Kitchen equipment for a cafe is a must

Probably, everyone has visited a cafe at least once, tasted delicious dishes and enjoyed invigorating coffee. Many people noted that the dishes in the cafe have a slightly different taste than the dishes prepared at home.

The secret lies in the equipment that is used in the kitchen of any such establishment. The need to quickly prepare food while maintaining a certain consistency and shape ingredients, forcing the use of special equipment - stoves, steam ovens, frying cabinets and more.

Any kitchen equipment for a cafe should be used and justified, therefore, appliances and other devices are purchased according to calculations, including:

• Number of seats - the maximum load of equipment depends on this parameter. Also, by the maximum number of visitors, you can determine the volume of special devices.
• Kitchen room dimensions affect the limited amount of equipment and its capacity. Even if the cafe is large enough, but the kitchen is small, it will not be possible to install a lot of equipment - you will have to look for alternative options.
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• Performance - an important characteristic of any enterprise, especially when it is necessary to observe a fine line between the quality of the dishes served and the speed of their preparation.
• Menu composition - according to this criterion, one can judge the availability of highly specialized equipment. For example, if dishes of a certain national cuisine are offered, devices are often needed to create this delicacy. Sometimes, such devices are so highly specialized that they are accompanied by a separate instruction describing the cooking process.

Much depends on the orientation of the cafe, each establishment has its own style:

• Classic establishment. The emphasis is on the quality and visuals of the dishes rather than speed, although it is also important. Due to the wide selection on the menu, an extensive list of techniques is used.
• Cafe - bistro. Offers quick breakfasts, lunches. The main task is to quickly feed the visitor, albeit not with gourmet dishes. For such an establishment, you will need special equipment for preparing fast food.
• Coffee house. The main offer is a wide assortment of coffee, therefore, an apparatus is used that prepares several types of this drink, or several devices are used.

There are only three types of cafes above, but there are many more. It is clear that the choice of equipment also depends on the name of the institution's proposals offered to visitors.

Note! In addition to the main or narrowly focused equipment, you may need equipment for a certain type of vegetable or meat - a whole apparatus for one ingredient, but you simply cannot do without it.

Modern markets for electrical appliances offer a wide range of devices for catering establishments, the price of which can vary, both from the number of built-in functions and from the manufacturer's brand.

Find out also about the special features of kindergarten kitchen equipment.

Heat treatment

In catering establishments, equipment for heat treatment takes a leading place in terms of applicability. A chef's working day lasts as long as a cafe works - this technique works the same time.

There is no time in a cafe to cook all the ingredients separately, or waste time on alternately preparing each component of the dish.

Therefore, a technique of two types is used:

• Self-sufficient. Devices that have programs for preparing certain dishes or ingredients. The essence of use is to put the necessary products and get the prepared component of the necessary dish at the exit.
• Multifunctional. A technique that allows you to perform multiple actions. For example, steam the vegetable and then slowly stew it.

A technique with several working elements is also used - a stove with a large number of burners.

Combi steamers

These devices combine several cooking modes - steam processing, convection and combined modes. The versatility of this technique allows you to cook all kinds of products in different ways - from roasting to stewing.

Combi ovens are actively used in modern catering establishments due to the possibility of replacing several pieces of equipment with them at once, thereby saving on money and space.

The combi steamer can replace:

• Stove;
• Electric frying pan;
• Oven;
• Deep fryer.

Also, combi steamers allow you to save on electricity - there are devices that run on gas.

You can see this device in the photo above.

Find out also about the features of the kitchen equipment for dining rooms.

Slabs

In catering establishments, industrial stoves are used, and two types can be installed in one kitchen at once:

• Gas stoves - a profitable solution in terms of saving electricity. Also, gas stoves are used for the presence of an open fire - some dishes are cooked on an open fire.
• Electric cookers - they are used for exact adherence to the recipe, since it is possible to set the temperature accurate to the degree. For a cafe, an important feature is the automatic shutdown of the electric stove burner in the absence of dishes on it.
• Induction cookers - almost the same electric version, but with the possibility of instant heating - electric stoves warm up gradually.

Plates differ in type and installation. There are floor structures and tabletop, more compact, devices. Regardless of the type, any industrial stove must be connected correctly, which is difficult to do with your own hands without the help of a specialist.

Ovens

There is a cooking cabinet in almost any kitchen of a food establishment. A device that allows you to cook any food according to a given program.

Using this technique, you can:

• fry the meat
• fish,
• prepare baked goods,
• process vegetables with heat or steam.

Note! In a conventional oven, heating goes only from the bottom, so the dishes are fried unevenly. In the oven, the heating is directed from all sides, which guarantees a smooth and even cooking.

In cafes, ovens with several sections are more often used - in appearance, they resemble several microwaves stacked on top of each other. In each section, a separate dish can be prepared according to a separately set program.

The cabinet models offered by the modern electrical equipment market are diverse. Today, in addition to high temperature processing, it is possible to constantly blow the product with steam, ventilate the chamber, and also set the time for changing the temperature during the cooking process.

Other equipment

In addition to the main equipment, additional equipment is used to perform certain functions:

• Boilers - devices capable of boiling a large amount of water, and then keeping the temperature at the desired level for a long time;
• Deep fryers - for dishes whose ingredients are fried in oil;
• Rice cookers - a unique technique, especially useful for establishments serving sushi and risotto. Enough, just put the food you need and the rice porridge will be ready;
• Pasta cookers - relevant for establishments serving pasta. Pasta cooked in this device will not stick together and will not burn;
• Pancake makers and waffle makers - are installed in cafes where visitors usually come to have breakfast;
• Food warmers - amazing equipment that allows you to always keep the prepared food hot.

Also, many catering establishments use a large number of more narrowly targeted devices, for example, cheburek makers, barbecue makers, hot dog machines and other devices about which you can watch a video and see them with my own eyes.

Optional equipment

In addition to the equipment used for cooking, food establishments use devices for various needs:

• Refrigerated - more often these are industrial refrigerators with a large capacity and the ability to control temperature. Devices for instant freezing of food are also used.
• Dishwashers - not installed in all cafes, some use the services of a separate employee. But, the institution works with a large amount of dishes, so this apparatus is necessary.
• Mechanical - equipment for storage and work - tables, cabinets and similar items.

The kitchen in a cafe is a complex structure, in which there can be no unnecessary or unused items. Each device is a small part, which is indispensable in the cooking process, both exotic dishes and small delicacies.

Read also the article "Gas boiler in the kitchen: characteristics and installation."