Rohan MathawanCertain appliances are used to store, and cook food for customers in restaurants. Food is the gateway to a person’s soul. Hence, restaurants can never compromise with the quality of food. Kitchen refrigerators, stoves, spoons and knives are some of the equipment which every restaurant should necessarily possess.
No restaurant will want to compromise with their hard-earned reputation. Hence, the restaurant owners need to keep a few tips in mind while they shop for kitchen equipment.
It is a good idea to buy kitchen equipment from reputed brands. They will be certainly expensive but the price will pay off in the long run. Compromising with the quality means compromising with their reputation.
Examples of a few commonly used kitchen equipment are as follows:
- Cooling equipment like refrigerators and ice-makers
- Heating equipment like ovens, stoves, microwaves and grills.
- Preparation equipment like mixers, grinders and blenders
- Washing equipment like dishware, glassware washing and polishing equipment
- Cookware accessories like knives, pans, spoons, pots and cookers
- Different types of shelves and tables like Prep tables and counters.
Tips for buying the best kitchen equipment for restaurants:
Gone are the days when restaurants hired multiple people to perform different duties. Nowadays, modern equipment has replaced people. These equipment are expected to provide premium-quality service.
Hence, restaurant owners need to invest in premium equipment. The motto of the restaurants is to provide optimum service to customers. So the right kitchen equipment is necessary to provide good service to customers. Veteran restaurant owners have suggested a few tips for buying the best kitchen equipment. The tips are as follows:
The restaurant authorities need to fix a budget before buying the modern kitchen equipment. You need to emphasize on the fact that good things do not come cheap. It is pointless to invest in low-quality kitchen equipment that will last for a short time. So, premium kitchen equipment, that is a one-time investment is preferred.
- Budget:
The budget will be a bit high, admittedly. So, when the authorities decide on the account, they also need to make a list of what products they will buy. It is advisable to break up the list into numerous parts.
The emergency equipment should be purchased immediately. The other objects may be purchased next month. The restaurant authorities have other expenses as well. Hence, it is of prime importance for them to decide how much they will spend on the kitchen equipment. It is not enough to prepare a budget. People also need to stick to it too.
The shoppers need to understand whether the equipment is immediately necessary for the restaurant or not. It will help them stick to the budget.
- Market survey:
The hotel owners need to do a market survey of which brand of kitchen equipment is famous at the moment. Reputation matters most in this industry. The fridge of one company may be of good quality, while the mixer grinder of another company may be favoured.
They need to interact with other restaurant owners or people who are in charge of such tools at a hotel. There should be confirmation from such people about the quality of the brand should be reliable and knowledgeable.
- A thorough check:
People need to check the tools before buying them. It is pointless to buy a piece of tools only to find out later that it is defective or defunct.
- Warranty:
The tools need to have a specific warranty period. The employee of the hotel who is in charge of shopping for tools needs to check for verification. The longer the warranty period, the better. They should also ensure that customer service is active.
- Easy-to-use tools:
All the kitchen tools needs to be easy-to-operate. The essential purpose of a restaurant is to provide premium quality food to its customers. The chefs or other employees will not have much time to figure out how to operate complex kitchen tools.
- Avoid overcrowding the kitchen:
A hotel’s kitchen should have enough space for people to move around. The chefs need some space to work freely. Hence, the kitchens should be clutter-free. It is better to prevent overcrowding.
- Conserve electricity:
The tools of a restaurant kitchen should conserve electricity. The electricity bill for a restaurant usually is high. So, the tools should not contribute to it.
- Plan the menu:
It is a good idea to plan the menu of the restaurant before investing in the tools. Different dishes need different tools. If the restaurant owners buy the tools before planning the menu, many types of tools will be useless. For example, an eatery that specializes in Tibetan menu will have different tools from one that specializes in continental cuisine.
- Look for ENERGY STAR@ LABEL:
It is preferable to choose kitchen tools that has a blue energy star label. It is guaranteed that such products are energy efficient. Customers who select tools with ENERGY STAR@ LABEL, are assured of long term Savings. This label also proves that the tools has cleared a third-party inspection.
- Bonding with wholesale tools providers:
People who buy kitchen tools for restaurants need to maintain a cordial relationship with wholesale tools providers. The providers ensure that those who hold a friendly relationship with them get premium-quality tools at a reasonable price. The wholesale tools providers even have the power to expedite the delivery in case of emergency.
- Flexible Payment Options:
The shoppers have to ensure that flexible payment options are available for the kitchen tools. It has been discussed earlier than the restaurants cannot compromise on the quality of them. The kit will have a hefty price tag if it is from a reputed brand. So, flexible payment plans ease the financial burden.
- Famous brands:
The shoppers need to buy the restaurant tools from big brands. Reputed brands are conscious of their reputation in the industry. Hence, they will ensure that customers get premium quality products.
- Authentic products:
A few shoppers prefer to shop online for restaurant kitchen products. They should ensure that they get authentic products from genuine brands.
Conclusion: Restaurant kitchen equipment essentially differs from the home kitchen equipment. People should be selective about what they buy.