Blog Layout

Essential Restaurant Kitchen Equipment

Danica A • April 1, 2022

Must-have restaurant kitchen equipment includes refrigerators, freezers, food processors, mixers, ovens, ranges, dishwashers and sinks.


Your kitchen is the heart of your restaurant, that special place where your chefs create all the extraordinary meals to delight your guests and keep them coming back. It’s therefore imperative your kitchen is properly equipped with everything it needs.

What, exactly, does a restaurant kitchen need?

Every restaurant is unique. With limitless menu possibilities and hundreds of equipment options to make them all possible, no two kitchens will have precisely the same setup. However, there are several essential, universally beneficial pieces of equipment for every kitchen, including:

Refrigerators and Freezers


Dependable, easily accessible refrigeration is critical for the storage of perishable ingredients. With so many different models and varieties—from simple, under-counter refrigerators to large, walk-in freezers—your equipment selection should be dictated by your specific needs. No matter what cuisine is on the menu, though, there will always be ingredients requiring cold storage.

Food Processors and Mixers

These are two basic pieces of equipment that no restaurant kitchen should be without when the time comes to bring your ingredients out of storage. A food processor earns its rightful spot as a kitchen necessity for its versatility. Depending on various settings and blades, a food processor can puree fruits and vegetables, grind meats, and perform a great number of other useful tasks. Similarly, a commercial mixer's uses extend far beyond simply blending dough and batter. Various attachments and sizes provide added flexibility and adaptability.

Ovens and Ranges


You’ll also need to use the right equipment to cook your food once it's been prepared. Of course, there are many other pieces to consider, such as deep fryers and panini presses, which may or may not be necessary depending on what's on your menu—but an oven and range are must-haves! In fact, these are so indispensable to a restaurant kitchen that they’re normally sold together as one appliance.

Dishwashers and Sinks

After your meals have been prepared and cooked and enjoyed by your guests (a full belly is a blessing), it’s time to wash the cookware, dinnerware, and all the other tools and utensils dirtied along the journey from storage to stomach. Dishwashers are essential time-savers for cleaning smallware, such as cutlery and dishes, quickly, efficiently, and in bulk. For those requiring more attention, like pots and pans, compartment sinks are excellent for keeping washing, rinsing and sanitizing activities separate and organized.


Sinks aren't just for sanitizing equipment and utensils, either. Most federal and state food service regulations mandate separate sinks for food prep and hand washing, so be sure to consult your local health codes when deciding how many sinks your kitchen will need.


Picking exactly which equipment models and varieties would work best can be hard, even with an understanding of the basic components of a restaurant kitchen. However, you don't have to do it alone.


