The-main-points-to-keep-in-mind-to-select-the-best-commercial-kitchen-equipment

For every food and catering business getting the right equipment is a priority. The performance of the kitchen is the core of success in the food and catering industry. The efficiency of the kitchen depends on its tools, along with the chef and staff. Every new food and catering company must invest considerably in commercial kitchen equipment to get started. 

If you are planning to roll out a business or looking forward to remodelling or planning to replace an old appliance with a new one, you must consider few things before making the decision. These points will help you make the right choice as per your needs. 

Plan your menu and budget 

If you are opening a new restaurant, you should start shopping for your commercial kitchen following a proper plan. You shouldn’t just go on picking everything you like, which will naturally end in spending your budget on equipment that you don’t need, at least at the time. 

The first step of planning should start with the menu as no one knows better than you that what you need will be dictated by the type of food that will be prepared and served. For example, if the menu doesn’t include pizzas, you can easily skip spending on a pizza prep table and instead use the money for any other high-quality benchtop catering equipment that you might need.   

Budget is the next and most crucial part of the planning. Depending on the menu, decide a list of essential equipment. Get some idea about the price of these appliances from a renowned supplier and prepare a realistic budget. Being realistic with your initial outlay is necessary. If it seems too much to spend right now, curtail the number of equipment to fit in. 

Measure, twice  

Before you go shopping, measure twice. Be it the gas cooktop you want to buy or the chargrill for giving your dishes that delicate browning effect, measuring the space where you are planning to fit the appliance, is the only way to be safe rather than sorry. 

Equipage for large scale cookhouses is available in different sizes. So, once you measure the space you can afford for a particular device, you can get the product that fits the space exactly. Otherwise, you might need to change your kitchen plan once the equipment arrives or at worst go for exchanging the device. This will naturally add to the hassle and delay the whole process, and could end up costing you more.  

Arranging the appliances in a way that supports efficient and quick functioning is vital. So, instead of planning your kitchen according to the apparatus, it is only wise to get appliances that fit your kitchen plan. 

Quality 

Commercial kitchens must prepare food in high quantity on a day to day basis. They need devices that can deliver heavy-duty service without frequent breakdowns, for minimum maintenance. You can get all the three – heavy-duty, minimum care, and long service only from high-quality equipment. Low-quality options might look good due to their cheaper price tag, but in the long run (which might not be that long at all) they are sure to cost you more in terms of service efficiency and maintenance. 

We understand, buying premium commercial kitchen equipment can be expensive and it might be difficult to arrange that amount for new businesses. But low-quality equipment can cost you dearly. If the budget is strict, try to reduce the number of equipages to start. You can always buy more as you go. 

For instance, if you are opening a pizzeria, instead of paying for commercial refrigeration and a separate benchtop, buy a refrigerated pizza prep table. Do not buy a refrigerator with an unbranded compressor just to fit in the budget. However, while we always recommend for quality, we do not suggest spending on quality that you do not need. 

Stainless steel is always the alloy of choice when it comes to commercial cooking equipage. But there are different grades of stainless steel that determine the price. The 430 stainless steel is a lesser quality variant, and while a stainless steel sink, bench or shelf made with 430 will cost you less, it will start to rust quickly. On the other hand, the 316 stainless steel is one of the best materials out there, which is exceptionally resistant to corrosion and provide long service. 

However, you need not spend on 316 stainless steel made paraphernalia unless you are going to use them regularly with salt water or other highly corrosive material. Spending on 316 quality, just because you want the best is not the way to go. The 304 variety is another high-profile stainless steel, which is highly resistant to corrosion, offers long service for minimum maintenance, and is priced much less than 316. So, instead of the low quality 430 or the premium 316, buy cooking appliances made with the 304 stainless steel variety and enjoy quality within your budget. 

Energy efficiency 

Always consider the regular cost of running an appliance before buying it, because the running cost can add up very quickly over the months. Energy-efficient appliances don’t only save the environment but also save a lot of expenses in the long run. So, if you are buying a heavy-duty planetary mixer, give the energy rating of the device a look and settle for the low power consuming variant even if it costs you a bit more. 

Regulatory norms 

Health, safety, fire, and building norms vary from area to area, and depending on the location of your restaurant there might be some regulatory norms about the equipment to be used in a commercial kitchen. For example, there might be some strict regulations about the type or size of exhaust hood canopy to be installed in a retail cooking space of a particular size. So, before you go shopping, check out the regulations and choose the products accordingly.

The best supplier

You can get the best commercial kitchen appliances, only from a renowned commercial kitchen equipment supplier. So, while you plan your menu and budget, it is only wise to spend some time researching the best supplier near you as well. Buy the equipage from a reputed supplier that offers an extensive collection of quality products along with a warranty on parts and labour. Simco is a well-known brand in the industry with a comprehensive range of quality kitchen equipment collection at the best price. We also offer an extended warranty on each of our products.