All Kitchen Equipment for Restaurants | The Ultimate List

Are you considering opening a restaurant?

Are you thinking about what equipment you need for a restaurant kitchen?

When opening a restaurant, there are many important things to do. You have to choose a location, design, hire staff, and so on.

Similarly, buying the right equipment for your kitchen is also crucial to opening a restaurant.

Therefore, we have listed all the necessary kitchen equipment for your restaurant. Having all these tools will give you a solid foundation to operate your kitchen efficiently.

We also categorize all the different types of tools according to their purpose. This will help you stay organized when buying these tools. Here is a list of equipment needed in a commercial restaurant kitchen:

Cooking equipment
Oven
range
ventilate
grilled
Refrigeration equipment
Freezer and refrigerator
Ice machine
Beverage dispenser
Storage equipment
Kitchen shelving
Storage container
Food preparation equipment
Food processor
Food preparation counter
Sound console
microtome
agitator
Little useful tool
Cleaning tool
Kitchen sink
Commercial dishwasher
Electronic equipment
Restaurant management software
Printer and kitchen display system
Let's start with the list.

Cooking equipment

Obviously, cooking equipment is crucial to every restaurant kitchen.

But what kind of cooking equipment is right for your restaurant?

When choosing cooking equipment, make sure you recognize which equipment your employees will be using most often. Don't hesitate to spend money on quality equipment. Otherwise, it could cost your restaurant more money in the long run.

Here is a list of basic equipment for cooking:

Step 1: Oven
It's obvious; Every kitchen needs an oven.

But what type of oven do you need?

It depends on the type of meal your restaurant serves.

Oven use
There are many types of ovens:

Commercial oven: For general commercial use. Every restaurant kitchen needs at least one of these ovens.
Convection oven: Used for baking pastries, pies, breads, etc.
Combination ovens: can be used for many cooking methods, such as grilling, grilling, frying and baking.
Pizza oven: Used to make pizzas and even desserts.
Choose at least one commercial oven. You can choose other special ovens according to the requirements of the restaurant.

Here are some factors to consider:

Oven size
The oven takes up a lot of floor space in the kitchen. Therefore, you need to calculate the kitchen space before you buy the oven. Keep in mind how much food your restaurant needs to cook each day and make decisions based on that.

Oven quality
There are many good brands of ovens. Before buying a particular brand of oven, make sure you check the user reviews of the oven on the Internet.

  1. Kitchen area
    Just like the oven, these are essential for the restaurant. They allow you to cook a variety of recipes.

What's the difference between a kitchen stove and a stove?

Kitchen cooktops are usually integrated with ovens. A stove is a cooker without an oven.

There are two types of kitchen range:

Gas: These ranges offer faster cooking speeds. The disadvantage is that there is a risk of fire and accidents. They're also harder to clean.
Electric: These ranges are easy to use and clean. However, they are slower and can result in high electricity bills.
Step 3 Ventilate
Every commercial kitchen must have a strong ventilation system. A good ventilation system ensures good air quality throughout the restaurant. Without proper ventilation, your employees may experience health problems. Therefore, no compromise should be made when building ventilation systems.

First, when building the ventilation system, you need to consider the layout of the restaurant kitchen. For example, you should have vents above stoves and fryers to suck up all the oil and smoke from cooking. Conversely, you probably don't need to put a vent over your kitchen sink.

The following other factors need to be considered when choosing a ventilation system:

Air volume flow
dimension
Electrical efficiency
noise
Step 4 Grill
Steaks and burgers are delicious! If you want to offer them to customers, you'll need a grill.

However, one of the major problems with having grills is that they take up space. If you have an outdoor space, such as a terrace, you can easily use a commercial grill. Otherwise, you will have to use an indoor grill.

If you plan to use an indoor grill, make sure to design your kitchen layout and ventilation system so that it can handle.

Note: If grilling is not very important to your restaurant, you can always use a multipurpose oven that can grill food. Do this if your restaurant occasionally requires the use of a grill.

  1. Microwave
    This multifunctional device is very useful for restaurant kitchens. You can use it to defrost any frozen ingredients or reheat prepared food. It is best to keep the microwave in a commercial kitchen.
  2. Other useful cooking equipment
    We've talked about essential cooking equipment. Now, let's look at a list of some other helpful cooking equipment:

Deep fryer: Used to make fried food, such as French fries, chicken tender meat, etc.
Insulated cabinets: Used to keep food at a certain temperature before preparing or serving it.
Toaster: For many breakfasts.
Coffee maker: Even if you don't plan to open a cafe, coffee is a popular beverage that your restaurant should use. Order breakfast often.
Refrigeration equipment

When choosing a refrigerator and freezer, there are three most important questions to ask:

Capacity - How much food does your restaurant need to store?
Shape - Does it fit your kitchen layout? Is it too big
Cost - How much do you need to invest?
Step 1: Refrigerator
You need to invest in quality freezers and refrigerators to keep your food and ingredients fresh.