Restaurant Plus | Cooking Supplies | Cooking Equipment | Restaurant Support | Food
By Robert Shipman March 1, 2022
Waring, universally known for introducing the first blender in America, is one of today's leading manufacturers of professional appliances for the foodservice and laboratory industries. Waring Commercial offers high-performance, large-volume food processors and blenders, heavy-duty heating appliances such as grills, griddles, toasters and deep fryers, and a variety of specialty products. As a Solutions Specialist in the BLEND, PREP, COOK, and BREW categories, Waring strives to provide innovative, customized equipment to fulfill all of the industry’s unmet needs. With 80+ years of manufacturing expertise locally and globally, Waring is proud to offer continuously expanding collections of superior professional products.
By Robert Shipman February 1, 2022
Everest is founded on the principle of continual improvement. We are committed to bringing the best of the commercial refrigeration industry to our customers around the world through innovative products that are reliable, durable and accessible.
By Robert Shipman January 2, 2022
TOP QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR EVERY TASTE "Tuxton Home is not simply a distributor. We have full supervision over our manufacturing, and complete authority over the design, production, and quality aspects of our products from start to finish." 
By Robert Shipman December 2, 2021
WHO WE ARE Libby Glass. Legacy of 200 years and going strong.
By Danica A November 1, 2021
Turkey has been a staple at Thanksgiving dinner tables for generations. Oftentimes, you’ll find it accompanied by stuffing. The traditional way to prepare stuffing is to cook it inside the turkey. However, chefs and other professionals have since become wary of this method due to health concerns. Before you start preparing for your Thanksgiving feast, it is important to understand what stuffing is, why stuffing a turkey is unsafe, and how to properly prepare your stuffing. What Is Stuffing? Stuffing is a side dish that typically consists of dried bread, such as cornbread, croutons, or breadcrumbs, mixed with meat, onions, celery, and sage. The mixture is then inserted into meat or vegetables and roasted. There are many different varieties of this holiday side dish if you're wondering what to stuff a turkey with. Stuffing is an extremely versatile food that works well with various flavors. While it's most commonly paired with turkey, it can also be included with chicken, pork, mushrooms, and bell peppers, among other foods. Stuffing vs Dressing  The difference between stuffing and dressing depends on how it’s prepared and regional traditions. Dressing is a name for stuffing that is cooked separately from poultry, meat, or vegetables and served alongside it, rather than inside it. In the American South, many people use the term “dressing” to refer to both stuffing and dressing, but in most states, people refer to both as stuffing.
By Danica A October 1, 2021
Reducing your restaurant's overall energy consumption not only lowers your utility costs , it's also better for the environment. Many food service professionals have been adopting energy conservation methods for the past decade and have drastically cut their energy use and expenses. Here, we've outlined energy conservation tips that will reduce your water and electricity use. 5 Energy Conservation Methods It can be easier than you think to reduce energy consumption in your kitchen with our energy-saving methods! Here are our top 5 tips for conserving energy in your business. 1. Use Energy Efficient Equipment Commercial equipment contributes a great deal to your restaurant energy consumption, but your restaurant equipment doesn't have to guzzle resources. Many manufacturers offer equipment that uses a fraction of the energy of their other models, and switching to those designs could save your business thousands of dollars per year. High Efficiency Fryers - Upgrading your deep fryer to an energy-efficient model will not only save you money on utilities, it will save you money on fryer oil as well. New high-efficiency fryer models experience less scorching which extends the life of your oil. High Efficiency Dish Machines - Using an Energy Star certified dish machine can save an average of $1,500 annually when compared to a standard model. Energy Star Rebates - Not only does Energy Star certified equipment use much less energy than standard equipment, it might also qualify you for a rebate. Incentives and rebates vary depending on your location, so make sure to check the Energy Star website.
By Danica A September 1, 2021
Hotel guests have come to seek out and even expect food options during their stay, whether it be from an on-site restaurant, room service , or a complimentary continental breakfast. If you’re looking to open your own hotel, you may be wondering what is included in a continental breakfast and how hoteliers can offer it for free. We explored the origin of this breakfast style, continental menu options, along with some other breakfast selections you may be interested in using for your hospitality business". Continental Breakfast Definition A continental breakfast is a light morning meal typically consisting of pastries and baked goods, fruits, toast, and coffee. It is usually served buffet-style and modeled after the European breakfast, similar to what one would enjoy in France or the Mediterranean. Continental breakfasts emphasize simplicity and focus on foods that can easily be stocked. Continental Breakfast Menu Here are some of the options that a continental breakfast consists of: Baked Goods / Pastries Fruits Bread Jams and Spreads Coffee Tea Hot Chocolate Juice Optional: Breakfast cereals, eggs, meats, sliced cheese, porridge or oatmeal Why Is It Called a Continental Breakfast? The term “continental breakfast” refers to the continent of Europe and the style of breakfast enjoyed in European cultures. The term first appeared in 1896 as a result of the turning of the century. Prior to the 1800s, the most common American jobs involved farm work and demanded a high-calorie breakfast to start the day. However, as the country headed into the 1900s, the average job became more sedentary and emerging middle-class workers sought out a lighter morning option. At the same time, more and more European travelers were visiting America and staying in hotels. The hotels responded in kind by adding a light breakfast option to their menu that their European customers would appreciate.
By Danica A August 1, 2021
Whether you’re building a brand new restaurant or looking to remodel, it’s important to consider your options when it comes to what type of cooking equipment will be best for your business. Induction cooking has grown in popularity over the years, but the way it works and the benefits of using it are still a mystery to many. Keep reading to learn what induction cooking is and why it’s a popular choice amongst many restaurateurs. What Is an Induction Cooktop? An induction cooktop is a cooking surface that heats by transferring currents from an electromagnetic field located below the glass surface directly to the magnetic induction cookware placed above. Unlike thermal conduction, it heats this cookware directly without the need for a flame or burner. Because there is no heating of a separate element, an induction cooktop can heat cookware faster than any other medium. How Does Induction Cooking Work? While gas and electric stoves heat cookware indirectly by first heating a coil, burner, or producing a flame, induction cooking provides direct heat to the cookware which then passes the radiant energy on to the food. Instead of a heating element, magnets are used to stimulate the atoms inside your cookware and heat the pot or pan.
By Danica A July 1, 2021
There are two major factors that customers consider when choosing a restaurant: ambiance and price . Those factors are also the key difference between fine dining and casual dining experiences. Knowing what your customer base is looking for can play an important part in your establishment’s success. If you're thinking about starting a restaurant, selecting the right path is crucial. We're here to compare the differences and key details of both casual and fine dining to help you determine the identity of your future restaurant! What Is the Difference Between Fine Dining and Casual Dining? The difference between fine dining and casual dining has to do with their ambiance and prices. Fine dining or formal dining restaurants offer an upscale setting and service while featuring unique and often more expensive menu options, with checks averaging over $50. A casual dining establishment provides a more laid-back atmosphere with more moderately-priced meal selections. It’s important to define what style of establishment you will be opening before you get started. 
By Danica A June 1, 2021
A poorly designed restaurant kitchen can cause chaos and may even cause accidents. As a result, when starting a new restaurant or re-designing your existing business, you should think through your kitchen design carefully. Considerations Before Designing a Commercial Kitchen Before you start designing your restaurant's kitchen, you need to think about work flow and the essential pieces in your kitchen because different restaurant concepts will have different needs. For example, a contemporary bistro will need different equipment and designs than a fast food establishment. As a result, before you start planning any kitchen layouts, you should consider all of the equipment your restaurant will need, all of the essential stations, and how food will flow through your kitchen. Six Principles of Commercial Kitchen Design Regardless of what type of foodservice establishment you have, there are several objectives for designing a kitchen properly. According to the Certified Food Service Professionals handbook, there are six guidelines you should follow when creating a commercial kitchen design.
More Posts
Share by: