A serious caterer needs some serious equipment to make delicious creations for all occasions. As you build your business, you’ll quickly realize that you need a range of equipment to meet your client’s needs and dietary restrictions. Your equipment needs to be up-to-date, efficient, and versatile. The following are five kitchen items that every new caterer needs.
1. Freezers & Refrigerators
As a caterer, you need somewhere to store some food in a refrigerator. Whether it’s prep ingredients, meats, dairy, or even sheets of gluten-free croissant dough, you’ll need refrigeration to preserve the freshness of these items.
If you run your business from your home, it’s best to have the food you make for business separate from the food you cook at home. The separation will help you keep track of inventory and avoid taking food from it for personal use. There is a wide variety of freezer and refrigerator available on the market. The one that you choose should be based on the size and business of your operation.
2. A Variety of Cutting Boards
Prepping is an important part of all types of food businesses. If your business has a fair-sized menu, you’ll need a number of cutting boards to help you prep. Having just one cutting board runs the risk of cross-contamination and exposing your valued customers to food allergies.
Plastic cutting boards are easy to sanitize but can develop deep grooves from constant use. Wooden boards are more durable, but harder to sanitize. You’ll also need different sizes depending on your ingredients. If you plan on getting a lot of business from a variety of people, having good cutting boards is a must.
3. Mixers
If you’re in the business of making gluten-free pastries or bread, you need a commercial mixer. The mixer you choose depends on the volume of food you intend to make and how frequently you make it. If you’re mixing ingredients to make dough for foods like pizza or bagels, invest in a spiral mixer. These devices are capable of mixing at fast speeds and can handle a lot of dough.
Almost all other types of mixing can be done using a planetary mixer. These mixers are versatile and can be used for both baking and cooking. You can find both types of high-powered mixers anywhere where professional commercial kitchen equipment is sold.
4. Food Processors
Food processors are another big item for properly prepping your food items. There are predominantly four types of processors out there: continuous feed, buffalo chopper, batch bowl, and combination. Continuous feed processors are perfect for those who need to constantly add food in during the processing and dispenses the food into a separate container.
Buffalo choppers are capable of chopping anything from tough meats to tiny vegetables and are known to be heavy-duty. Batch bowls collect the food as it’s processed. They’re generally able to hold between one and six quarters. Combination processors are a combination of batch bowls and continuous feed units, meaning that you’ll get the best of both worlds.
5. Shelving
Having the right shelving and space doesn’t mean just having the room for your food items. You also need room to store your extra appliances. Having ample storage makes it easier to organize, which will in turn help streamline your whole operation. You’ll want racks and shelves in a range of sizes. Plus, there’s a variety of material available on the market to satisfy your aesthetic preferences.
The Bottom Line
It takes more than an oven and a stove to make it in the food service industry. If you’re interested in starting or have started your own catering business, you need to be as prepared as possible. Take stock of what you already have. Upgrade the essentials to really give your business that push to succeed.
