What Restaurant Equipment Do You Need In Your Kitchen?

When it comes to restaurant equipment, you need to have the right tools in your kitchen to help you prepare and serve delicious meals. You want your dishes to deliver and your food to offer.

Part of that delivery is ensuring that your kitchen is stocked full of all necessary restaurant equipment. From appliances to utensils, here's a list of everything you'll need in your commercial kitchen.

Appliances

First and foremost, you need to equip your kitchen with the right appliances. You'll need an oven, stovetop, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. (We'll get more into these later.)

If you're planning on serving hot food, you'll also need a steam table. In addition to these items, your kitchen should also have these appliances:

  • Ice machine.
  • Coffee maker.
  • Food processor.

Utensils & Equipment

In addition to appliances, you'll need a variety of utensils and equipment on hand– to properly prepare and serve your dishes. Knives, cutting boards, pots, pans, silverware, plates, bowls and glassware are crucial for any restaurant kitchen. You'll also need a variety of cooking utensils like spatulas, tongs, whisks, ladles and measuring cups.

You will also want to have these utensils and equipment in your restaurant:

  • Can opener.
  • Food scale.
  • Mixing bowls.

You might also want to consider other specialty items like pasta makers, bread machines, ice cream makers, waffle irons and more. These items can help you create unique dishes that stand out from your competition.

Smallwares

In addition to utensils and equipment, you'll need several small items for your restaurant kitchen. These include can openers, food storage containers, waste disposal bins, cleaning supplies and paper products.

Assuming you already have a space to set up your restaurant kitchen, the next step is to start stocking it with the necessary appliances and equipment. Depending on the kind of cuisine you'll be serving, your kitchen will need different items.

For example, if you're planning on serving any hot food, you'll need at least one oven and a steam table. If you're serving sushi or other raw foods, you'll need a refrigerator and freezer.

In addition to these items, every kitchen needs:

  • Can openers.
  • Food storage containers.
  • Waste disposal bins.
  • Cleaning supplies.
  • Paper products.

These items are essential for any foodservice business. Can openers and food storage containers are necessary for storing and preparing food. Waste disposal bins are crucial for keeping the kitchen clean. And cleaning supplies and paper products are mandatory to maintain hygiene standards.

Refrigeration

One of the most vital equipment pieces in any kitchen is a refrigerator. A commercial refrigerator is different from a household refrigerator. Commercial refrigerators are designed to hold large quantities of food at safe temperatures. They're also built to withstand heavy use. If you're serving perishable food, you'll need a refrigeration unit.

Refrigeration equipment that you'll need in your restaurant kitchen includes:

  • Walk-in cooler.
  • Reach-in refrigerator.
  • Prep table.

Freezers

The freezer is another vital piece of restaurant equipment. The type of freezer you'll need will depend on the kind of food you'll serve.

For example, you'll need a soft-serve ice cream machine to serve it. This type of machine typically has a built-in freezer. If you're serving frozen food, you'll need a chest freezer. A chest freezer is a type of freezer that is tall and narrow. You can use chest freezers to store frozen food.

Other kinds of freezers you’ll need comprise:

  • Under-counter freezers.
  • Glass door freezers.
  • Pass-through freezers.

Ovens

Ovens are another crucial piece of restaurant equipment. The type of oven you'll need will depend on the kind of food you'll serve. For example, if you're serving pizzas, you'll need a pizza oven. If you're serving roasted meats, you'll need a convection oven.

Other types of ovens restaurants may want to have include:

  • Rotisserie ovens.
  • Combination ovens.
  • Microwave ovens.

There are many other pieces of restaurant equipment that you may need in your kitchen, depending on the type of food you'll be serving. However, these are some of the most essential pieces of equipment for any restaurant.