Manage a busy kitchen efficiently by making the most of commercial steamers. Commercial food steamers are an innovative and efficient way to preparing foods. Steam lobster, rice and buns or fix frozen foods in half the time with commercial restaurant steamers. A commercial steamer can handle large volumes of food when you choose the right size and style. This permits the kitchen staff to prepare more food for the same cost and in less time.

Incorporate space saving equipment into your restaurant by utilizing a counter top industrial steamer. Steam condenses on the surface of cold foods, cooking it evenly and fast. Using a counter top steamer provides more space in your commercial kitchen for other equipment. Commercial steamers are perfect for multiple portions, convenience and fast meals.

1. Utilize spare space when you choose counter top industrial steamers.

2. Consider dual purpose industrial steamers to cook more things at once.

3. Enjoy easy clean up with stainless steel steamer ovens.

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Consider space saving commercial steam cookers

Utilize counter top space to have more room in the kitchen for another piece of equipment or a variety of tasks such as preparing food. Consider the convenience and accessibility of a counter top steamer that will allow you to perform a variety of functions in an easy to reach area.

I recommend: Zesco provides convenient counter top steamers for all spatial needs. Big Tray has smaller and easy to use counter top steamers in a variety of prices.

Inquire about a dual purpose commercial food steamer

Use a steamer that cooks more than one food item at a time to cut cooking time in half. Prepare meals all in one steamer or use a portion of your steamer for other entrées and accompaniments such as side dishes, hors d'oeuvres and appetizers. Have multiple items cooked and ready to serve at the same time.

I recommend: Chefs has steamers that cook a variety of food in one piece of equipment. Rational has steamers that allow multitasking with self-cooking control and rapid cooling.

Utilize an easy to clean stainless steel food service steamer

Stainless steel commercial steamer save time on messy cleanups giving your staff more time to do more important tasks in the kitchen. Use your time cooking instead of cleaning and keep work areas safe and hygienic with stainless steel steamers.

I recommend: Suite Supply offers a vast quantity of commercial steamers. All are in easy to clean stainless steel. KaTom has stainless steel steamers that are self contained and connectionless to make cleaning a breeze.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always inquire about warranties with the manufacturer when purchasing steamer ovens.
• •  Teach employees how to use complicated steamer ovens to prevent service calls and repairs.

Commercial food steamers are showing up increasingly more in restaurant kitchens. They provide a fast and easy way to prepare large amounts of food quickly. Instead of boiling large pots of potatoes or rice for over an hour, a commercial steamer can cook the same amount in mere minutes. Other popular foods that are prepared in a commercial steam oven include shellfish, pasta and vegetables.

Commercial steamers produce 6 times the energy of boiling water. When the steam condenses on the surface of cold foods, it cooks it quickly and efficiently. However, all of this convenience isn't without a price. Commercial restaurant steamers are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in a kitchen.

Before you purchase a commercial steamer, consider the following:
1. Energy use
2. Electrical wiring
3. Space
4. Plumbing

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Select Energy Star commercial food steamers for best performance

A typical commercial steamer uses nearly twice as much energy as a model that features the Energy Star. This can add up to several thousands of dollars over the life of the steamer.

I recommend: The Food Service Technology Center of California carries an extensive list of energy efficient industrial steamers that feature the Energy Star seal. They also give advice on other ways to save money with your appliances, such as using timers to turn appliances off during slow periods.

Choose a restaurant steamer that will fit in your kitchen

Just like nearly every other piece of commercial cooking equipment, restaurant steamers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are made specifically for cooking one item, like rice or pasta, while others have multiple cooking compartments.

I recommend: Zesco.com carries a large line of natural gas and electric commercial steam cookers to fit in both large and small kitchens.

Decide between electric- or gas-powered restaurant steamers

Depending on the price of electricity and natural gas in your area, one is usually the better option for a high volume restaraunt. Keep in mind that if you plan to use a timer on your commercial steamers, electric is the better option. If you shut off gas steamer ovens in the middle of a shift, you will have to restart all the pilot lights, which can be a pain in the neck. Electric steamers often need special wiring and plugs, so be sure to factor that into the price.

