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Buying Kitchen Equipment – A Quick Guide
Filed Under (cooking equipment) by Steve James on 05-10-2009
When outfitting a new kitchen of the commercial variety, there are many different components to consider. Depending on what type of kitchen one is using, there are different pieces of kitchen equipment that range in order of necessity. Larger items including ranges, ovens, and grills are standard fare for any type of cooking. Dishwashers and commercial sinks help with the post-service cleanup. There are a number of appliances as well that make all aspects of the restaurant business easier.
The range, oven and grill set-up is one of the most crucial pieces of kitchen equipment you can get, and often take up the most space in the kitchen. Range tops can be gas or electric, each with its own set of pros and cons. Griddles and broilers offer cooking abilities on a smaller scale. If you are going to be preparing a lot of fried food for a diner, there are large skillets, frying pans, or even deep fryers for some serious frying possibilities.
If there is going to be a lot of baking or pastry service, then a separate set of kitchen equipment will be needed for this. Cookware that suits the different sorts of cake sizes or pie plates are standard issue. Cupcake tins, ramekins, and other small baking trays are available as well. For bread products, one can use loaf pans, muffin or biscuit pans, or flat sheet pans. Cooling racks help a large scale operation of bread products to cool quickly and efficiently.
Mixers and food processors are tools that can make life easier. These items of kitchen equipment are used in all types of recipes. A stand-up mixer is great for large batches of dough or batter, or simply for preparing sauces. Food processors make short work of dicing and straining ingredients, and can be changed accordingly to what is called for in a recipe. Immersion and stick blenders are great for blending soups and sauces, and require minimal effort on the part of the chef.
Averting fires in the kitchen is extremely crucial, and fortunately most kitchen equipment is designed for safety. For example, hood systems are included as part of the range top and oven set up. These have fans that suck up excess heat and re-circulate it around the kitchen, not only providing for a more pleasurable working environment, but also a lower risk of fire.