Refrigerators and freezers are essential for proper inventory management and cost savings. For example, if you buy 50 kg of raw chicken in bulk and freeze it, it will reduce the cost.

Before buying a freezer, you first need to consider the following:

Size of your restaurant kitchen
How much food you will need to store
Your budget
Tip: Choose a refrigerator that is easy for your employees to use and use at all times.

There are two types of freezers:

"Reach-in" freezers: These are regular commercial freezers. They are perfect for small and medium-sized restaurants.
"Walk-in" freezers: This is the largest type of commercial freezers. They provide a lot of space, but generally, only larger restaurants need to use them.
The same logic applies to choosing a refrigerator. The selection size depends on the amount of ingredients you need to store.

Before choosing a freezer/refrigerator, make sure you check reviews of the brand on the Internet.

  1. Ice machine
    Ice machines aren't just for bars. Assume that most of your customers have ordered a glass of lemonade or cold water; Having an ice maker would be convenient. Look for an instant ice maker that can supply ice to your employees at any time.
  2. Drink dispenser
    If you are planning to open a fast food restaurant, consider purchasing a self-service beverage machine for your customers. It will be profitable for your restaurant and is easy to manage and maintain.

Storage equipment


Storage space is one of the most important aspects of any kitchen. Just like choosing refrigeration equipment, there are some issues to consider when buying:

Storage Capacity - How much storage does your restaurant need?
Shape - Does it fit your kitchen layout?
Cost - How much? Will it be a worthwhile investment?

  1. Kitchen shelving
    These are usually one-time investments, as it is unlikely that the storage racks will be replaced in the future unless you are planning a full refurbishment. Therefore, your kitchen shelf must be organized and durable.

There are many different materials to choose from when building a storage space for your kitchen: stainless steel, chrome wire, polymers, antibacterial agents, etc. Which you choose depends on your budget and personal preferences.

An organized storage system is essential for every kitchen. It makes it easier and more efficient for your employees to use a variety of appliances, appliances and ingredients. Store frequently used items so you can find them quickly and easily. You can store infrequently used items in the bottom rack. When designing a commercial kitchen layout, it is important to plan the storage system.

If you need to move storage space from time to time, you can also use a mobile storage rack with a regular rack. They offer more convenience and are ideal for storing and transporting food.

  1. Storage containers
    Storage containers have many uses in the kitchen. You can use them to store many things, such as fresh vegetables, mixed sauces, sugar, and dry foods (such as pasta, rice, and flour).

Here are some types of containers you should have for your kitchen:

Vegetable storage container: Used to keep vegetables fresh.
Small kitchen jar: Used to store small amounts of ingredients, such as sugar and coffee.
Medium sized airtight box: Used to store dough for baking pastries or other desserts.
Large airtight container: for storing dry ingredients such as flour or rice.
Note: Choose a storage container that is transparent or allows you to label or color code it easily. Labeling containers will save your staff a lot of time and keep your kitchen organized.

Food preparation equipment

For food preparation equipment, different restaurants will require different tools depending on the type of food they are cooking. We will discuss the basic equipment required for most restaurants:

  1. Food processor
    Food processors are essential equipment in busy restaurant kitchens. It makes many basic processes faster and easier, such as slicing, shredding, shredding, grinding and mixing.

There are several different types of food processors you can purchase:

A. Common "batch" food processors
This is most commonly used in domestic kitchens. It has a large bowl in which you can put food ingredients, close the lid and run the machine.

B. Continuous food processor
With these types of food processors, you can continuously pour out food while the machine is running. Processed food is collected in a separate bowl. It's perfect for commercial kitchens because your employees don't have to wait while handling food.

C. Heavy processors
They are sturdy machines that can even cut meat. However, most restaurant kitchens don't need it.

  1. Food preparation counter
    Food preparation counters, tables and cutting boards are essential to any restaurant kitchen. Your restaurant staff will be using it a lot, so you'll need to invest in a versatile and durable table.

Stainless steel food counters are a great choice for any restaurant. These tables are durable, anti-microbial, and can be easily cleaned with chemicals. Also, for convenience, keep the small refrigerator under the counter.

When choosing a cutting board, you can choose plastic or wood. We recommend using durable plastic plates that are non-porous, which makes it harder for bacteria to survive. They're also easier to clean. It's also beneficial to change your cutting board regularly, as bacteria can easily grow on it if it gets cracked.

Note: Please color code the cutting board according to the type of food you are using. For example, you can mark the board red for meat, green for vegetables, yellow for dairy products, and so on. This prevents cross-contamination.

Step 3: Blender
If your restaurant sells baked goods such as cakes, pizzas, breads or pastries, you will need to purchase a commercial food blender.

Here are some types of commercial mixers available for restaurant kitchens:

A. Hand-held mixer
The hand-held mixer has a long, straight handle with a sharp rotating metal blade at the bottom. They are great for quickly mixing sauces and soups or for quickly shredding raw food ingredients.

