Setting up a commercial kitchen is a big job, with each and every appliance you choose having to fill a specific role. Depending on what kind of establishment you’re running, you’ll likely have a slightly different set of needs and demands from your commercial cooking equipment.
If you’re unsure what you need to prioritise or what’s going to give you the best return on investment, Restaurant Equipment is here to take the guesswork out. Explore our guide to buying commercial kitchen appliances, with a comprehensive checklist to consider for all the major kinds of establishments in the hospitality sector.
Introduction to Commercial Cooking Equipment
When it comes to choosing your primary commercial cooking equipment, you’ll need to choose between gas and electric - both of which have their own unique benefits.
Gas equipment is a great option when your main priorities are fast, efficient heating and good temperature control. It’ll give you the ability to get through all the cooking and food preparation tasks you need more quickly, making it a solid choice for high-volume kitchens. Electric appliances offer less heat fluctuation during cooking and are also generally easier to install and maintain in the long term.
Along with gas vs electric, you’ll also want to factor in whether you’d prefer freestanding or benchtop appliances. Freestanding options deliver more power and often have larger capacity but are also more challenging to move around if you need to rearrange your kitchen. By contrast, benchtop appliances are smaller and more portable, which can make them a better option for compact kitchens, market stalls and food trucks where space is at a premium.
While you’ll need some form of cooking equipment no matter your kitchen, it’s important to be aware of the differences in options available to you. You’ll want to choose options that best match the needs of your bar, restaurant, or café to ensure they’re fit for purpose and can deliver the efficiency and quality output that you want.
Restaurants, Bars and Cafes
While the menu offerings may vary significantly, commercial kitchen equipment for cafes, restaurants, and bars is very similar. Typically, you’ll need a solid setup that can deliver a variety of drinks and anything from light snacks to full meals.
For cafes in particular, things like commercial coffee machines for the morning rush and countertop prep fridges to deliver faster food production are essential. Choosing tools that optimise space and prep efficiency is a must. Restaurants and bars may benefit more from extras like bar fridges for easy access to drinks during those busy happy hours.
Outside of basic food and drink prep, commercial cooking tools for bars and pubs can be diverse, but we recommend considering the following depending on your menu and preparation needs:
- Commercial Deep Fryers are perfect for preparing fried foods quickly and efficiently. An ever-popular option, whether you’re cooking chips, chicken or something else entirely, they’re essential for just about any commercial kitchen. We recommend looking for models that come with built-in oil filtration to streamline the cleaning process.
- Griddles are remarkably versatile and can be used to cook all-day meals at all hours, from breakfast through to dinner. With their broad, flat cooking surface, griddles come in multiple models and setups, including options that allow you to fry and toast at the same time.
- Oven Ranges are a staple in just about every kitchen. They’re a versatile choice for cooking and can handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Chargrills are a wonderful addition for kitchens that want to add a more unique offering to their menu, delivering high heat to specialty foods that take on a deliciously smoky flavour.
- Combi Steam Ovens are among the most versatile options when it comes to ovens. Delivering multiple cooking options, from fan-forced and baking to steaming and coming in compact options to multi-tray models, they’re great for fast food turnover.
Bakeries
While your oven will be a key element to select, commercial cooking equipment for bakeries should include specialised appliances to help you streamline the preparation process. The best commercial kitchen equipment for pizzerias falls under the same category here, with baking and dough prep being a core part of your kitchen’s function. Here are some of the main recommendations we think you should consider for your bakery:
- Mixers are an essential element to help you get through large quantities of dough or batter preparation. Consider options like planetary or spiral mixers.
- Pastry sheeters and dough rollers not only make dough handling more efficient but can also help make the preparation process easier.
- Deck ovens and convection ovens are a great option for baking everything from bread and pastries to cakes and pies. They deliver even heat distribution for that perfect crust while still keeping things soft and moist on the inside.
- Cake display fridges are a great option for showcasing your baked goods while also ensuring they’re kept fresh at the optimal temperature until someone takes them home.
- Pie warmers operate in the same vein as display fridges but serve to keep your pie selection at the perfect temperature for freshness so they’re ready to be enjoyed immediately.
Food Trucks and Catering Services
When you’re buying commercial cooking equipment for food trucks, space and efficiency are key considerations. Your appliances need to be compact and powerful enough to get through high-volume cooking but also compliant with safety regulations for mobile use.
