If you run a restaurant, cafe, or bar, having the right equipment for your commercial kitchen is very important. It is a long-term investment that helps you provide quality food to your customers and develop your business. If you have never bought commercial kitchen equipment, you may not know how to do it properly. Read on as we discuss how and where to buy the quality equipment, mistakes you should avoid, and the key factors to consider when you are choosing the equipment.
How To Choose Commercial Kitchen Equipment?
Here is what you should do in order to make the right choice:
Consider the size of your equipment
When you are shopping for commercial kitchen appliances, the size is very important and should not be ignored. Before you start shopping and buy anything, you need to have a clear picture and understanding of your commercial kitchen floor plan and space. One of the most common mistakes of many restaurant owners is to purchase kitchen equipment that is too large and get tied down to a liability rather than a solution.
Purchase only what you really need
You should remain focused on your needs in order not to buy equipment that you may not even need. Therefore, before you start shopping, it may be a good idea to create a list of equipment you need based on the menu of your restaurant, cafe, or bar. It does not make any sense to buy equipment that you may not use at all because this equipment takes up valuable space.
Pay attention to warranties
Every piece of commercial kitchen equipment works for a certain period of time. If it breaks down, it may have a serious negative impact on your kitchen operations and undermine business. In order to avoid this, you need to make sure that the equipment you are purchasing comes with a warranty. Also, make sure to read the terms of the warranty before buying pieces of equipment and understand these terms well.
Make sure to have a budget
Do you have a budget for your commercial kitchen equipment? If not, you need to take some time and run your numbers in order to know what you can and cannot afford. The good news is that many suppliers are offering credits or other ways to finance.
Experts recommend creating a budget for such kitchen equipment as refrigerators, ovens, smaller kitchen appliances, utensils, glassware, cookware, and some others.
Do not ignore energy efficiency
For many restaurant owners, energy efficiency is not a top priority, and many people ignore it completely. However, when you run a commercial kitchen with a lot of equipment, you should not ignore energy efficiency because it can save you hundreds of dollars.
In general, it is recommended to shop for pieces of commercial kitchen equipment that are energy star rated. When you see a piece of equipment with an energy star logo or label, you can be confident that it meets the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Moreover, energy efficient equipment meets the standards for food safety and damages the environment less.
Consider ease of use and maintenance
You should purchase commercial kitchen equipment that is easy to learn, use, and maintain. For this reason, it is important to consider such features and factors as ease of cleaning, storage options, and ergonomics. Try to find and purchase prices of equipment for your kitchen that have user-friendly technological features, so your staff can easily learn how to use the equipment.
Choose the right place to purchase your equipment
There are numerous places where you can find discounted kitchen equipment without spending a fortune. Here are the common few places that you should consider:
- Restaurants that are going out of business. A closing restaurant is a perfect place for buying quality kitchen equipment at affordable prices. Most closing restaurants want to sell their equipment quickly and make fast deals, so they are selling it at low prices.
- Auctions. It is not always possible to buy equipment directly from the owners. For this reason, it is better to find local auctions where you can find and buy equipment that other restaurant owners do not need. Before going to an auction, you should always check the catalog first to make sure that the pieces of equipment you need are being auctioned.
- Resale stores. Sometimes, restaurants, cafes, and bars donate their equipment to such resale stores as Goodwill. If you are lucky, you can find quality kitchen appliances and gadgets in Goodwill stores at low prices.
- Damaged appliances sellers. There are also the sellers that specialize in selling kitchen equipment and appliances with minor defects. Sometimes, even such stores as Best Buy, Sam’s, and Costco have special sales on pieces of equipment with scratches or imperfections.
Mathias – Foodservice Equipment Company That Will Help You Find Perfect Equipment
Are you currently designing a commercial kitchen and need help with finding the proper equipment? Then, Mathias Food Service Equipment is the company that is ready to help you. It was founded in 1982, and for almost 40 years it has been working with clients by helping them to design a perfect kitchen and get the quality kitchen equipment based on their budget, kitchen and restaurant requirements, and personal preferences. Therefore, if you are currently looking for kitchen equipment, and you do not know where to start, Mathias is here for you. If you have any questions about the company, or you want to discuss your project, feel free to visit our website or give us a call.
