Your Guide to Fitting Out a Commercial Kitchen

As the beating heart of your restaurant or café, the commercial kitchen is where all your inspirational menu items come to life. Not only is it where your food is prepared and plated, but it also houses your key commercial equipment – from fridges, ovens and dishwashers to kitchenware and utensils.

Importantly, because there are many people working in a commercial kitchen, you need to ensure it is organised efficiently and has the right equipment in the right place to streamline service. That's why we have put together this starter's guide to purchasing commercial kitchen equipment.

Things to Consider in Your Commercial Kitchen Plan

Before you rush out and purchase a top-of-the-line commercial fridge, take the time to think about your project and get everything in order. Three of the most important considerations include:

Size: How big is your kitchen, and how many customers will you be serving at capacity? Just as you don't want your dining area to be cluttered, neither do you want your kitchen staff running into each other and causing delays.
Units: How much food will you need to store, and what type of energy consumption will your essential equipment use? This could influence your bottom line, so it's worth paying attention to energy use.
Budget: Fitting out a new kitchen will likely be one of your biggest costs, and your budget can quickly disappear after investing in brand-new – or even used – grills, ovens, ranges and fridges.

Article: This comprehensive guide to Designing a Commercial Kitchen contains tips and advice from the experts on everything you need to consider when coming up with a commercial kitchen layout.

What Commercial Kitchen Equipment Do You Need?

Once you understand the size of your kitchen, the equipment you need to create your menu items and your overall budget, it's time to create a list.

This list needs to not only outline the commercial kitchen items you need, but also their upfront price, how much they will cost to run, and whether it's more cost-effective to purchase them outright or to rent them.

REFRIGERATION

Choosing the right commercial refrigeration is a critical decision for how the rest of your commercial kitchen will flow.

It will need to maximise kitchen efficiency, both in terms of energy use and streamlining food prep. There are also lots of different varieties of refrigeration units, from reach-in and walk-in coolers to restaurant-grade freezers.

Upright Fridges

You have the option to get either single or double-door models, units with adjustable shelving, as well as fridges that have economical modes to save on power.

The 400Ltr Polar C-Series stainless steel upright fridge offers fantastic storage and provides efficient temperature control options. That makes it perfect for everyday commercial use in less-demanding environments.

Alternatively, the 1266Ltr SKOPE ProSpec double door upright fridge uses cutting-edge power economy to reduce running costs while still delivering supreme performance. Pre-set modes based on what's stored inside can be easily managed via the SKOPE-connect app for easy operation.

Counter Fridges

For restaurants and cafes with limited kitchen space, counter fridges are an optimal storage solution. They provide plenty of chilled storage space beneath a reliable and hygienic work surface. If you're lacking in space but don't need counters, under counter fridges are another option.

The 417Ltr Polar U-Series three-door counter fridge is ideal for frequent use and offers powerful forced air cooling, automatic defrost with digital display, and fitted lockable castor wheels for easy positioning.

Upright Freezers

For ingredients that need freezing, an energy-efficient upright freezer like the 365Ltr Polar C-Series stainless steel upright freezer will do the trick. It's designed to save energy thanks to reliable insulation that ensures lower running costs. The fixed rear castor wheels allow for easy repositioning, making it a dependable unit for light-duty commercial use.

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TIP: Polar Refrigeration uses three classifications which makes it easier to identify which fridge is best suited to your requirements. C-Series fridges are light-duty units which don't need to be accessed regularly, while the G-Series and U-Series ranges contain medium and heavy-duty models for more frequent use in demanding kitchens. Check out this Polar Spotlight for more information.

OVENS

Every restaurant and café has different cooking needs, so there's no one-size-fits-all oven unit. Instead, you'll need to choose an oven according to what you need to cook.

High speed ovens are efficient at cooking a wide range of foods in a variety of commercial settings. For example, the Woodson Pronto high speed oven is easy to use and guarantees rapid cooking results. The customisable touchscreen menu control and an intuitive interface make it a smart choice for fast-paced kitchens.

Commercial gas ovens are powerful and versatile, allowing kitchen workers to create multiple dishes simultaneously. The Thor TR-6F six-burner gas oven is made for use in any kitchen as they are incredibly durable while being easy to clean and maintain.

Elsewhere, convection ovens can cook up to 25% faster than conventional ovens, perfect for heating large quantities of pies, pastries and meats. The Turbofan by Moffat E22M3 electric convection oven is a portable unit for countertop use with a single direction low-velocity fan.

Finally, combination ovens are multi-purpose machines that cook food using steam, convection or a mix of both. This allows them to cook a wide variety of foods in the most efficient manner.

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Article: Fitting out a commercial kitchen with new appliances requires a big financial commitment. This guide examines the pros and cons of Buying vs Leasing Commercial Kitchen Equipment to help you decide which option works best for your business.

MIXERS

Professional kitchens work with an immense number of ingredients, many of which need to be mixed together in large quantities. So you'll want to ensure you use commercial mixers that can handle everything from heavy doughs to minced meats, sauces, icing and more.

The 20Ltr Apuro planetary mixer is a heavy-duty unit that can mix huge quantities of ingredients. Three speed settings, a handy bowl lift mechanism and a powerful motor make commercial mixing quick and easy.

There's also the multi-function, multi-speed Birko commercial mixer for a more cost-effective purchase, and the incredibly powerful Hobart A200 planetary mixer for commercial-grade, sturdy and reliable mixing every time.

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SINKS

Cleanliness in a commercial kitchen is just as important as the food you serve your customers. That's why a sink is a top consideration when fitting out your kitchen.

The Vogue single bowl sink with left-hand drainer provides a reliable and durable area to clean and dry dishes. Its under-shelf can be used for extra storage, while the sloped draining board prevents water from pooling.

Also consider installing something like this wall-mounted hand basin and brackets, which is a compact hand basin that's ideal for small spaces without compromising on hygiene.

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UTENSILS

Aside from the larger commercial units, your kitchen also needs to include all the little things that make it tick. After all, it's the utensils that are the backbone of the professional kitchen.

From the comfortable and hygienic 250mm Vogue light balloon whisk to a heat-resistant 264mm Vogue high heat spatula that won't scratch or damage surfaces, or even a simple 340ml Vogue clear squeeze sauce bottle for your fast-paced café, it’s often the little things that require the most attention.

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