Choosing Commercial Kitchen Equipment

Those who are setting up a commercial kitchen for the first time and are looking into buying the right kitchen equipment may wish to consider the following tips:

Oven – the right oven for commercial purposes can be either gas or electric. The main advantage of gas ovens is that you can turn the heat on and off quickly, whereas electric ovens take a longer time to heat up. However, gas ovens need more ventilation because, unlike electric ovens, they emit carbon monoxide. Likewise, gas ovens emit more secondary heat than electric ovens, which is another reason why gas ovens need more ventilation.

Refrigeration – the main purpose of refrigerators is to remove heat from an area. Heavier duty refrigerators can remove more heat, and one with a remote condenser can take away much of the heat from a larger area. Smaller areas may be served by a single unit refrigerator with its own compressor and condenser.

Range – just as with ovens, the right range may also either be gas or electric, but gas ranges are preferred because they heat up much more quickly than electric ranges. In setting up your gas range, you need to comply with local codes on safety and environment regulations. Most codes require a ventilation hood for areas over open flames. 

Rudimentary Information on Starting a Catering Business

If many of your family and friends call upon your cooking expertise when they are having a dinner party and many of them RSVP right away when you have a dinner party of your own, it may be a good idea to consider establishing a catering business. With a catering business, you get to share your expert cooking talents and skills with more people—and expect a significant profit as a result. Starting a catering business may be easier than starting a restaurant business since your home can serve as your headquarters, but it's certainly not a walk in the park.

For one, you need to choose the right catering equipment to ensure that you deliver superb dishes without fail. Secondhand kitchen equipment may seem practical since they are not as costly as brand-new ones. However, if you wish for this business to have legs and maybe become your main source of income, it's best to invest in brand-new, first-rate catering equipment from reputable providers of kitchen equipment.

Whatever equipment you choose, however, they don't have to be large-scale at once, especially if space is an issue. There are numerous options for scaled down kitchen essentials such as mini-microwave ovens and others. Also, don't force yourself to have an all-encompassing menu available right away; give yourself time to get a feel of what running the business is like, and stick to what you do best before expanding your menu.

On the Rising Popularity of Street Food

The street food craze that has been sweeping many areas of the United States is quickly taking over the cities of Australia as well. The city governments of Adelaide and Sydney, in particular, have commissioned several food carts and food vans that offer unique options to traditional take-out foods. In addition to this, the varied menus dished out by street food vendors are giving everyone a chance to sample a wide array of cuisines and flavors

The most popular street food in Australia is the “sausage sizzle', which consists of a sausage or steak served on a slice of bread, then topped with cheese, onions, and various condiments. Greek food such as kebabs and souvlakis are all the rage in Melbourne, while ethnic and vegetarian foods are finding their ways onto the streets of Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

The emergence of street food in Australia has also given would-be restaurateurs, who might not have the right resources to set up a standard dining establishment, an opportunity to present and sell their culinary creations to the public. One of the primary considerations of a street food operator is the kind of kitchen equipment they would need to prepare their food. Some of the most common equipment used by street food vendors include flat top grills and fryers, which should ideally run on propane rather than electricity. Mobility, as well as the size of the vehicle, should be considered when a street food operator shops around for the right kitchen equipment.

Buffet all the Way: The Beauty of Preparing Food in Advance

Restaurateurs and party hosts are quite aware of the various reasons why, in some cases, preparing food upon order just won’t work. One such reason is that a small crew of chefs might find it difficult to prepare enough meals within a reasonable amount of time to satisfy numerous guests. For instance, it can be difficult to attend to the needs of every demanding diner when there are dozens of others still waiting for their orders to arrive.

The concept of the buffet was born out of this necessity. It’s a system of serving food where the dishes are prepared beforehand and then laid out on a long table where diners can put as much food as they want on their plates. This system also allows guests to return for seconds or even thirds without having to wait for food to arrive.

The beauty of buffet service is that patrons can help themselves to food in a more relaxed setup. Diners are simply called to take their own plates and utensils, then allowed to pick from the array of dishes laid out before them. All the waitstaff needs to do is to collect used utensils and plates, as well as refill emptying buffet bowls and trays. Serving food can be quite a chore, but setting up a buffet can save substantial time and effort, all while indulging the appetites of very hungry guests.

Why It Is Important to Invest in Quality Equipment for Your Kitchen

The proof of the pudding is in the eating—so goes the popular idiomatic expression that goes all the way back to Medieval times. Even the least complicated recipe, when executed properly, can be considered a true culinary gem. Yet aside from the right recipe and technique, one must also use proper kitchen equipment.

When it comes to commercial food preparation, the types of tools used can make all the difference between mediocrity and superior quality. After all, if you can't achieve the right cooking temperature or optimum mixer speed, it can be hard to arrive at the desired outcome. As such, chefs and even amateur cooks know that it is crucial to invest in durable and reliable kitchen equipment.

Running a restaurant when you've got substandard equipment is like performing a lab experiment with defective or badly worn implements. You're only inviting disaster, and you're likely to leave your customers downright dissatisfied. So if you're looking to replace an old oven, an inefficient freezer, or whatnot, you might want to source replacement equipment from reputable vendors.

Whether you're a Michelin three-star chef or a simple home cook who loves to host great dinner parties, you certainly won't regret investing in quality and world-class kitchen tools and appliances. That said, it also to pays to choose your vendor carefully.

Advice When Entering a Catering Business

People who have a knack for cooking naturally think about sharing their talent by venturing into catering, the business of providing food service to events like weddings, conventions, and banquets. If you feel you are ready to enter the exciting and rewarding world of catering, it helps to remember the following advice.

• Specialization – to set yourself apart from the competition, you need to find your niche, whether it's in vegan cuisine or specialty cocktails, to name a few; although smaller towns demand you to be a jack of all trades, it is more lucrative to know and stick to what your edge is

• Logistics – the start-up cost of a catering business is low since you can initially outsource and rent supplies like tables, utensils, and linens; moreover, take into consideration how you will transport food and how you will maintain the temperature, especially if the site has no kitchen available

• Marketing – since you have no retail space, marketing and branding are critical in this business; a website, where potential clients can know more about you and your history and perhaps hire you for a gathering, is a vital tool; nevertheless, have a professional web designer create it

These are just some of the things to consider once you start your own catering company. If you are organized, far-sighted, and patient enough, the aroma of your cooking will soon enough reach them, and the cash piles eventually will come in.

BBQ Time: Tips for Choosing a Grill

If you grew up on backyard barbecue treats on summer weekends and loved watching your dad flip burger patties, steaks, or hotdogs, then you can't have a house of your own and not have a grill. Given today's innovations in cooking equipment, modern grills are much more efficient and convenient to use. Therefore, while scouting for your grill options, here are some tips for you to keep in mind:

Choose the right style.

Of course, you'd want a grill that would look nice in your yard or outdoor kitchen. Although the grill's appearance doesn't affect the taste of the barbecue, having a grill that matches your home's architecture, and complements the landscaping can be aesthetically pleasing. You'll need to think about grill color, size, and style before making a purchase.

Look for useful features.

Depending on your reasons for buying a grill, there are several considerations for you to ponder on. Examine grill features, such as storage options, size of the cooking surface, and extra burners, and determine whether you need them or not. Go for a grill that will make every grilling session quick and easy.

Set a budget.

Grill prices can range anywhere from $200 to $4,000. Needless to say, the more money you shell out, the better your grill will be. However, always avoid the temptation of spending beyond your budget because you might end up with a fancy grill but no money left to buy anything to barbecue.