Startup costs can quickly increase if you plan to open your restaurant. Aside from the marketing expenses, licenses and permits, and commercial space rental, one of the significant startup costs you need to consider is your restaurant equipment. Your kitchen staff, hosts, and servers must be equipped with the necessary tools to do the job.
What Are the Essential Tools For Your Restaurant?
It will depend on the type of foods that you will be serving as well as the type of service that you are running. Take note that a quick-service burger joint does not have the exact requirements of a full-service restaurant. Consequently, some of this equipment might overlap depending on the restaurant’s needs.
Ovens
Ovens are the leading equipment in your kitchen area. Choosing the type of oven will significantly depend on the food you will serve and the type of your restaurant. For instance, the oven used in the bakery is not the same as that used in a fine-dining restaurant. Selecting an oven can be overwhelming, so you must know what to look for. There are some crucial factors that you need to keep in mind when searching for the right oven for your restaurant.
Quality
Ranges and ovens are the heart of your kitchen, so be sure to choose something that can withstand the test of time. Check the service agreements, warranty, reviews, and product brands.
Size
The size of your oven will largely depend on the space that you have in your kitchen. That is why it is excellently recommended that you sit down and draw a layout of your commercial kitchen. This way, you will know exactly how much space you can allocate for your oven. Another crucial factor to consider is the quantity of food that you want to prepare at any given service. This can help you determine the capacity that you need.
Function
This will likely depend on the type of cooking that you want to do at your restaurant. First, you must determine whether you want to use a gas or electric stove. Afterward, you need to select the type of oven you require. If you’re going to open a coffee shop or a bakery, your requirement will not be the same as that of a fine dining restaurant.
What Are the Different Types of Ovens?
When choosing the type of oven, it is necessary that you have to consider the food that you will be serving. Before you start doing your search, try to list down all the types of foods that you want to serve. This can help you in narrowing down your options.
Convection Oven
This type of oven includes fans which can help in circulating hot air. Convection ovens are necessary for bakeries and perfect for baking things such as cookies, pies, pastries, and bread. At the same time, they can also be used for dehydrating, roasting, and toasting.
Commercial Oven
Restaurants must have at least one standard or commercial oven. Commercial ovens are great for baked dishes and even-style cooking. It is a must-have for every restaurant.
Combination Oven
Combination ovens are an integration of a steamer and a convection oven. One of the most significant benefits of a combination oven is its versatility. This type of oven can grill, bake, fry, smoke, steam, or roast.
Conveyor Oven
You probably have already seen a conveyor oven at a pizza or sandwich shop. This type of oven works by passing the food through a conveyor belt where it will be cooked or heated at a specific pace and heat.
Pizza Oven
Just as the name says, pizza ovens are generally used for making pizzas. However, due to their high temperature, pizza ovens are not limited to making pizza. Aside from pizza, you can also use this oven for almost everything from meats to desserts.
Ranges and Ventilation
After deciding on the oven that you want, the next thing that you have to think about is your range and ventilation. Rangers are one of the most important cooking gear. Also, ventilation can ensure that the airflow can make your staff feel comfortable. When selecting ranges, there are two choices: electric or gas.
Electric Ranges
When it comes to efficiency, electric ranges are the best. You can cook food evenly in electric ranges than in gas ranges. At the same time, they are also straightforward to clean. Choosing an electric range can prevent gas leaks or fires in your kitchen. So, what is the drawback? Electric ranges can quickly increase your electricity bill.
Gas Ranges
Gas ranges are best known for their efficient temperature control. With this range, you can immediately start at your desired heat. It provides you with more control compared to the electric range. Another advantage of gas ranges is that you can still use them even if there is a power outage. So, what are its drawbacks? Gas ranges have a higher risk of a gas leak or a fire. At the same time, they are difficult to clean.
Ventilation
Typically, commercial kitchens are crowded and uncomfortable to work in. An effective ventilation system can help manage temperature control and airflow throughout the commercial kitchen. As a result, your staff will work in a healthy, clean, and pleasant environment. When selecting a ventilation system, there are essential factors to consider.
- Static pressure – Generally, this is the friction or resistance against the air that shifts swiftly through your ventilation system. The static pressure should be well balanced to ensure there is no wastage of energy and that the air flows appropriately.
- Air volume flow rate – This refers to the speed of air movement through your ducts. If you are making pasta dishes, you do not require more ventilation than cooking with an open fire or grilling.
- Size – Know the size of your kitchen and determine the space you need for your ventilation system. The placement of your fan will likely depend on the fire code safety requirements and the available space. You must include this in your commercial kitchen layout.
- Energy efficiency – To achieve efficiency, you should balance your fan’s horsepower properly. If you have an underpowered motor, your fan will wear out quickly. On the other hand, if you have an overpowered engine, you might be wasting too much energy.
- Noise – Generally, fans are loud, which can add to the already noisy kitchen. Fan loudness is computed based on “sones.” Additionally, the sones of a commercial kitchen fan are between 7 and 21. Be sure to consider the loudness of your fan when selecting your ventilation system to make your staff feel comfortable.
Food Processors
Food processors are generally used for pureeing, grinding, shredding, slicing, or chopping various types of food. Although there are several types of food processors, four major types are required for your restaurant. These are batch bowl processors, continuous feed food processors, buffalo choppers, and combination processors.
Mixers
If you want to make desserts or bread, you will need a commercial mixer. When investing in a mixer, be sure to consider the volume of food that you will be making and how often you are going to use it.
Hand mixers are handheld and are perfect for mixing things such as sauces and soups. This mixer can quickly mix, chop, or emulsify.
Floor mixers are popularly used in a commercial environment. Since they are high-powered, they can quickly blend large amounts of food, making them perfect for restaurants that regularly use a mixer.
Mountain Sales & Service offers different types of food service equipment. For more information, call us at 303-289-5558/800-847-2557 or email us at sales@mtnsales.com.
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