Opening a new restaurant takes a lot of work, but ensuring you have all the right restaurant equipment is one of the most critical steps. From setting up your commercial kitchen space to stocking the fridge, there are so many items you’ll need to purchase and arrange.
If you’re starting a new restaurant business and aren’t sure how to assemble a restaurant equipment list — or if you’re revamping an existing restaurant and want to ensure you don’t forget anything — you’ve come to the right place. Take a look at this essential restaurant equipment guide to see what you’ll need to purchase.
When it comes to ensuring your food-service operation is as smooth as can be, you’ll need to ensure you have the right kitchen supplies. From commercial cooking equipment to food storage, here’s a list of all the restaurant equipment you’ll need in your kitchen. The specific kit you’ll need will depend on your menu, so use this as a jumping-off point to help you get started.
One of the most critical pieces of restaurant equipment is a commercial oven. Most professional restaurants use convection ovens because they have a fan that helps food cook more quickly and evenly.
You’ll also need a large stovetop. Most chefs prefer working with gas over induction, electric, or ceramic because it’s easier to control the heat. If you choose a gas stove, remember that you’ll need to ensure a steady gas supply.
Depending on your menu, you may also need the following:
A broiler
A grill
A deep fryer
A rice cooker
A griddle
You’ll also require a good supply of pots and pans, baking and roasting trays, and cooking utensils (e.g., spatulas, turners, wooden spoons, and so on).
Another essential type of restaurant equipment is the kit for preparing food before it’s cooked.
Start by considering your food prep surfaces. Stainless steel countertops make excellent commercial work tables, as they’re easy to clean and last a long time.
Once you’ve got your prep tables, you’ll need the following:
Sharp knives (and knife sharpeners)
Cutting boards
Bowls
Mixers
Blenders
A high-quality food processor
Other smallwares, including oven and meat thermometers, colanders and strainers, aprons, kitchen scales, timers, and food storage containers.
Keeping your produce and ingredients fresh before it’s needed is vital, so you’ll want to ensure you have the best refrigerators.
Most restaurants have a walk-in fridge to store large amounts of food, but you’ll also want a reach-in refrigerator for easy access to regularly used items. Consider buying a refrigerator with a glass door so you can quickly check on your inventory levels without opening the door and letting the cold air out.
Don’t forget you’ll also need a freezer. Again, most commercial kitchens have a larger one for deep freezing and a smaller one for everyday use.
When purchasing restaurant equipment, don’t forget to account for food hygiene gear. You’ll need sinks and faucets for rinsing off plates, pots, and pans and a commercial dishwasher to clean them thoroughly.
You also need to install a hand sink with soap to ensure you have a handwashing station.
Check your local hygiene regulations to ensure you follow all the rules in your state or area.
Other crucial commercial restaurant equipment includes spaces to store food that doesn’t need refrigeration. You’ll want shelving and cupboard space for non-perishable ingredients (and to keep your pots, pans, and dishes).
You must also ensure you have enough crockery for your food service: dinner plates, soup bowls, pasta bowls, side plates, and salad plates.
Finally, you’ll require food warmers to keep hot food warm before your front-of-house (FOH) team takes it out to customers. Consider a food-holding cabinet that can also be used to proof bread if you bake it yourself.
Once your kitchen is well-stocked, you can turn your attention to your bar area by purchasing any required beverage equipment.
An undercounter fridge can store cold drinks in bottles and cans, like beer, soda, and wine. If you have an extensive wine list, installing a dedicated wine fridge could be a great idea. Many are now available to keep red and white wines at the optimum temperatures.
You’ll also need a soft drink dispenser (such as a soda gun), plus glasses for every type of drink you serve — such as wine glasses, beer glasses, Champagne flutes, cocktail glasses, and so on.
Finally, an ice machine that quickly produces and stores ice is a valuable addition to any restaurant bar.
In addition to food and drink preparation and service equipment, your restaurant equipment list should include additional items you’ll need to run your operations.
For example, you’ll need janitorial equipment, such as mops, buckets, brooms, vacuums, and other cleaning products. First-aid kits and fire extinguishers are also vital.
And don’t forget to purchase disposables — like paper towels or napkins, to-go containers, and other small items that are easily overlooked.
You can also purchase restaurant equipment and technology that helps you bring automation into your restaurant.
Most restaurants use a point-of-sale (POS) system to help them process payments. Effective POS software can also help you stay on top of sales data and inventory management, so it’s an excellent investment if you want to save time on management tasks.
A self-service device could be a fantastic addition to your FOH setup if you run a quick-service restaurant. Customers can place orders themselves, meaning your FOH team is free to focus on running food to tables and providing excellent service.
Another helpful piece of restaurant technology is a kitchen display system (KDS). A KDS works with your POS device and self-service kiosk to automatically send orders to the kitchen without needing paper tickets. It can speed up your service and reduce the number of wrong orders from your kitchen.
Purchasing the right restaurant equipment can be daunting, so here are a few quick tips to help you:
Plan your menu first: Know what you want to cook before you buy equipment so you don’t buy anything you don’t need. For example, if you aren’t serving ice cream, you don’t need an ice cream maker or scoop.
Design your kitchen well: Work with your head chef to design the perfect kitchen for their service flow. Collaboratively planning the space and equipment list will ensure your back-of-house (BOH) team has enough prep tables and warming equipment.
Buy heavy-duty gear: High-quality equipment is more expensive, but you’ll only need to buy it once, so you could save money in the long run. Buy the best you can afford.
Check your equipment warranties: Ensure you adhere to any stipulations in each contract so it’s not voided. Some items might require a regular service or particular storage for the guarantee to be valid.
From coolers to cookers and food warmers to commercial sinks, deciding on the right restaurant equipment can be a big job. Ensuring you have the best equipment for your menu and chef team is critical to setting up or running a restaurant.
KioskBuddy can make an excellent addition to your restaurant equipment list. It turns a tablet into an easy-to-use self-service device, allowing customers to place and pay for orders with just a few taps. It works with POS software to help you stay on top of your sales data and restaurant inventory.
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