Essential Tips to Keep in Mind When Buying Restaurant Equipment

Starting a new restaurant or catering business is both exhilarating and daunting. There is just so much to do and so many items to purchase in a short time. The equipment for your kitchen will be one of the most expensive purchases you will make.

To get started, you will need refrigerators, food warmers, catering utensils, restaurant soup bowls, prep stations, steamers, cooking surfaces, and more, depending on your menu and the style of the restaurant.

Tips On Purchasing Restaurant Equipment & Commercial Kitchen Utensils

While it is simple to purchase a large quantity of equipment or wholesale catering supplies, you will get the most bang for your buck if you pause and consider the following considerations before purchasing commercial kitchen utensils and equipment:

1. Determine your exact need

Although it may be tempting to add that new piece of equipment and purchase all of the latest equipment for your new restaurant, it is prudent to examine your existing equipment (or the other equipment that you will be acquiring) to ensure that there is no duplication.

 Many pieces of kitchen equipment, such as a combined convection oven and steamer or a prep station with an additional shelf for storage, may fulfill many purposes.

2. Check the available space

Although it may appear simple, ensuring that your new equipment will fit in the allocated place when it comes is critical. You do not want to have to remodel your kitchen or, worse, return the equipment because you incorrectly assessed it.

3. Necessary to buy new equipment

While purchasing used equipment from an auction house or a closed restaurant can help you save money, you should pay great attention to the age and condition of the used equipment before making a purchase. Prep stations and other non-electric and mechanical items may be worthwhile investments, but older electrical kitchen equipment may be more expensive and more likely to malfunction without a warranty. Your savings from purchasing old equipment could be completely wiped out by one pricey repair on something crucial like an ice machine. Additionally, newer equipment is probably going to last longer than used equipment.

Also Read: Advantages of Ordering Catering Supplies Online

4. Simplicity

A piece of equipment with fewer electronic and mechanical parts is typically a superior alternative, despite the allure of the newest bells, whistles, and electronic control panels. When/if they stop functioning correctly, all of those electronic parts could add up to a significant repair price while making the machine less functional.

5. Check local health codes

Your restaurant's area may have different health, fire, and building codes. To mention a few instances, these codes may impact how close particular pieces of equipment can be to one another, where they should be placed concerning exits and public spaces, and how big the units must be to accommodate the workforce you plan to hire.

Violations of these regulations can result in substantial fines, the need to redesign your kitchen, and, in severe circumstances, the closure of your establishment.

Also Read: 9 Things You Should Buy at Restaurant Supply Stores

6. Style

Last but not least, it is a beautiful idea to spend some time thinking about the design and appearance of your new restaurant catering supplies. You probably want the new equipment to look similar to the old ones.

The Conclusion

Make sure you invest in high-quality commercial kitchen equipment and restaurant catering supplies to get the best results. Restaurant Supply Drop is a one-stop shop for wholesale to-go food containers, custom printed restaurant supplies, coffee shop supplies, take-out boxes, frozen yogurt supplies, and bubble tea supplies