Tips For Maintaining Cooking Equipment In Your Restaurant

If you're a restaurant owner, then you understand the importance of maintaining your cooking equipment. Keeping your equipment in tip top shape will save you time and money, and will ultimately keep your business thriving. 

Here are a few tips for how you can maintain the cooking equipment in your restaurant. 

Clean your equipment regularly 

Cleaning your cooking equipment can be time consuming, but this task should never be overlooked. Leaving equipment dirty for weeks on end can age it prematurely and can even cause it to break. Leaving elements like grease and old food on surfaces can cause serious damage.

Make cleaning your cooking equipment a habit. Fit it into your schedule so that way it does not get neglected. Most cooking equipment should be cleaned once a day after it has been used. This rule applies to things like stovetops, griddles, and ovens. If you miss a day here and there, don't stress about it, but make sure to clean as soon as possible. 

Pay attention to grease 

As mentioned above, grease can do serious damage to the surfaces in your kitchen. It is absolutely essential to have multiple grease filters in your kitchen, and to clean them daily. Cleaning the filters doesn't have to be hard. In fact, you can put them in the dishwasher to clean them, so you won't have to touch the grease at all. It may take a few cycles to get the filters clean if they are especially dirty. 

As time goes on, grease filters will have to be replaced. Pay attention to them and check them frequently to make sure they are still in working condition. 

Floor maintenance 

Most restaurant owners don't think of the floor as part of the kitchen equipment, but the floor is used constantly by everyone, every single day. A lapse in floor care can lead to a slip and fall, which would bring your kitchen's productivity to a halt and would also cost you some serious cash. To avoid this from happening, take care of your floor just as you would any other equipment. Make sure it is cleaned as least once a day, and make sure to fix any damage that occurs over time. Rubber mats and non-slip shoes will also help prevent accidents from happening. 

Remember to schedule inspections 

Cooking equipment needs to get inspected once a year. It is vital to make sure that this expensive equipment is running smoothly and that there are no internal problems. Make an annual appointment with a local qualified commercial cooking appliance contractor so that way you can be sure that your equipment is in good shape. 

As your equipment gets older, it is even more important to schedule these annual appointments. All equipment needs a five year inspection, a ten year inspection, and so forth. Your equipment is essential to your business and should be treated as such. Think of your equipment like it is your car or your house - it needs to be inspected in order to work properly. 

Review your owner's manual

Every piece of cooking equipment comes with an owner's manual, and you should take some time to become familiar with this information. Knowing how to use your cooking equipment is an essential part of its maintenance. Improper use of kitchen equipment can lead to serious damage. 

Reading an owner's manual front to back might be excessive, but certainly make sure you glance over information like FAQs and suggested maintenance. You will be glad you paid attention to your owner's manual because if something breaks or if there is an accident, you will have know how to handle the situation. 

Conclusion 

Use these simple tips to maintain your cooking equipment and your restaurant will thrive. Always remember that the time and effort you put into your cooking equipment will be reflected in your restaurant and overall business. Keep your cooking equipment in good shape and the rest will follow!