There are currently over 85,000 different places to eat in Australia. That includes over 22,000 restaurants and nearly 7,000 pubs. However, locals and tourists tend to narrow this number down when catering equipment issues close up the kitchen.

With these seven restaurant equipment maintenance tips, you can ensure your kitchen runs smoothly.

That way, you won't have to close up to get it all fixed it.

Restaurant Equipment Maintenance Tips at Leading Catering

Keep the kitchen open and the food cooking with these seven tips.

1. Check the Air Filters

To start your routine restaurant equipment maintenance, check the filters.

Clean air filters are essential to make sure your equipment works properly. For example, cooling equipment such as refrigerators and ice machines need clean air filters to keep cool. Otherwise, they'll work overtime, which could cause the machines to break altogether.

When filters become clogged with grease and dust, air can't travel thru the machine.

This causes the machines to overheat and break.

Make sure to clean your equipment air filters regularly. Check for dust, dirt, and grease. You may need to use a degreasing solution to prevent future grease build-up.

By cleaning your air filters, your equipment won't just work properly. Cleaning these filters also limits the amount of energy your equipment needs. As a result, you might even notice a decrease in your energy bill, too!

2. Clean All Cooking Areas

Allowing excess dirt and grime to build over time can break many pieces of catering equipment in your commercial kitchen.

That's why it's important to clean your entire kitchen area—not just the equipment itself. Otherwise, you're leaving dirt and grease around that could impact the equipment. Not to mention it's also gross.

As part of your restaurant equipment maintenance to-do list, clean other cooking areas. This includes:

  • Scrubbing burners, grates, and skillets daily
  • Soaking any removal parts in warm, soapy water to wash away the grime
  • Cleaning drip trays and spaces underneath cooking equipment or cooking areas

Consider giving these items a thorough deep-clean at least once a month. Otherwise, you're giving grime the chance to build-up over time. That can make it more difficult to clean off later on.

3. Don't Forget the Fridge

Restaurant equipment maintenance involves any major appliances, such as your commercial refrigerator.

To start, check the gaskets. Any splits or cracks in the gaskets can cause cool air to escape the unit. Make sure the gaskets are clean, too.

Otherwise, dirt and grease can wear them down.

We've already discussed the importance of checking the air filters. You can read the owner's manual or request help from your equipment supplier for specific instructions.

Next, clean the coils. Both the condenser and evaporator coils play crucial parts in keeping the unit running. You can use a brush and shop vacuum to clean these parts every three months.

Check for debris during your kitchen maintenance as well. Walk-in coolers, freezers, and refrigerators won't run efficiently if slime, sludge, or debris causes a back-up.

Clean the drain pans and tubes regularly. Replace a clogged tube if it's damaged due to debris blockage.

After you're done cleaning, make sure the unit is dry.

Check the walk-in cooler and freezer floor. Keeping the floors clean, spotless, and dry will minimise slips and falls. Cleanliness will also help ensure the coils don't freeze up.

Finally, check the bottoms of your refrigerator and freezer units. Clean them up, make sure they're dry, and you're good to go!

4. Clean Vent Hoods and Ducts

You also need to clean equipment vent hoods and ducts. Schedule this kitchen maintenance once every six months.

Preventative equipment maintenance can help you avoid greasy steam build-up. Leaving this build-up too long can break your equipment down over time. Instead, consider cleaning it yourself or request a service.

5. Make the Repairs

The Australia restaurant market is currently projected at $19 billion. However, this recent increase will hit a decline if businesses neglect proper restaurant equipment maintenance.

To keep your equipment running properly, fix what breaks.

Too many restaurants notice a broken or faulty part but leave it. Sometimes, they're just too bush or can't handle the burden of the cost for repairs or replacements. Leaving your equipment unattended, however, can lead to bigger costs in the future.

Instead of leaving these broken parts unattended, try to get them repaired as soon as possible.

The repairs will ensure your commercial kitchen equipment operates properly. These issues could also lead to a decrease in energy efficiency (and higher energy bills).

By making repairs, you can avoid more expensive repairs and replacements moving forward.

6. Deep Clean the Deep Fat fryer

The deep fryer needs attention during your routine restaurant equipment maintenance, too.

Every four to six weeks, inspect the fryer for possible gas leaks. To check for a leak, spray the gas supply hose with soapy water. If you notice bubbles, there's a leak.

If you smell gas in your kitchen, check for leaks as soon as possible.

Next, clean the fryer combustion fans. They'll likely need cleaning once a month. Cleaning the combustion fans will help you avoid possible breakdowns.

Fat and carbon will build up against the tank and heating element over time. To clean your fryer, boil it out on a weekly basis to remove old grease.

7. Ranges, Griddles, and Grills, Too

Next up: your ranges, griddles, and grills.

Scrub and wipe down the burners, grates, and flattops daily.

Once a month, consider a more thorough deep clean for these spaces. Preventative maintenance can keep the equipment from breaking down. Keeping these items clean will improve the kitchen work environment, too.

Cooking Up Success: 7 Restaurant Equipment Maintenance Tips

Start cooking up success (instead of going out of business). If your equipment isn't working properly, your restaurant isn't either. With these seven restaurant equipment maintenance tips, you can keep everything up and running for a long time to come!

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