While good people are always the secret to commercial kitchen success, having the right equipment in place is the best way to ensure you serve consistent quality and keep up with demand – especially during peak times. And even though every site will be different, most commercial kitchens will still rely on the same core machines to keep service moving.
Below, we take a look at the most common equipment you’ll find in a modern commercial kitchen – including systems for cooking, refrigeration, and speedy warewashing, as well as other appliances that will help to prep and safely hold food before you serve up.
Essential cooking equipment
Whatever the menu, your kitchen’s commercial catering equipment will need to be versatile, dependable, and built to handle almost constant use.
Range and combi ovens
When it comes to planning a new kitchen scheme or upgrading an ageing setup, a heavy-duty oven will usually be the very first item on the list. Not only will it be a workhorse for most teams, but it will also be the most versatile system you use. A range oven combines plenty of hob space with oven capacity below, giving your chefs the flexibility to boil, fry, roast and bake without needing anything extra.
Combi ovens combine steam, convection and combi cooking in one unit, giving you far more flexibility to steam, roast and cook multiple food types at once, all with consistent results. JLA’s Energy Star-rated combi range has been designed to improve control while reduce running costs, thanks to energy-saving features like triple-glazed doors.
Fryers and grills
Essential for quick turnarounds, fryers will be another key investment for most commercial kitchens, with countertop and floor-standing options offering different options, depending on space and capacity needs. Commercial grills and hobs then add essential functionality and flexibility, while specialist pizza ovens provide a dedicated solution for authentic-quality pizzas and fast baking.
Hobs, bratt pans and cooktops
If your kitchen needs extra flexibility, commercial hobs, cooktops and bratt pans can all help to expand capacity. In recent years, we’ve seen induction hobs growing in popularity thanks to their fast, safe performance, energy efficiency and ease of cleaning – and we only expect this trend to continue.
It’s also worth saying that many of appliances are available in modular versions, which come into their own in smaller kitchens and mobile catering settings, where space is limited. JLA’s modular range includes countertop and free-standing units with compact widths, making it even easier to design a kitchen layout that works for the space you have available.
Refrigeration equipment
Fridges and freezers are another set of commercial kitchen essentials. Without these units, your teams will find it far harder to protect your valuable ingredients, preserve food quality, and stay compliant with those all-important safety standards.
Commercial fridges and freezers
Most kitchens will need a combination of fridges and freezers to store fresh, chilled and frozen stock. Unlike smaller, less powerful domestic appliances, these commercial models are designed to cope with high ambient temperatures and constant use. JLA’s commercial fridges and freezers, as an example, can operate in temperatures up to 43°C, making them dependable even when the heat is on.
If you prepare food in advance, blast chillers might be another important part of your setup. These freezers rapidly reduce the temperature of hot food, helping you maintain quality and guarantee HACCP compliance.
Cleaning equipment
In a busy kitchen, clearing up and cleaning down is just as important as cooking – and that’s where warewashing equipment comes into its own.
Undercounter dishwashers
For kitchens and bars where space is at a premium, an undercounter dishwasher offers a compact footprint while still delivering speedy cleaning, helping to keep glasses, plates and cutlery in service.
If you’re running a kitchen where demand is high, you might want to consider a larger passthrough dishwasher. Some of these models can process hundreds of items per hour, with cycle times from as little as one minute.
JLA’s warewashing range includes undercounter dishwashers, passthrough units, utensil washers and glasswashers, all designed for speed, simplicity and reliable performance.
Other equipment
Alongside cooking, cooling and cleaning, most commercial kitchens need a few extra pieces of equipment to support day-to-day service.
Hot cupboards and bain maries
Trusted in a number of sectors, hot cupboards and bain maries help to keep your finished dishes at the right temperature before service, maintaining quality and consistency.
Ice machines and food display
For hospitality venues in particular, front-of-house equipment is another important investment. Kit here might include ice machines, bottle coolers and salad counters, which keep food and drink fresh and looking their best.
Can we take care of it for you?
JLA offers a full range of commercial catering equipment, from combi ovens and range cookers right through to refrigeration and warewashing appliances. Plus, our unique, all-inclusive Total Care package gives you access to market-leading equipment with nothing to pay upfront, plus installation, servicing, repairs and 24/7 breakdown support, for one simple monthly fee.
For help designing and fitting out a more efficient, more reliable commercial kitchen, please don’t hesitate to contact our experts today.
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