What catering equipment is needed for schools?
To help you understand the requirements of a school kitchen, we’ve put together this school catering buying guide. We’ve covered what catering equipment is needed for schools, the school food equipment you’ll need to create popular recipes and the cleaning and storage solutions you require.
We understand that designing a school kitchen is a complex process because we’ve partnered with schools across the country for over 50 years. Read on to discover all you need to know.
Refrigeration
Commercial fridges will help you keep the food you’re preparing fresh. Whether you choose a counter fridge or an upright fridge will depend on the number of portions you need to serve each day. Generally though, the majority of schools need an upright fridge.
Due to their vast internal capacities, upright fridges are a favourite of large-scale catering establishments like schools. In a school kitchen, multiple chefs will need access to food while cooking and preparing dishes. Depending on the access you require, you can decide between single door, double door or slimline fridges.
However, if the design of your commercial kitchen means you’re struggling for space, then several commercial counter fridges may be a better option for you. These can either be integrated in an under-counter capacity, or you can opt for a 2-in-1 refrigerator-worktop solution that offers you additional surface space for food preparation. Thanks to their versatile racking systems, commercial counter fridges can offer just as much capacity as an upright fridge.
Another consideration is the heat of the kitchen you’re working in. Busy kitchens get hot quickly, with many school kitchens regularly reaching 32ºC during service. So, you’ll need to make sure your refrigerator contains an efficient fan that keeps your ingredients and food cold while also keeping running costs as low as possible.
Finally, if you’re preparing large batches of food in advance, then you may also need to invest in a blast chiller. This can reduce food from 90ºC to 3ºC in less than 90 minutes, ensuring you exceed food safety legislation and achieve HACCP compliance.
Freezers
When it comes to commercial freezers for a school kitchen, upright, under-counter and chest options are available. The best option for your school kitchen will depend on the space you have available and the amount of food you need to freeze on-site.
Dishwashers
In a busy school kitchen, speed, simplicity, reliability and wash quality are all vital. Thankfully, commercial dishwashers can make sure dishes never pile up.
With under-counter dishwashers, pass through dishwashers and freshwater, tank and thermal disinfection options, you won’t struggle to find a dishwasher that meets your requirements.
Start by considering the size of the dishwasher you need. While some smaller options will wash 200 dishes per hour, others can wash thousands. Similarly, some dishwashers have cycles that are as short as 90 seconds – this is perfect in a school kitchen where hundreds of children are eating lunch simultaneously.
Remember, in a school kitchen, meeting food safety and hygiene standards is essential. A commercial dishwasher can help you meet and exceed any requirements.
Food warmers
Finally, you also need to consider the kitchen furniture you’ll need to incorporate into the design of your school kitchen. Modular worktops, stands and pedestals can all be used to maximise prep and storage space while also complementing your other school food equipment.
Kitchen furniture
Finally, you also need to consider the kitchen furniture you’ll need to incorporate into the design of your school kitchen. Modular worktops, stands and pedestals can all be used to maximise prep and storage space while also complementing your other school food equipment.
Popular meals and the school food equipment they require
In modern schools, there’s a huge focus on supplying children with healthy and nutritious meals. This means that few popular recipes include the need for specialist pieces of equipment like fryers.
Now, popular school meals include:
- Pies made with high-quality meat or poultry
- Jacket potatoes
- Meatballs in tomato sauce
- Baked salmon with herbs and rice
- Vegetarian nuggets and wedges
- Cottage pie with vegetables
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Roast dinners with vegetables
- Lasagne with chips and salad
- Beef burritos
- Burger in a bun with chips and salad
- Cheese and vegetable pasta
- Fish and chips
- Sausage and mash
The one thing that the majority of these meals have in common is that they can be prepared in bulk and served in large batches. Similarly, almost all of these meals can be cooked using convection ovens and combination ovens before being stored in a Bain Marie or hot cupboard until the children arrive.
Although the preparation aspect of creating these meals is vast and you require lots of refrigeration space, the cooking process will be relatively straightforward if you invest in quality school food equipment. Doing this will also make the day-to-day lives of your kitchen staff far simpler and will ensure that quality and nutritious meals are prepared on a daily basis.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our school catering buying guide. Partner with us and you’ll benefit from over 50 years of experience. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you set up a school kitchen that suits staff members, pupils and kitchen staff alike. Our experts would love to help deliver the critical equipment solution that’s right for you.
Download the JLA education sector brochure
Take a look at our detailed brochure for more information on how JLA can help the education sector.
- An overview on how JLA can help the education sector
- Sustainability and ESG
- Laundry, catering, HVAC and fire safety products
- Digital support
- Network of engineers
- Purchase options, including Total Care
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