The biggest advantage of this tool is that you don't have to put cooking ingredients in a separate food processor or blender.

B. Countertop mixer
These features are even more available for small bakeries or restaurants that only need to use a blender occasionally. These are also commonly used in domestic kitchens.

C. Large commercial mixer
Also known as "floor mixers," they are made for large bakeries or pizzerias that need to regularly and continuously produce large quantities of dough and sauce.

These are huge and need to be set on the floor. They consume a lot of electricity and can produce ingredients very quickly.

  1. Slicer
    Slicers are not necessary in every restaurant kitchen. This is an effective tool for cutting cheese and meat. If your restaurant serves a lot of sandwiches or similar dishes, you should consider purchasing a slicer.

Step 5: Blender
Mixers are commonly used in cafes and bars. Blenders have many uses, for example, making cold drinks, making milkshakes, mixing sauces and so on. If your restaurant serves a lot of drinks, you should purchase a blender.

Little useful tool

Just like a carpenter needs a hammer and a saw, your kitchen staff needs tools (such as knives, tongs, bowls, etc.) to work effectively. Here are some handy kitchen tools to put on your shopping list:

Chef's knife: It is crucial to purchase a sharp chef's knife. They make it easier to cut and prepare food ingredients, and also reduce the risk of accidents.
Kitchen spoons: Plenty of kitchen spoons for your staff. They are versatile and have many useful functions, such as stirring sauces, tasting dishes, serving food, removing cooking ingredients from bowls and much more.
Tongs: Like kitchen spoons, tongs are a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as food, plates, food preparation, etc.
Saucepans: There are different types of saucepans, such as wok, saucepan and frying pan. What pot you should buy depends on what kind of dish your restaurant prepares.
POTS and pans: There are also a variety of POTS and pans, such as boilers, pasta cookware, seasoning POTS, etc. Please purchase according to the type of dishes offered by your restaurant.
Mixing bowls: When buying mixing bowls, make sure you purchase multiple sizes for different purposes.
Kitchen whisk: This is a tool used to mix air with food ingredients. This makes the food light and soft.
Stone for sharpening knives: You want to keep your knives sharp. Occasional use of the whetstone will make your blade as sharp as new.
Tip: When purchasing these tools, make sure you purchase a sufficient number of tools. This ensures that your employees don't have to fight to use the tools!

Cleaning tool

Cleanliness is critical to the food service industry. Therefore, you need to ensure that the restaurant has all the necessary cleaning supplies and equipment. Here are some of the necessary cleaning equipment that every restaurant should have:

  1. Kitchen sink
    In a restaurant, the kitchen sink has 3 main uses:

Do the dishes
Prepare cooking ingredients
Wash hands
There are different types of sinks available. Let's discuss:

A.3 Stall sink
The three-compartment sink is the most commonly used sink in a restaurant kitchen. You can use these compartments for a variety of purposes. For example, you can use one compartment for washing utensils and another for washing hands and disinfecting.

B. Sink
Bar sinks are commonly used for drinks and ice treatment in bars. These sinks usually have a separate compartment for washing glassware.

C. Treat the sink
These sinks are equipped with a waste disposal system for food waste. It is best to cover these sinks when not in use.

D. Hand washing sink
These special sinks are designed for hand-washing. Usually, a three-chamber sink is sufficient for this purpose.

E. Mop sink
These sinks are set on the floor. They are used to fill or treat water in mop buckets.

F. Portable sink
These are mainly used for food trucks and other mobile food businesses. They can be connected to the water tank.

  1. Commercial dishwashers
    Buying a commercial dishwasher is a good decision for your restaurant. In fact, in many countries, dishwashers are required by health authorities.

These dishwashers automatically apply dishwashing agent and keep the water temperature constant. Dishwashers are essential because they help prevent the spread of foodborne bacteria and other germs.

Tip: To keep your kitchen in good hygiene, you may need a commercial dishwasher.

  1. List of other cleaning equipment
    Here is a detailed list of cleaning equipment:

Cleaning rags and microfiber cloths: They have many uses, such as cleaning food or liquids that have spilled on the floor, wiping down tables and counters, polishing glassware, etc.
Chemical cleaners and disinfectants: Ensure that cleaning chemicals are safe for use in the kitchen. Plus, your restaurant has plenty of disinfectant.
Trash cans: This is essential for every restaurant. Place them systematically throughout your dining room.
Mops and mop buckets: Used to keep floors clean. Clean up all food spills on the floor.
"Wet Board" sign: For safety reasons, please use it when employees are cleaning floors or wet boards.
Cleaners and sponges: Use them to remove hard stains from floors, tables, or other kitchen surfaces.
Bathroom supplies: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, paper towels and air freshener.
Broom and dust collector: Keep the floor clean and free of dust or solid food waste. Use them in the kitchen and dining area. You can also buy a vacuum cleaner.
Clean buckets: Add cleaner to these buckets to mix them safely. You can also color code them to keep them organized.

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