While your dream of opening a restaurant probably began with your passion for food, you will soon become an expert at much more. Fundamental to food prep, you will learn all there is to know about commercial cooking equipment, from spatulas, saucepans, and salamanders to fridges, freezers, and fire extinguishers. Of course, you’ll want to make sure you choose the right tools for your trade, neither forgetting anything important nor wasting funds on frivolous novelties (no, your deli probably doesn’t need a chocolate fountain). Among others, consider the pros and cons of the following common equipment:
Combination Ranges
An industry favorite, combination ranges are workhorse behemoths that commandeer the center of many a commercial kitchen. With one side designed like your stove at home, the other boasts an open griddle for everything from burgers to pancakes to bacon. Enticing for their impressive functionality, combination ranges are a heavy investment, and are best suited for multi-purpose kitchens looking to optimize workspace.
Single-Purpose Units
From burners to griddles to grills, single-use cooking equipment will save money and space over their larger cousins, though will not be able to accommodate anywhere near the same workload. For businesses that foresee growth in the near future, these pieces may ultimately debilitate your kitchen’s efficiency.
Stockpots
These are a must for restaurants whose menu includes soup, stocks, or pasta. Make sure to research the best materials for your intended use, as various metals will conduct and distribute heat differently (not to mention potentially affect the taste of your final product).
Convection Ovens
Increasingly popular in commercial kitchens, convection ovens are simplistic in nature and easy to clean. Built of stainless steel and outfitted with porcelain interiors, a wide variety of styles allows for the ultimate flexibility in both use and organization.
Countertop Equipment
While your dreams may be big, your cooking equipment doesn’t have to be. Consider countertop models for small-scale projects such as melting cheese or deep-frying shrimp. To save on space, look into multi-purpose units like salamanders.
For all things restaurant in New York and New Jersey, Automatic Ice Maker Co is the go-to for commercial- and industrial-grade equipment.
