Types of Commercial Appliances

If you are planning to open a restaurant or catering company, you’re going to want to purchase commercial appliances. The types of appliances you have in your kitchen are very important for your restaurant, so it is crucial that you purchase the correct tools for preparing tasty meals for patrons.

Considering all the options out there, setting up your commercial kitchen for a restaurant can seem daunting. Here is our guide to some of the different types of commercial appliances available.

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Commercial Ranges – Gas or Electric?

The first thing to understand regarding commercial ranges is they are made in electric or gas models. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Gas commercial ranges are much more powerful, and better suited for large scale commercial businesses. The gas appliances heat quicker and are generally more durable. For preparing meals, gas ranges are the better option for culinary chefs. Gas fryers and ovens are commonly used in commercial kitchens as they provide a lot more power. Overall, this model of commercial range has less components and will be easier to maintain and undergo less commercial repair.

But, commercial electric ranges offer benefits as well. For example, electrical stoves provide better baking features – such as convection. Electric commercial appliances are generally simpler and safer to cook with, as well as cheaper. Most of small appliances, such as toasters, are always electric.

Different Types of Commercial Appliances

There are many different commercial appliances out there, all of which can be especially designed for your specific needs. Here are a handful of the various subcategories of commercial appliances you can buy.

Commercial Exhaust Hoods

Exhaust hoods are necessary addition to a commercial kitchen. They are required for safe use of the kitchen, as well as keeping in line with health laws.

Commercial exhaust hoods provide a couple of different purposes. They can be used to reduce smoke, steam, and hot air from a commercial kitchen while cooking. They can also be used to filter grease and food particles.

No commercial kitchen could function without a working ventilation system. There are many different types of commercial exhaust hoods for purchase for your specific kitchen and requirements.

Commercial Walk-In Freezers

A walk-in freezer is not something that you would see in a residential kitchen! But, they’re normal in restaurants. These massive freezers are mandatory for any food service running at a high volume. Commercial kitchens have to have plenty of room to store frozen food and ingredients and that’s why a walk-in freezer is needed.

These commercial freezers are also necessary for kitchens that need to freeze large containers or boxes that cannot fit into a residential freezer. You can buy many different sizes of walk-in freezers. They’re custom-fitted to the amount of space you have in your kitchen.

Commercial Walk-In Coolers

You cannot run a successful commercial kitchen without a lot of food. Commercial walk-in coolers are needed for keeping a lot of food cold. If you are managing a large scale operation, then a standard-sized refrigerator won’t do. Walk-in refrigerators make it much easier to stash away food, as well as to easily grab out what you need. As with a commercial freezer, these commercial appliances will have to be specially fitted for your kitchen space.

Commercial Fryers

From chicken wings to french fries, a deep fryer can cook a lot of tasty food for a restaurant. Some foods just cannot be made without a commercial fryer available. These are commercial appliances that be excellent tools for cooking meals and appetizers.

You can choose between electric or gas fryers. Electric fryers do take a little longer to heat up, but they recover a lot quicker after frying cycles. They are also easier to maintain. Gas fryers can reach higher temperatures, and they heat up faster than electric.

Beyond gas or electric, you can buy stand-up fryers or countertop fryers. These can come in all varieties of different sizes and volumes, based on your requirements.

Commercial Grills

The grill is commonly the center of a commercial kitchen. This is where a majority of the hot food is cooked, and it’s vital that your restaurant’s grill performs to your needs. Grills are available in all shapes and models, and it is important to have the one that’s best suited for anything you’re cooking.

You can buy electric or gas grills. Gas grills provide faster and higher heat. They also cook more evenly than electric. Electric grills are often cheaper and sometimes have more features. However, electric grills heat slowly and can be more difficult to maintain.

Commercial Steam Cooking Equipment

Steam cooking is a great technique that can be done for a variety of meals. This type of cooking is energy-efficient and low-cost. Commercial steamers are available in countertop, floor, or microwave models. You can also purchase steam kettles, combi ovens, steam generators and portion steamers.

Steam cooking is very healthy, not to mention fast and efficient. It also presents a ideal way of keeping cooked food warm and not cooling.

Commercial Toasters

Commercial toasters are necessary for kitchens that provide breakfast. Toasters can be very different, based on what their use is. You can buy flat press toasters (great for paninis), pop-up toasters, roller toasters, bun-grilling toasters and more. Even waffle irons fall under this category.

For commercial kitchens that serve a lot of breakfast foods, quick and efficient commercial toasters are very important.

Commercial Specialty Cooking Equipment

Some special food items can’t be cooked using regular commercial appliances – especially if you need them cooked at a high volume. This is where specialized cooking appliances comes in.

Specialty equipment serves a custom unique purpose. If you’re focused on cooking something specific, you will desire the exact tool for the job. This equipment could include pasta cookers, sous vide immersion circulators and more.

Commercial Appliances In Review

Equipping a commercial kitchen can feel like a difficult task. It’s very important you understand the types of appliances available to buy beforehand. The commercial appliances that you choose will have to be specifically based on your kitchen space, and the types of food that you will be serving.

Within the different categories of commercial appliances, there are many brands available. Purchasing the right appliance for the job can make the difference to the success of your kitchen.