Restaurant equipment includes everything a restaurant needs to prepare, cook and serve food. The exact tools your establishment will need will depend on the type of food you’re selling (a sit-down seafood restaurant will have different requirements than a fast-service burger joint). Restaurant supplies range from kitchen appliances and tools to hardware like point of sale systems and kitchen display units.
Commercial refrigerators and freezers keep ingredients and prepared foods fresh. They come in several sizes so you can choose the best one for your restaurant’s storage needs. A reach-in refrigerator is a good choice for most restaurants, but larger spaces may require a walk-in freezer.
You’ll also need a wide variety of prep tables and counters. These should be sturdy enough to handle constant use and resist damage from chemicals. Look for stainless steel for durability and easy cleaning. Stainless steel kitchen counters are also easy to sanitize and won’t harbor bacteria, unlike wood.
Using the right cutting equipment https://www.billsrestaurantequipment.com.au/category/refrigeration/ can save you time and money, especially for high-volume preparations such as chopping up onions, garlic, carrots, celery and more. Consider a professional-grade knife with sharp blades and a comfortable, ergonomic handle. You can find both electric and manual models available, with the latter more popular in upscale restaurants. You can also opt for a hand-held food processor to reduce the number of small items you have to manually cut by hand.
A kitchen display system or KDS helps you manage your back-of-house operations, including ordering, ticket times and color-coding for order preparations. It can interface with your cash register or other point of sale software so waitstaff can enter customer orders into the computer and send them to the kitchen. It also lets you track inventory, so you know what’s ready to go when customers arrive.
Most restaurants will also need to invest in a few sets of flatware, dishware and glassware. The amount you’ll need will depend on the average number of people you expect to serve per night. It’s a good idea to have extra sets on hand for busier periods, as breakage is common in the chaotic environment of a busy restaurant kitchen.
Other important kitchen supplies include mops and buckets, broom-and-dustpan sets, and recycling bins for metals, plastics, paper and cardboard. Restaurants must recycle to protect the environment and comply with local regulations about garbage disposal.
You’ll need lots of cleaning chemicals and sanitizers to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen and other areas of the restaurant, as well as restroom supplies like hand soap, towels and paper products. You’ll need to stock up on wet floor signs as well, because wet floors are a major safety risk for restaurant employees who might slip and hurt themselves.