factors to be considered when purchasing restaurant equipment

Building a restaurant is like putting together a giant puzzle. Getting the desired outcomes takes time and careful consideration, and all pieces must fit together. Any missing or incorrect elements will be prominent. The equipment is an important puzzle piece in your restaurant’s kitchen.

Each instrument is essential in transforming ingredients into delectable dishes, from significant appliances like refrigerators and ovens to small appliances like food processors and mixers.

There is so much at stake when you make these purchases, and it’s only suitable seeking as much information as you can to choose the best commercial restaurant equipment & supply

Factors to Consider Purchasing Restaurant Equipment

Purchasing new commercial kitchen equipment is a significant undertaking, even if you only want to replace a single component in an existing kitchen. It is possible to make the process easier by including your chef, prioritising what you need, and working with a trusted retailer. We’ve put together the list of essential factors to consider when buying restaurant equipment.

1. Determine your equipment’s priority

restaurant equipment

Starting the equipment purchasing process without a logical strategy for allocating your funds can quickly result in a price tag that is much higher than you expected.

Organising your equipment list by importance will help you decide which pieces are worth paying a premium for and which aren’t. This is an instance when your chef’s advice will be beneficial.

2. Involvement of the chef

Involvement of the chef

A lot of the equipment required for a restaurant kitchen will be related to the menu. Likely, you won’t find someone more familiar with the menu than the chef who created it or who will execute it once it’s up and running.

Your chef should at the very least provide a list of necessary equipment, but it would be even more beneficial to get their opinion on specific models or brands. Their perspectives will help compare various features and functions. They might even keep you from spending more money on a part that you won’t need once you cook!

3. Energy conservation

Energy conservation

Budgeting for new restaurant equipment should include more than just the initial cost of each piece. It’s also important to consider the lifetime costs of running them, including the energy required.

This is especially true when choosing the pieces that require the most energy, such as your refrigeration units, which will run around the clock! Selecting a more energy-efficient model will undoubtedly benefit you in the long run, even if it means spending a little more upfront.

4. The dimensions of your kitchen

The dimensions of kitchen

The big refrigeration unit you’re considering may be a good choice, and it may even be within your budget, but will it fit in your restaurant’s kitchen?

Make sure you begin the buying process with a clear idea of how much space you have given for each piece, and keep to it! You may be tempted to change the overall layout of your kitchen to make the place for the unit you want, but this will almost certainly set off a chain reaction of changes that will make building the kitchen much more difficult.

5. Regulatory adherence

Running a business entails adhering to a slew of standards and regulations designed to protect the well-being of its customers, employees, and the public. Restaurants are no exception, with the extra obligation of ensuring the safety of the food they serve.

Various governing bodies will enact such laws, and they will vary depending on your specific location. Still, an excellent place to start is to become acquainted with some of the primary mandates established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

6. Your kitchen’s processes

restaurant kitchen process

The flow of activities in a kitchen is determined by the service offered, and the kitchen equipment you choose must match such activities.

Consider how food and staff will be moved through the kitchen and which pieces of equipment will facilitate that movement the most. A standard oven may be enough for getting menu items to the required temperature, but it may not be the best option for a quick-service restaurant producing dishes in an assembly line structure. Here, a conveyor oven may be your best option for keeping food moving in an organised fashion while it cooks.

Apply a similar thought process to each critical piece of kitchen equipment to determine how it will help the overall efficiency of the kitchen.

7. The dependability of your retailer

You should not feel alone in ensuring your restaurant equipment is appropriately chosen. You should not feel alone in providing your restaurant equipment is selected correctly. It is possible to make a difference by working with the store. This exhilarating experience brings you closer to a beautiful kitchen and is a frustrating process.

Don’t be afraid to be picky about your retailer. Consider how long they’ve been in the company and how responsive their employees are. The best will treat you as a priority, while the worst will treat you simply as another sale.

8. Style

restaurant kitchen style

This argument is more relevant to restaurants with an open kitchen approach, in which the operations of the kitchen are visible to visitors in the front of the House. Still, it is also essential to consider for any food service business.

When creating an opinion of a restaurant, guests evaluate more than simply their meal. They consider the entire experience, including what they hear, smell, and see. You want your guests to be amazed if they can see into the kitchen or even catch a peek at it. If two versions of a piece of equipment are otherwise comparable, choose the more fashionable one! Your guests will appreciate it.

Final Words

Overall, purchasing commercial restaurant equipment is a significant investment. However, it would be best if you considered it as an investment. Your kitchen will function more smoothly with the correct equipment. You must produce a higher quality product than if you saved money by buying whatever is cheapest without considering the factors listed above.

 

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