Best Restaurant Equipment of 2017

Any commercial kitchen needs a wide range of equipment to flourish. The following is a list of high-quality kitchen equipment that will help your restaurant’s kitchen reach its full potential:

1) Duke E102-G Double Deck Gas Convection Oven

Whether you want to bake cookies or roast a turkey, it’s important to use a reliable commercial convection oven that consistently achieves your desired results. The Duke E-102-G double deck gas convection oven is a perfect option for restaurants that demand the best. Boasting a two-speed fan that circulates hot air and ensures even cooking throughout its chamber, this convection oven has two decks that each hold up to 5 pans. The unit’s thermostatic dial control allows you to program a specific temperature between 200°F-500°F. Featuring glass doors that let you and your staff monitor food as it cooks, this commercial oven also has a built-in gas regulator that ensures it’s always using the right amount of gas. This will help keep your foodservice’s overhead as low as possible.

2) Pitco SG14-S Gas Fryer

Perfect for frying shrimp, dough, chicken, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and French fries, a Pitco SG14-S gas fryer has a 50 lb. fat capacity and is ideal for lower-volume commercial kitchens. The commercial fryer comes equipped with two nickel-plated fry baskets that make it easy to fry different foods simultaneously. Boasting 5 tube-style burners that evenly heat your frying oil, this Pitco fryer can reach temperatures up to 450°F. The unit is made entirely of stainless steel for optimal durability. Since the fryer is only 16" wide, it’s compact enough to conveniently fit between other kitchen equipment.

3) Traulsen G20010 2-Section Reach-In Refrigerator

Offering 46 cubic feet of storage space, this Traulsen G20010 commercial reach-in refrigerator is Energy Star-certified and can help you reduce operating costs. Its two storage sections boast 2" of foamed insulation and benefit from self-closing hinged doors. These features help ensure the commercial refrigerator always keeps its contents cold and well-preserved. Whether you need to store milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, meats, sauces, or more, this refrigerator can get the job done. Equipped with four bottom-mounted casters that enable easy mobility, it also comes with three adjustable epoxy-coated shelves per section. If you need to keep the doors open to clean the refrigerator’s interior, there is a stay-open feature that activates when doors open past the 120° mark.

4) Robot Coupe BLIXER 4 Food Processor

While most of the other items on this list will help you cook food, the Robot Coupe Blixer 4 Food Processor will make food prep easier than ever. The simple-to-use unit features a 1-1/2 HP motor and three buttons: “on,” “off,” and “pulse.” Perfect for making pesto, curry paste, hummus and nut butter, this food processor can also grind meat and vegetables or chop nuts. With a 4.5 qt. capacity, this stainless steel commercial food processor has a clear lid that enables you to monitor the unit’s grinding, mixing, or chopping. The single-speed food processor conveniently comes with a serrated “S” blade for optimal convenience.

5) Amana HDC212 Heavy-Duty Commercial Microwave

The Amana HDC212 microwave boasts 2100W of heating power. Featuring 11 unique power levels, 100 program menu settings, and 4 stages of cooking, this heavy-duty unit is easy to use and versatile enough to accommodate changing menus. The microwave is ideal for high-volume restaurants and is constructed of stainless steel that ensures long-term durability. Capable of fitting half-size food pans or large take-out containers, this heavy-duty microwave has a spacious interior that’s well-lit and ideal for steaming or reheating meals. A transparent door makes it easy to monitor food as it cooks, and a vent hood is not required with this easy-to-install Amana microwave.

6) Red Goat A3P-R7 A Series Food Disposer

The Red Goat A3P-R7 Food Disposer can help your foodservice reduce the amount of money it spends on garbage services. This disposer has the capacity to process up to 1480 lbs of waste per hour and helps improve the environment. Ideal for medium-sized restaurants, the commercial food disposer boasts 3 Horse Power and comes equipped with a flexible drain connecter that attaches to a metal or PVC drain line. A thermal overload protection feature ensures the long-term functioning of this unit, and the disposer’s stainless steel construction provides superior durability.

7) Rational B628206.19E 42" Combi Oven - Natural Gas

The Rational B628206.19E combi oven is a steamer and convection oven all in one. Perfect for steaming vegetables, baking cookies, or roasting meat, this 42"W SelfCooking Center fits conveniently atop counters and can hold (6) 18" x 26" or (12) 12" x 20" sheet pans. The unit offers 7 unique cooking modes and features sensors that ensure your food is always cooked according to your precise preferences. An easy-to-use touch screen means the learning curve to operate this machine is minimal. Energy Star-certified, this combi oven can help your foodservice reduce operating costs. The commercial oven includes a retractable hand shower that makes it easy to clean the oven’s chamber of any grease or food debris. Offering overnight and unsupervised self-cleaning, the unit features 7 cleaning stages for comprehensive care.  A reversing-wheel 5-speed fan efficiently circulates air within the oven’s chamber.

8) Electrolux 502315 High-Temp Undercounter Dishwasher

Keep your dinnerware, flatware, and beverageware clean with this Electrolux 502315 undercounter dishwasher. Capable of cleaning up to 30 racks per hour, this high temp commercial dishwasher features a built-in booster heater and always reaches an optimal cleaning temperature of 180°F. The Energy Star 2.0-certified unit is extremely efficient, as it uses only 0.8 gallons of water per rack. Insulated door and side panels minimize heat loss, and double skin insulation helps reduce unwanted noise. Draining water after each cycle by using an automatic fill tank, this Electrolux dishwasher always uses new wash water with each cycle. An exterior digital display shows water temperature and cycle status.

9) Ice-o-Matic ICEU220HA Undercounter Ice Cube Maker

Ideal for bars and pubs, the Ice-o-Matic ICEU220HA ice maker easily fits beneath counters and provides easy access for busy servers and bartenders. Energy Star-certified, this commercial ice machine can make up to 238 lbs of half-size ice cubes per day and store as much as 70 lbs. Equipped with an antimicrobial-coated interior that ensures it remains sanitary, this ice cube maker has a Harvest assist feature that automatically transfers fresh ice into its storage area.

Although there is no special formula to designing a productive foodservice kitchen, using quality commercial cooking equipment certainly goes a long way.  The aforementioned products alone won’t create a thriving kitchen, but they can certainly provide a solid foundation for success.