I recommend: BigTray.com carries both electric and natural gas industrial steamers in floor and countertop models. Many of their electric commercial steamers do not require special plugs or wiring.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't forget about the plumbing. Many commercial steamers require an incoming plumbing line, as well as a drainage line. Be sure to consider this when planning your kitchen layout.

Commercial steamers education and training is paramount to ensure that your commercial equipment is properly utilized. Improper handling and maintenance can damage your food service steamer and even render it useless. Repairs and replacement food steamers can be expensive, so it's imperative to know the proper procedures for your equipment.

You are ultimately responsible in ensuring that your employees know how to use commercial restaurant steamers in your business. You should know how to maintain your equipment and then teach your employees proper care as well. By locating important paperwork on your steamer, you will have the tools you need to educate yourself and your workers. Since every piece of equipment is unique, you must also have the care and usage materials for the equipment that you own. A few tips to help you get started are:

1. Learn and teach your employees how to maintain commercial steamers.

2. Find educational materials on your commercial steamer.

3. Keep up with changing technology in order to educate employees on innovative products.

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Find out how to maintain industrial steamers and teach your employees

There are standard rules for maintaining a commercial steam oven and commercial steamer distributors can help you find the information you need.

I recommend: Food Service Warehouse has helpful information on the standard care of commercial steamers. Flex Your Power provides the basic functions of a commercial steamer so you have the knowledge of how they work. This will help with your daily care and teaching your employees how they function.

Have educational materials at your disposal in order to properly use your commercial food steamer

Keep the right materials ready to be used when needed. This can be paperwork for service or a phone number for help with product usage. Cut out time spent looking for information. You can spend this time taking care of your commercial steamer or addressing any issues with its care.

I recommend: Rational has a number you can call to find out about equipment problems and has a handy questions and answers area for common problems with commercial steamers. Steamer World includes specification and handling information that you can easily access before making a purchase.

Learn about the many changes and advancements to commercial steamers

Technology is constantly changing in the restaurant world and commercial steamers are no exception. From commercial bun steamers to an industrial rice steamer, there is information on innovations.

I recommend: Panasonic offers a Sonic Steamer that is the latest in new technology. This new product retains seven times the nutrients in normal steamers. California Green Solutions provides information on connectionless commercial food steamers that can save water and energy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep your restaurant steamer oven instructions manual in a place where you can easily access it.
• •  Train employees on new commercial steamers as soon as it arrives.

When running a restaurant, catering operation or food business that requires your staff to prepare hot foods quickly and efficiently, commercial steamers can help get the job done. With the ability to steam and cook everything from hamburgers to potatoes, the kitchen equipment is as versatile as it is handy. By learning key equipment terms like de-liming, connectionless steamer, and steam basket divider, you’ll be able to not only order the proper models from vendors, but also communicate the product’s features and operating instructions to your staff.

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Steam basket divider

Save time and energy during the food preparation process with a commercial steamer that's equipped with a steam basket divider. The feature allows you to steam multiple items at the same time, while keeping ingredients and flavors from mixing.

I recommend: See photos of commercial steamers with removable steam basket dividers and learn more about the feature through product descriptions on the Zesco website.

Deliming

When you use tap water to generate the steam in commercial steamers, the build up of lime deposits can affect the unit's efficiency. Consider steamers with a deliming indicator or self-deliming feature so you'll know when to perform routine maintenance that will keep your equipment running smoothly.

I recommend: Food Service Warehouse discusses the benefits of deliming regularly and also offers commercial steamer models with self-deliming features.

Connectionless steamer

When you're not planning to do a lot of steam cooking in your kitchen, start out with a connectionless steamer rather than buying a larger unit with a direct water hook-up. The steaming feature is available in some combination commercial microwave ovens that allow you to have the option without buying an unnecessary appliance or wasting valuable counter space.

I recommend: MonkeyDish debates the pros and cons of connection and connectionless steamers.

Steam coil

Consider a steamer model that uses a steam coil generator to produce high-velocity steam to heat more efficiently.

I recommend: Check out a commercial steamer that utilizes steam coils on the Instaware website.

Direct water hook-up

Eliminate the need to frequently check the water level in your steamer and refill the device by purchasing a unit with a direct water hook-up. With a tap water line hooked directly to the commercial steamer, you'll be able to use the equipment with greater efficiency.

I recommend: Yourdelight.com provides examples and specifications of different direct water hookups.