Commercial Dishwashers

Zaoh Company, Ltd.

Guide to Commercial Dishwashers

What to look for when shopping for restaurant grade dishwashers
By Jenni Simcoe

	The Dish on Commercial Dishwashers The number of dishes you need to clean each day dictates the type of commercial dishwasher you need. Some commercial dishwashers require additional electrical and plumbing installation. Restaurant-grade dishwashers should have adjustable temperature controls.

In the restaurant business, commercial dishwashers are a must-have item because they help you maintain a constant supply of clean plates, glasses and flatware. Restaurant grade dishwashers offer several benefits over domestic versions. For instance, a commercial dishwasher can wash one load of dishes in as little as 60 seconds. Compare that to the typical 60 to 90 minutes required for a household dishwasher. And they do much more than just wash dishes. Restaurant grade dishwashers also sanitize dishware and dispose of waste. Commercial dishwashers are available in several options, including:

1. Conveyor commercial dishwashers for large commercial kitchen use
2. Undercounter dishwashers, the most popular commercial dishwasher model
3. Upright commercial dishwashers, for quick loading of racks of dishes
4. Pot/pan/utensil dishwashers, built for large pans and baking sheets
5. Glass washers.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Conveyor dishwashers Conveyer dishwashers are the hardest working of all commercial dishwashers. You simply put the racks of dishes in one side, and in seconds, clean racks of dishes are being conveyed out the other side. Conveyor dishwashers aren't necessary for small kitchens, but are considered a savior in large kitchens and cafeterias.

I recommend:  Galasource has a variety of high and low temperature conveyor dishwashers. Blakeslee manufactures flight-type (rackless) and rack-type conveyor dishwashers.

Undercounter dishwashers Undercounter dishwashers are the most popular type of commercial dishwashing equipment due to their compact size. They are workhorses, but they need to be placed in a low-traffic area that won't cause kitchen congestion when they are being loaded and unloaded.

I recommend:  The Restaurant Source has several options of undercounter dishwashers. Select Appliance Pro has a large variety of models of undercounter dishwashers from Jackson, Jet Tech, Meiko and Moyer Deibel commercial dishwasher manufacturers.

Upright dishwashers Upright dishwashers are available in pass-through, front loading and hood varieties and come in a range of sizes and capacities. All types of upright dishwashers work the same in that they allow you to load a rack of dishes into the machine and pull down the door or hood for each cycle.

I recommend:  Central Restaurant Products carries front loading upright dishwashers that can be loaded one rack at a time from the front or back. Dishwasher World has hood type upright dishwashers.

Pot/pan/utensil dishwashers Stainless steel pots, pans and baking sheets need a larger space than most commercial undercounter dishwashers or frontloading dishwashers provide. Some manufacturers make pot/pan/utensil dishwashers while others make commercial dishwashers that specialize in each. Depending on your restaurants needs, you may be able to get by with a combined pot/pan/utensil dishwasher rather than having a separate machine for each.

I recommend:  Douglas Machine Corp. specializes in pot/pan/utensil dishwashers. Electrolux Food Service has pot/pan dishwashers, utensil dishwashers and tray dishwashers.

Glass washers Not all commercial dishwashers are created equal. Glass washers are gentler than heavy-duty commercial dishwashers and are made especially for glassware. Bar machines have bottle washers attached to scrub the inside of each glass.

I recommend:  You can find manual, automated and full service glass washers at Bar Glass Washer World. Find counter-top glass washers Jean's Restaurant Supply.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• A high temperature commercial dishwasher is necessary for continuous dishwashing equipment that is used at a cafeteria or high traffic kitchen with constant need for dishwashing.
• Low temperature restaurant grade dishwashers are appropriate for batch loads of dishes.
• Depending on use, your kitchen may need a dedicated water heater for your commercial dishwashing equipment. Consult your local food safety regulations for washing temperatures.
• Before you decide on a commercial dishwasher, consider the space planning. Undercounter dishwashers need to be in low-traffic areas and conveyor dishwashers and pass-through models need dedicated space that won't interrupt kitchen traffic.