Designing a kitchen for a restaurant, catering business or any other commercial food service can be overwhelming. Kitchen space, required appliances and cost are all important factors to consider and balance appropriately.
When determining the commercial restaurant equipment you will need, consider your cooking style and the meals you will be preparing. Naturally, a pizzeria will have different needs than a bakery.
Below are seven types of commercial equipment you may need plus several miscellaneous items.
1. Beverage Equipment
All restaurants serve beverages to go along with your meal. Simple beverages, such as water or juice, do not require specialized equipment to serve in a restaurant. A basic pitcher will be enough for these types of beverages.
Although, if you plan on serving beverages that require preparation, specialized equipment will be needed, especially to serve a large number of people. Common beverage equipment found in restaurants are coffee/espresso machines, blenders, beer taps and cold beverage dispensers.
2. Ovens
Restaurants need to cook food at a rapid pace while still maintaining quality. There are a number of commercial level ovens available on the market depending on your cooking needs. Rotisserie ovens, potato ovens, convection ovens, conveyor ovens and pizza ovens are common types used in commercial kitchens.
Make sure to consider where the oven will go in your kitchen as there are many sizes and shapes. For example, there are options for in-wall ovens to save space in your kitchen.
3. Cooking Equipment
It is likely that you will need other cooking appliances in your kitchen aside from an oven. The types of cooking equipment and appliances you need will depend on the type of food you are preparing.
Commonly used appliances include: toasters, broilers, deep fryers and cooktops. For those who have highly specialized cooking needs, there are appliances for making pasta, crepes, popcorn and rice.
4. Food Storage and Warming Equipment
Commercial kitchens produce and display a lot of food, equipment to store food and keep it warm until it is served are essential. Buffet tables, food dispensers, strip heaters, heating lamps and steam cabinets are often used in commercial food service businesses. Catering and other food serving businesses need to consider this type of storage and heating devices more than a typical restaurant.
Storage for ingredients, such a fridges and pantries, will be needed as well. There are commercial grade fridges and racks available to fit the extensive supplies needed in a food service business.
5. Food Preparation Equipment
The preparation of ingredients that go into food is one of the most time-consuming processes of cooking. There are many appliances that help with the ingredient prep process, such as cheese slicers, food processors, marinate machines, fruit/vegetable preparers, grinders, graters, garnishing equipment, mixers and many more. The nature of your restaurant will depend on what equipment you will need – there are simply too many options to purchase them all!
6. Sinks, Faucets and Dish Washing Equipment
Kitchens have more traffic than your kitchen at home. Commercial level sinks, faucets and dishwashing equipment will be needed to handle the additional activity and ensure there are dishes ready for serving customers.
7. Smallwares
Smallwares includes all the small equipment used to cook, such as pots, pans and cooking utensils. Once all of your large equipment has been purchased, you can consider and purchase the smallwares you will need to compliment your large kitchen equipment. Common smallware equipment includes baking equipment, dishware, bartending supplies, cookware, knives, hand tools, pans, serving devices, signage and many more.
8. Others
Miscellaneous appliances and equipment that you may need in your kitchen include microwaves, specialty refrigeration devices, ice making machines, sanitation equipment, outdoor equipment, work tables and food displays.
