If you’re putting together appliances for your commercial kitchen, a cooking equipment list is a priority. 


Due to the dizzying options available, it may be hard to choose. Unless you’re acquiring a business equipped with all the necessary appliances, putting together a commercial kitchen is a tedious task. Since a catering equipment require significant costs, it is necessary that what you buy are what you need. 

 

This buyer’s guide is for those looking into options.  


For decades of serving businesses across Australia, we noticed how businesses have commonalities when it comes to their purchases. To give you ideas about which to pick, these are the most common cooking equipment acquired by restaurants, buffets and fast-food chains. 


Griddles

This commercial kitchen equipment is designed with a large, flat cooking surface that can cook several items at a time.  It has shallow sides which make it easy to flip foods such as eggs, pancakes and burgers. This appliance is available in cast iron, carbon steel, ceramic and nonstick aluminium stainless steel. They are offered in round, rectangular and square shapes.   

There is so much that you can do with a griddle. You can put together a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The most high-end models allow you to calibrate accurate temperatures for precise cooking. 


Fryers

commercial fryer

We're guessing you have fried foods on your menu. Hence, the need for commercial-grade fryers. 

A commercial fryer is designed to cook precisely and quickly. With it, you can fry a large batch of foods like tempura, fried pickles, onion rings, french fries and other fried foods. With a high-quality equipment, you can produce quality fried foods in record time; saving you on energy consumption and oil usage.  Commercial fryers are offered in electric and gas models. Most models feature a basket and lid to prevent splattering.


Ranges

commercial gas ranges

Simply put a range as a stove with plenty of space that let you cook different dishes at a time. In most models, it is a combination of an oven and a stovetop. The oven can be used for broiling, baking and roasting while you can saute, sear and sear on the stovetop. Businesses love this equipment because of its versatility to handle different tasks. 

Commercial ranges are built with a myriad of configurations to match the demands of busy professional kitchens. Some of the most popular configurations for commercial settings include open burners, griddle tops, graduated hot tops and french hot plates. Some manufacturers offer bespoke configurations such as a cheesemelter. 


Oven

commercial ovem

From baking, broiling, braising and roasting, an oven can do all these wonders. Commercial ovens can hold a big batch of cooking and cook food faster. 

Commercial ovens are designed to be energy efficient. Thanks to their pre-programmed energy settings, advanced airflow technology design and powerful motors.   

Generally, commercial ovens are offered in three types: standard, convection and oven. 

The standard oven is the most common oven you'll see in homes. It uses a heating mechanism from gas or electricity. While it gets the job done, it has a little downside. It cooks food slower and at times, unevenly. 

The convection oven is the top choice of chefs because it can do what a standard oven missed. As it uses circulated hot hair to cook food, it can cook dishes faster and evenly. 

Conveyor ovens are commonly used in pizzerias. In layman's terms, a conveyor oven is an equipment that cooks products by moving them through it. You simply have to load the product into the oven and it will take care of the work. The foods will be moving in motion: vertically, inclined, horizontally or spiral, depending on the equipment’s design. The motion capacity of a conveyor oven allows high production volume, better workflow, and more flexibility. 


Steamers

For delicious and nutritious menus, a steamer comes in handy. With it, you can cook dishes without using oils or fat. From vegetables to meat to fish, a commercial steamer can do the job. 

Steaming keeps the moisture in your food. This is essential for keeping the quality and texture of your dishes. Steaming also preserves the food’s colour, flavour and nutritional value. Since moisture is kept, steaming ultimately translates to higher yields.  


Refrigeration equipment

The heart of preservation, a refrigeration equipment, is an appliance that a commercial kitchen cannot survive without. With it, you can store, organise and refrigerate temperature-sensitive items to keep them fresh. 

There are myriad options for refrigeration equipment in the market. There is the traditional upright/vertical refrigerator and the classic chest freezer. There are also equipment with dedicated uses. There are wine refrigerators, bottle coolers, drawer-type refrigerators, work benches with refrigerators and many more. 


Salamanders

A salamander is used for melting, browning, toasting, glazing and broiling. You can also use it to melt cheese, make toast or create that perfect crispy finish for a meat dish. This equipment is used to add finishing touches to foods, not for cooking. 

Salamanders come in different sizes. Some are handheld while others are bigger with designs looking like traditional ovens. Bigger salamanders can accommodate bigger batches of food. They often have functionalities that you can calibrate according to the dishes you’re making.  

 

Upkeep for commercial cooking equipment

Commercial cooking equipment is subjected to constant and rigorous use in the kitchen. Upkeeping and maintenance should be a priority.  A checklist for regular and preventive maintenance is necessary. This is to ensure that your equipment stay clean and in top shape. 

Create an individual to-do list for each type of equipment. Your checklist could be as simple as the following.

Griddles

  • Wipe down after use
  • Clean the burners
  • Check the filters
  • Calibrate thermostat
  • Ensure grills are levelled. 

Are you putting together the best cooking equipment for your kitchen?


Our friendly team here at Lead Catering Equipment will gladly assist with your needs. As one of the most trusted commercial kitchen equipment suppliers in Australia, we can advise you about the best choices according to your requirements and budget. 

We offer a huge selection of the most trusted brands of professional kitchen equipment. We have ovens, bain marie, ranges, salamanders, fryers, griddles, ice makers, refrigerators…the whole nine yards.

We will be glad to walk you through available options. You can schedule a visit to one of our showrooms through the following phone numbers: 03 8657 3937 / 0411 505 588 (for VIC, SA, WA and TAS), and, 02 8859 1888 / 0431 073 246 (for QLD, NSW, NT and ACT).