Depending on your menu, two of the main recommendations we’d make for mobile food prep are commercial benchtop deep fryers and portable bain maries.
You should also factor in whether you want gas or electric-run appliances and ensure that you have a consistent and reliable power supply when you’re cooking. With that being said, here are our essential equipment recommendations for food trucks:
- Benchtop cooking appliances are compact and easy to move around, making them a great option for food trucks. Consider options like benchtop deep fryers and either a gas or electric griddle.
- Keep things compact when you’re looking at ovens with options like benchtop convection ovens, which are perfect for limited spaces.
- Refrigeration units are a must-have for keeping ingredients fresh. Smaller options, like under-bench fridges and commercial bar fridges, are the perfect choice for chilled storage.
Healthcare Facilities
Food prep for healthcare facilities often has different demands than in more commercial settings, focusing on consistent bulk food preparation across the board. Whether you’re managing a hospital kitchen, an aged care facility, or early education, you’ll want reliable, large-scale cooking capabilities. Our full selection of commercial cooking equipment can handle the ongoing demands while also ensuring efficient and reliable output with all the food safety protocols in place.
While each establishment will have different requirements depending on the scope and who you’re cooking for, some essential items we recommend including are:
- Combi steam ovens are the ideal choice for large-scale cooking. With versatile functions for steaming, baking, and roasting, they come in larger sizes with up to 20 trays that can cook different dishes simultaneously.
- Conveyor ovens are perfect for high-volume, continuous cooking needs. Similar to combi ovens, they also come with multiple platforms to give you more volume in the same amount of time.
- Large capacity refrigerators and freezers are another essential to keep adequate stock on hand and stored at the optimal temperature. Commercial fridges and commercial upright freezers are our top recommendations for this category.
Top Commercial Cooking Equipment for Hotels
While hotels have a different clientele than healthcare facilities, they also typically require a wide variety of cooking equipment to accommodate their diverse menu offerings and dining options. With a menu that spans from breakfast through dinner, the full list we recommend for healthcare can also be applied to hotel kitchens, too.
This includes everything from large-scale commercial ovens to refrigerators and freezers. Depending on whether you offer buffet meals, you may also want to explore your options for hot and cold food displays.
Maintenance Considerations
When you’re choosing commercial kitchen equipment for your business, along with functionality, you’ll also want to consider ongoing maintenance. Maintenance and cleaning are an inescapable part of the food industry, so make sure you can commit to regular upkeep and deep cleaning to keep your kitchen functional and hygienic.
Cleaning requirements will vary depending on the appliances in your kitchen, but as a general guideline, we recommend the following:
- Daily Cleaning: Make sure you’re thoroughly wiping down all surfaces, as well as cleaning grease traps and emptying crumb trays.
- Weekly Deep Cleaning: It’s good practice to thoroughly clean all your appliances each week. Taking them apart where possible to get into all the cracks and cleaning the internal components that can accumulate dirt and oil is a great practice to add to your routine. This is also a good time to check for any wear and tear, ensuring your appliances are in good working order and safe to use.
- Self-Cleaning Features: Plenty of ovens and combi-steam ovens have self-cleaning functions, streamlining the process for you and reducing your overall cleaning time.
- Professional Servicing: Schedule regular maintenance with a professional cleaner or technician for any mechanical or particularly niche issues with your equipment.
Regular maintenance not only ensures food health and safety but also extends the lifespan of your equipment. For more information and detailed cleaning guidelines, explore our commercial oven cleaning guide and our best-practice guide for maintaining your deep fryer.
Choosing the Best Commercial Cooking Equipment
There’s no singular answer for the exact shopping list of equipment your establishment will need—each kitchen is unique. However, this guide can be used as a general template for options you’ll want to consider.
Whether you’re running a pizzeria, a gastro pub, or a large-scale establishment with a high turnover, the biggest objective is to invest in high-quality appliances that can withstand the demands of a busy kitchen. Not only does high-quality equipment help to enhance your kitchen’s efficiency and food quality, but it’ll also be a better investment in the long term.
Next Steps
If you’re upgrading your kitchen setup or are starting your commercial kitchen from scratch, we’re more than happy to help you narrow your options down. Reach out to the team at REO at any time for a personal consultation. Contact us now via email at sales@restaurantequipment.com.au or give us a call at (03) 9007 0644!