cooling.
Commercial Toasters
Commercial toasters are necessary for kitchens that offer breakfast. Toasters can be very different, depending on what their specific use is. You can get flat press toasters (great for toast), pop-up toasters, roller toasters, bun-grilling toasters and more. Even waffle irons will fit under this category.
For commercial kitchens that sell a lot of breakfast, quick and efficient commercial toasters are very important.
Commercial Specialty Cooking Equipment
Some special food items can’t be cooked using standard commercial appliances – especially if you need them prepared at a high volume. This is when specialized cooking appliances are helpful.
Specialty equipment serves a single unique function. If you are planning on cooking 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
Building a commercial kitchen can feel like a difficult job. It’s very important you understand the types of commercial equipment available for purchase first. The appliances that you choose will have to be specifically based on your space, and the types of food that you’ll be cooking.
Within the different types of commercial appliances, there are many products out there. Choosing the best appliance for the job can make the difference to the success of your kitchen.