If you’re upgrading your food service facility or opening a new restaurant, it’s important to have the best food service equipment for the job. Finding the best equipment is just as important as hiring the right personnel or sourcing high-quality ingredients. With so many options on the market for food service items, it’s important to prioritize the qualities that are the most essential to you and your business practices.
We’ve compiled a list of features to look for when shopping for new service equipment. From efficiency, to regulatory compliance, to sanitary design, here are our top tips to help you kit-out your new kitchen in style.
Narrow Down the Type of Food Service Equipment You Need
Before you can get started installing your new ovens or rearranging your pantry storage, you need to narrow down which type of equipment you’ll need for your operation. Make sure you include your chef in these conversations, as they will most likely have the best insights into the components of a successful kitchen: “at the very least, your chef should be providing a list of necessary equipment, but it would be even more beneficial to get their input on specific models or brands” (samtell.com).
To make your organization easier, we’ve broken down necessary food service equipment into several categories:
Cooking Equipment – Cooking equipment includes ovens, ranges, deep fryers, grills, and griddles. Since the oven is often one of the most important features of the kitchen, “choosing something that can withstand the tests of time and use, can be the difference between success and failure” (lightspeedhq.com).
Refrigeration Equipment – Keep things at a safe temperature with professional-quality refrigeration equipment. This category includes refrigerators, freezers, and ice machines.
Storage Equipment – Components like shelves, carts, racks, and storage containers, are all essential elements of safe manufacturing practices for perishable and non-perishable items.
Prep Equipment – For all your slicing, dicing and mixing needs, this category includes mixers, food processors and food preparation tables.
Sanitation – Mops, buckets, large sinks, and dishwashers are all part of keeping your kitchen spotless and germ-free.
How to Choose the Best Food Service Equipment for the Job
Now that you’ve made a list of all the items you need for your renovation or new operation, it’s time to narrow down the list of potential brands and make purchase decisions. Here are a few elements to take into consideration when making choices.
Product Quality and Budget
It almost goes without saying, but outfitting your kitchen with high-quality machinery is paramount in running a successful business for years to come. Take a look at your funds and prioritize investing in equipment that will do the heaviest lifting. While it’s tempting to buy the top-of-the-line models for all your new gadgets, be budget conscious and allocate funds for the most essential and highest-use equipment.
Energy Efficiency
Investing in energy efficient equipment will save you money in the long run. Selecting appliances that are energy efficient is “particularly important when selecting the pieces that require the most amount of energy, such as your refrigeration units, which will be running around the clock” (samtell.com). Being conscious of energy-use will keep your monthly electricity bill low, and help the planet too.
Kitchen Layout
Work with suppliers who offer customizable carts, tables, and storage shelves to ensure that everything fits comfortably in your kitchen space. You don’t want your kitchen to be cramped or uncomfortable, and it’s vital to prioritize employee safety.
Compliance
While this may seem like an obvious point, you need to make sure all your manufacturing equipment follows health and safety standards: “a good place to start is to become familiar with some of the basic mandates set by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)” (samtell.com).
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Your kitchen equipment should be simple to use and easy to clean. Opt for models that offer sanitary design features to prevent bacteria from crowding in corners or hard to reach hinges. Additionally, look for equipment that’s made from non-porous materials like stainless steel, to ensure a thorough and effective clean every time. Avoid equipment that’s cumbersome, complicated, or fiddly as this will disrupt the flow of your processes.
Get the Best Food Service Equipment with Custom Cut Metals
At Custom Cut Metals, we are passionate about offering professional and customizable food manufacturing equipment to all our customers. Our team of experts will work with you side-by-side to ensure all your needs are met and your facility runs smoothly. From our stainless-steel carts and prep-tables, to sanitizing stations and storage, we have the tools you need to create an efficient, high-quality facility.