Kitchen Talk, Kitchen Talk and…. More Kitchen Talk!

As a caterer, good catering equipment is an essential part of your business. With the market flooding with equipments under different makes or models, the buying process for any catering equipment can be quite daunting. Now, I must warn you that once you are out shopping, you might feel the urge to buy almost everything you see around you. However, it’s very important that you plan the purchasing process thoroughly and decide according to what you need and not just concentrate on the functions of the product. Buying the right catering devices is crucial for the success of your business.

There are some products that are common for almost all types of catering services. Knives and cutters are important parts of catering equipment. This kitchen supplies not only make life easier but also help in saving time and money. Irrespective of how good the steak is, it wouldn’t make a good show of the guests try to cut a piece with a lame knife. Next is the food storage box. Ensure you have good food storage boxes that are of high quality, durability and are easy to clean. These are especially essential when food needs to be transported over some distance from the kitchen.

After the storage products, you need to look into the food display catering equipment issues. Usually, as a caterer, you are recommended to buy both hot and cold food display equipment. Most common cold servers allow you to insert ice packs in the product and keep eatables like salads cold and fresh. Similarly, you need hot food servers too. Hot food servers come in different styles, depending on the food items. You might get pot shaped products for serving soups, while you might get rectangular shaped gastro norm containers with lids for serving other food items. I find the sealed food displays really good for hot food serving. The other necessary items for catering to clients are the table cloths, utensils, crockery, label stands and so on. These items depend on your needs and so you can decide what type you want to buy.

Now, let’s look at the catering equipment required in the kitchen itself. Commercial kitchen equipment is just as important as the business itself, so it is essential your chefs have everything they need to prepare delicious food, quickly and with ease. So, a set of good knives, chopping boards, meat mincers and cookware are essential. Here, keep in mind the size of gatherings you usually cater to. Of course, you can’t have cookware or utensils in every possible size. Buy the ones that would be useful regularly. If you need bigger cookware of utensils for a particular party, you can look at taking them on rent. Since cookware, utensils, cutlery, crockery, table linen and clothing are often ordered in bulk, it will be profitable for you to buy them online. There are a few great online stores where you can buy these items with big discounts. Just be careful to only select sites that are reliable, trustworthy and have received good customer reviews.

Buying branded catering equipment with a decent warranty and after-sales service will not only make your business successful but also save additional expenses in the long run. Do a thorough Google search for what you need and you should find some good providers, I used BuyCatering.com before as they literally stock all the catering equipment you could ever need for kitting out a commercial kitchen.

Whether you are opening an upscale luxury restaurant, a fast food outlet or a simple snack bar, you will find you need to buy a wide range of catering equipment. On top of the catering equipment that is absolutely essential, there are also likely to be a number of devices that you think you need, and would like to have, but in truth, could probably do without. Unless you have very deep pockets, you would be wise to stick to the essentials when opening and add to your catering equipment only when you see the demand for your meals can pay for the cost of additional equipment.

Electric Slicing Machine

Regardless of the type of establishment, an electric slicer is a must and should be towards the top of any catering equipment list. Typically used to slice cuts of meat, a slicing machine has many more uses that can save you and your staff time, which ultimately saves you money. Slicing machines can be used for many foods, including tomatoes, onions and lettuce. As these salad items are used by most sandwich bars and fast food outlets as garnish, you might be surprised at how much you get through in a day. If you have to keep clearing your work space to slice a tomato or chop up an onion, your productivity will be hindered and your nerves somewhat frayed. A more logical approach is to prepare containers of garnish using a slicer than will be stored in a fridge and used throughout the day. Using finely sliced foods is cost effective, and in addition, most items simply look better when they are sliced thinly, and very few cooks will be able to cut food in such a manner with a knife.

No more of this!!

Juice Extractor

Consuming plenty of freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice is extremely trendy these days, and understandably so, as drinking freshly squeezed juice is a sure fire way of getting all the nutrients you need without having to eat mountains of fresh produce. In addition to providing customers with a healthy option, drinking juice once or twice a day can be of enormous benefit to restaurant owners and staff members, who often typically work long hours and don’t feel like preparing themselves a healthy meal after they have spent all day in a hot kitchen.

Fresh juice is an item that will suit any eating establishment or bar, and an additional income source that you can easily add to your menu without needing to buy lots of additional catering equipment.

When choosing a juicer, look for a model that has a wide feeding tube so you don’t have to spend time cutting the produce into small pieces. Many models also blend foods which is useful if you own a baby-friendly establishment or wish to serve smoothies. Make sure your model can be washed in the dishwasher, as cleaning juicers by hand can be a lengthy process.

Serve these for your customers for additional revenue!

Water Boilers

If you serve hot drinks in your business, a water boiler, also known as a water urn is a must. Water boilers are available in two types; manual fill or auto-fill that connect directly to the mains water supply. The advantage of having a water boiler is that any time a customer asks for a cup of tea you are able to comply instantly without having to wait for a kettle. The water boiler also gives you a constant supply of boiling water which can be used to make gravy and other sauces; a huge time saver for a busy cook who has run out of pre-prepared supplies during a hectic lunchtime or evening session.

Hopefully this has given you a good idea of how to start kitting your restaurant out!