Opening their restaurant is the dream for many chefs and entrepreneurs. The restaurant business in one of the best businesses in the world, which involves huge profits if executed perfectly. However, being a restaurant owner can involve a lot of hard work and financial risk. The risk is worth it because if your business picks up then the returns are just out of your imagination. However, opening a new restaurant takes a lot of research, hard work, and financial backing.
If you are planning to open a restaurant, then the most important thing that you need to focus on is the setup of the kitchen and the equipment that is needed. The biggest mistake that most people do while setting up a restaurant is that they only focus on decorating and designing the dining area while ignoring the kitchen setup. They tend to engage all the resources in the beautification and looks of the restaurant, leaving behind the kitchen which is the last thing thought about.
However, the kitchen is the most important place in a restaurant. It is the place where your menu comes into life and your menu s actually what keeps your restaurant running. Your kitchen is the soul of your restaurant. It is like a machine that has many moving parts and even if one part stops working then the entire reputation of your restaurant can go for a toss. Knowing this, it is very important to make sure that your kitchen is always on point and is well-equipped with all the tools that you need, and your equipment is maintained regularly. You can get all that you need at the wholesale restaurant supplies stores.
If you are planning to open a new restaurant and set up a new kitchen, go through the following list of must-have restaurant kitchen equipment:
Servingware
The serving ware that you use plays a major role in creating a good impression in the mind of the guests. Before consuming the food, the plates, and the serving are the first thing that the guests notice. Your serving ware enhances the overall appearance of the dish. You will need a huge stock of cutlery, plates, bowls, spoons, ramekins, cups, glasses, etc. Decide the number of tables that you are going to fit in the restaurant and the number of guests you hope to serve every night. Based on these figures you can decide the number of serving ware to buy. Also, the frequency of breakage of plates and crockery is quite high in restaurants, so you need to consider that as well.
Storage containers
Storing the ingredients properly increases the life of the ingredients which helps to reduce wastages. Reduction in wastages will help you save a significant amount of cost. You need good quality airtight containers that will help you to keep all the raw material and ingredients fresh for a long time. You will need them in multiple sizes for the ease of storage. You will also need good quality tapes to name the containers. Make sure you buy a tape that is waterproof so that it won’t come off even if it gets wet,
Storage racks and shelves
Properly installed shelves will help to solve the problem of space constraints. The size of the kitchen is usually not that big. and a lot is needed to be stored in a limited space. So you need to plan accordingly and make shelves in a way that it won’t consume a lot of usable space but still should be able to store all your equipment and containers. Having an organized storage solution helps you to save time and helps to streamline your operations. You can also have mobile storage racks that can be moved to any place as per your convenience.
Safety equipment
Safety equipment is the most important thing that you need to have in your kitchen. They are also mandatory for getting your license. The basic safety equipment that you need is first aid kit, fire extinguishers, doomed safety mirrors at corners, etc. you need to check the guidelines issued by the local authorities before buying safety equipment. These equipment are available at wholesale stores. You also need to make sure that your employees are trained properly to use the equipment in the event of an emergency.
Cooking equipment
Once you have decided what all cuisines you are going to offer and you are ready with the list of dishes you are going to make, then you can decide what all cooking equipment you will need. If you are going to serve pizzas then you will need a pizza oven or a tandoor for grilled items or a shawarma machine if you are going to serve shawarma. You will also need basic elements like pots of all sizes, mixing spoon, whisks, tasting spoon, etc. these equipment play a very important role in determining the quality and taste of your dishes. So make sure you decide wisely.
Preparation counters and cutting boards
Food preparation counters and cutting boards are very essential when it comes to setting up a commercial kitchen. They come in different sizes or you can get them custom made as per your requirement. Preparation tables are usually made of stainless steel as it does not corrode, it doesn’t absorb bacteria and it is easy to clean. For the cutting surfaces, you can either choose plastic cutting boards. Plastic boards are easy to clean but they have a short life. Whereas wooden boards have a very long life but it is a headache to clean them.
Freezers and refrigerators
A commercial kitchen is incomplete without a refrigerator and a deep freezer. Without a fridge, you cannot store some of the ingredients, vegetables, dairy products, and fruits. Similarly, you need a deep freezer to store ingredients like raw chicken, fish, steaks, meat, etc. Buying these ingredients in bulk and storing them in the freezer id cost-effective as well. They are very crucial for inventory management and saving costs.
