The global market size for commercial kitchen equipment is expected to surpass $112 billion by 2025.
It’s easy to see why commercial kitchen equipment is in such high demand. Restaurants are still among the most popular businesses the world over. In Australia alone, the restaurant industry is worth a stunning $19 billion in 2021, and this figure is expected to increase steadily through 2026.
If you’ve been thinking of investing in the food service industry, then it’s likely that you’re thinking of setting up a commercial kitchen. But where do you start? This comprehensive guide on commercial kitchen requirements tells you all you need to know.
Read on to learn more.
Licensing and Inspections
The first things you need to take care of when setting up a commercial kitchen are the relevant permits and licenses. Every commercial kitchen in the country must meet the kitchen regulations set out by the authorities or face hefty fines and potential closure.
To ensure that everything is okay, involve your local health department right from your commercial kitchen design stage. Let the inspector review your plans to ensure that everything is in line with the requirements. Note that you can still have your home kitchen inspected and licensed as a commercial kitchen if you plan to operate from there.
You’ll need to pay fees for inspections and licenses. Be sure to renew your license each year to stay compliant.
Commercial Kitchen Equipment
Next on the list are the kitchen appliances you’ll need to prepare cuisines and keep things running in your kitchen. Go online and browse now to get great deals on these appliances.
So, what restaurant equipment should you acquire when starting a commercial kitchen? Here are just some of the most important ones:
Commercial Refrigerators
Every commercial kitchen needs at least one commercial refrigerator to keep food fresh for as long as possible. The equipment will stop ingredients from spoiling and lengthen their lifespan. Given that your refrigerator stays on day and night for most of the time, you want to go for the best quality you can find.
While shopping for the right refrigerator for your commercial kitchen, consider the size and capacity you need. A busier kitchen will generally require a larger refrigerator than a small casual cafe.
You’ll also want to think about the features that the commercial refrigerator comes with. Reach-in refrigerators are convenient for kitchen staff. But if you plan to run a particularly big kitchen, then a walk-in cooler may be suitable.
Commercial Grill
A commercial grill comes in handy for grilling pancakes, burgers, or steaks. When starting, you may consider a flat-top grill or griddle, which accommodates just about any food. With such a grill, you can prepare multiple separate servings in one space simultaneously.
Note that you can also find other grill types, such as panini grills which come with a lid that you can pull down to press and prepare Italian sandwiches. If you are also serving Japanese cuisine, you may want to add a Teppanyaki griddle.
Ice Machine
It’s likely that you’ll want to serve cold drinks in your establishment, which makes an ice machine a good addition to your kitchen. With such a machine, you don’t have to worry about running out of ice.
Some commercial ice machines also help create blended ice drinks, such as smoothies, slushies, and margaritas.
Commercial Oven
Make a top-notch oven a priority when assembling your commercial kitchen equipment. You can decide to choose between convection and conventional ovens.
If you intend to serve pizza, then you’ll need pizza ovens as well. Options include deck ovens, conveyor ovens, and brick ovens.
Your choice of oven will depend on the specific food you’ll be serving, as well as the amount of time you wish to take when preparing it.
Deep-Fryer
For commercial kitchens that serve chips, donuts, deep-fried chicken, and other foods that require deep frying, then a deep-fryer is a necessary appliance.
As you shop around for the equipment, consider its capacity and temperature range.
Cookware and Linens
Besides the larger commercial kitchen equipment, you’re also going to need cookware. These include pots, pans, ladles, whisks, tongs, spatulas, and knives. Write a complete checklist as these essential items can add up, and it’s easy to forget some of them.
You’ll also need to purchase linens. That means different towels and rags that chefs will need when handling hot equipment.
Shelving
You’re going to need space for storing some essential items in your kitchen, and that’s where shelving comes in.
Before you install shelves, think of the specific needs of your establishment. Some restaurants need shelves that are movable. In this case, you’ll need to opt for shelves with lockable wheels.
Where you’ll be using the shelves to store such delicate items as plates, glasses, and bottles, you may want to install caged shelving units.
Safety Equipment
You want to prioritize the health and safety of your kitchen staff. That’s why you should invest in the appropriate safety equipment. These include fire extinguishers, oven mitts, wet floor signs, aprons, goggles, and gloves.
Invest in the Right Equipment for the Success of Your Commercial Kitchen
Every restaurant needs the proper tools of the trade to run successfully. That means investing in top-quality commercial kitchen equipment. With such equipment, you can store, prepare, and serve up the cuisines that keep your customers happy and loyal.
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