
It goes without saying that your kitchen equipment plays a significant role in the thorough operation of your catering business since it impacts the quality of service and food you serve your clients. With so many brands and options to choose from, deciding which kitchen equipment is right for your business may not be as simple as you think.
Things to Consider When Choosing Kitchen Equipment
Make the most of your equipment purchase by considering these factors before investing in stoves, ovens, and other kitchen equipment.
Space
Your kitchen should have enough space for your equipment to work together seamlessly. If there’s too much or not enough space between your appliances, there could be safety hazards like tripping or fire. You may also measure each piece of equipment beforehand to ensure they can fit through a doorway and into your kitchen.
Quality
Before purchasing any kitchen appliance for your catering business, you must always check the quality first-hand to ensure all parts are functional and can support large-scale meal preparation. Checking out the specs and features is also ideal to make sure your kitchen equipment is equipped with everything your catering services need.
Energy Efficiency
Commercial kitchen equipment is an intense energy user. Since you’ll need to cook long hours, consider purchasing items with energy-efficient technology to minimise your utility bills. Although some of these models may have higher up-front costs, the energy savings you’ll get in the long run is far more economically justifiable.
Pricing
Another significant factor to consider when purchasing new equipment is the price. We suggest making a restaurant kitchen equipment list and prioritising the items you’d use most. Check what you need and can spend on and what you can avoid by investing in multipurpose equipment. This way, you can control your expenses without going over budget.
Ease of Maintenance
Maintenance is one of the inevitable things you’d need to spend on to prolong your kitchen equipment’s life. You can choose items you are comfortable using, cleaning, and maintaining to lessen the need to call in for services, thus significantly reducing the cost of preserving your equipment.
Supplier
One of the best ways to simplify your decision-making is by considering kitchen equipment purchases from a dependable brand and supplier. The biggest advantage of purchasing from established suppliers, such as Middleby, is you have a guarantee of the equipment quality and warranty terms.
Essential Kitchen Equipment for Catering Businesses
Not all catering services are the same. Yours might be different in format and requirements to operate, so it’s important to know your specific needs to invest only in kitchen appliances you require. However, some basic equipment essential for catering services are as follows:
- Stoves/Grills – Give food a smoky and charred flavour that works well for many recipes
- Ovens – Used for baking, roasting, and braising and usually comes in electric or gas ranges
- Fryers – Ideal for frying chicken tenders, French fries, and more
- Dishwashers – Keep kitchen and catering utensils clean and reduce foodborne illnesses
Takeaways
The success of a catering business relies heavily on your kitchen equipment’s capability to uphold mass preparation and cooking of large-scale meals. Make sure to carefully choose the items you invest in.
For a wide range of high-quality kitchen equipment capable of supporting catering businesses of all kinds, check out Middleby products.