Commercial Kitchen Supplies for Everyone

If you’ve recently opened a new restaurant or need to upgrade your already established one, you know how important having the right commercial kitchen supplies is. Ovens, refrigerators, walk-ins, counters, salamanders, and grills – the amount of equipment and information available can be overwhelming. However, by narrowing down what your business needs and working with experienced industry veterans, you can outfit your kitchen with the right equipment and get the best food out to your customers.

Choosing commercial kitchen supplies begins with determining what kind of food you will be creating. If your business is established in a spot where a former restaurant once stood, you may have some equipment readily available. Start by determining what pieces you truly need. Next, consider the gas, electric, and ventilation equipment you have in your kitchen. This will determine the general layout of the pieces. How will work flow from the cooks behind the scenes to the front of house staff? Where will ingredients be stored and plates cleaned?

The hallmark of a great kitchen is a great stove and oven. Will you need more than one? If you are serving breakfast, will you need an oven, range, and griddle as well? The size of your kitchen and expected volume of work is an important factor as well. Smaller kitchens might only need a four burner stove whereas a large steakhouse might need to accommodate up to ten burners. A broiler is usually a necessity for most kitchens and these are available in a variety of sizes. They can be fitted to work with gas or electric and when the orders are coming in fast, having a reliable broiler is essential.

Next, it is time to consider fryers. They can be bulky and expensive so extra care should be taken here to make sure you have an appropriate one. If you are serving large numbers of French fries, having a large fryer is critical but, with careful menu planning, it may not be essential. A Greek or Indian restaurant will have a much less busy fryer than a burger joint.

In the world of commercial kitchen supplies, steam tables are one of the most visible products in the public eye. If you are in the catering business, your steam tables will be important for keeping food hot and warmed evenly throughout the dinner and/or buffet service. Choose an appropriate size and number of fryers and do not forget about aesthetics, if they will be seen by your guests.

Serving pizza? A great commercial pizza oven is the number one item on your list of kitchen supplies. A heavy duty, deck style pizza oven is essential for any place focused on the Italian treat, but it is not the only option. If pizza will only be a special or a small part of a larger menu, consider purchasing a lighter more portable oven that can be moved to save space when not needed.

At Gator Chef, our passion is helping restaurants succeed and connecting them with the right products they need for that success. Speak with any of our experts and outfit your kitchen with the right equipment today!