Commercial cooking pots can run on the pricy side, but choosing the right ones for your kitchen can reward your investment. Depending on your specific needs, commercial stockpots typically hold between 6 and 100 quarts.

When it comes to the pricing and costs of commercial cooking pots, you'll need to factor in several considerations so you don't bust your budget. First, do spend the money you need for quality commercial grade cooking pots. In the restaurant and foodservice business, commercial pots and pans take a beating, and you don't want to worry about regularly paying needless replacement costs. While researching commercial kitchen pots, keep the following in mind:

1. Buy restaurant cooking pots that fit your cooking surface for the best results.

2. Look for the best deals where buying more means paying less for your industrial cooking pots.

3. Purchase commercial stockpots made of materials conducive to what and how you cook -- while aluminum cooking pots seem a good choice because they're light, durable and great heat conductors, they can also react with some highly acidic foods, resulting in discoloration of light-colored foods/sauces and cookware as well as a bitterness in the food you cook.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save money by buying the right commercial pots the first time

Generally, you'll select from among stock pots, sauce pots and braziers when looking for the right restaurant cooking pots. If you buy the wrong industrial pots, you may find you wasted a lot of money when the handles falls off, or the pots don't conduct heat properly.

I recommend: Go to the WEBstaurant store to learn more about the downfalls, advantages and best uses of each type of cooking pot. Ace Mart Restaurant Supply carries every size kitchen stock pots you’ll need. They offer stainless steel and aluminum pots priced from around $30 to around $250 for the 53-quart stainless steel stock pot. The company has been in business since 1975 and is a full-service restaurant supply company that offers live help on their website and has store locations in several Texas cities.

Comparison-shop for the commercial stock pot you need

Most obviously, don't wait until you've got to have the pots tomorrow, because you definitely won't save money with express shipping. Look for price guarantees, reduced prices for larger orders and periodic free shipping. If you live in extremely rural areas, you'll likely pay higher shipping rates, and if you special order cooking pots, you may incur a specified order minimum like $300. Additionally, you can often avoid sales tax if your order ships to you from a different state.

I recommend: Read pricing policies, like those of The Restaurant Source to take advantage of fair price guarantees and other special deals. If you plan to spend more than $200 on your commercial stock pots, get free shipping from Citisco, formerly known as Food Service Equipment.

Find wholesale industrial stock pots for your food service business

Paying retail doesn't ensure you the best quality or even the best selection of industrial cook pots. Shop around until you make sure you get the best price for commercial stainless cooking pots or any other type of pots you decide work best for you.

I recommend: Choose from among the variety of cooking pots available at AbleKitchen.com, a commercial kitchen equipment company offering wholesale prices with no minimum order. ReStockIt.com also carries a large selection of cooking pots at wholesale prices. The company offers a 110% low price guarantee and carries more than 200,000 items in stock.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pay attention when purchasing your next foodservice stock pots, because they don't always come with matching lids. You may have to pay a little extra to buy them separately if you need them.
• •  Remember the difference between pricing and costs of commercial cooking pots. The price is a one-time expense, but if you purchase cheap, low quality kitchen stock pots that don't hold up, that bargain ends up costing more in the long run.

The term "industrial pots" encompasses a multitude of pots and pans used in the restaurant business. Examples include stock pots, sauce pots, Dutch ovens and brasiers, as well as saute pans, steamers and double boilers.

To run your kitchen efficiently, your cooks have to be equipped with the proper pots. Low-end pots can leave food cooked unevenly and stuck to the bottom of the pan. Heavy-gauge construction is preferable over thin material so the food cooks throughout and the pot lasts through getting banged around for more than just a few dinner rushes. Make your chefs' lives easier by supplying them with the best commercial cooking pots.

1. Think about your menu. This will determine what restaurant cooking pots you need, and in what sizes and quantities.

2. Decide to go with stainless steel if you have an open kitchen (the pans will stay shiny and more aesthetically pleasing).

3. Choose aluminum commercial pots if you're on a budget but need something sturdy.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy your general commercial stock pots and pans

Stock pots come in many sizes and compositions. You'll need a variety of industrial cooking pots as well as some pans for your restaurant's kitchen to run smoothly.

I recommend: Shop at A-Best Fixture Co. for any size stock pot you're looking for. Foodservicedirect.com has a variety of stock pots made from metals including copper and cast iron, as well as saute pans, woks and crepe pans.

Invest in commercial stainless cooking pots for specialty items

Stainless steel conducts heat evenly and efficiently. You might be able to save on your gas bill by turning down the heat just a bit since these pots and pans cook food quickly. They tend to have a longer life span, lowering your expenses even further. Shiny stainless steel tends to be a bit more classy as well, so keep this in mind if your kitchen is exposed to customers' curious eyes.

I recommend: Find quality stainless steel stock pots at Cresco. High-quality stock pots and lids can also be found at KegWorks.com. As far as lids are concerned, avoid plastic or wooden handles and pick matching stainless lids to match the pots.

Get more bang for your buck with aluminum cooking pots

Aluminum is a cheaper metal but has excellent conductivity. Good pots are thick and are lined with stainless steel to produce that lovely non-stick quality.

I recommend: Find various sizes of aluminum kitchen stock pots at Do Right Services. Food Equipment International offers a selection of brushed aluminum sauce pots for your restaurant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Try out anodized aluminum cooking pots if you cook a lot of acidic dishes or sauces. Acid and standard aluminum don't work well together, but many companies make anodized options with non-stick surfaces for more versatility.

Enterprising restaurateurs want the best for the businesses. From hiring the most skilled staff to purchasing the best cookware, you want to ensure that your valued staff has the best tools and resources to achieve the best results. You, your staff and your clientele could benefit from commercial cooking pots education and training. Industrial cooking pots need special care and handling to achieve the best results. Further knowledge of these specialty tools will not only ensure the best outcome of your cuisine, but also ensure that you get the most use out of properly handled cookware.

With so many choices of industrial pots, you want to be sure you are correctly equipping your kitchen. Knowing which commercial cooking pots, what they should be used for, and how they should be used is essential to any commercial kitchen.

Many resources can be found online that will benefit both you and your staff.

1. Consider form and functionality when selecting industrial cooking pots for your kitchen.

2. Knowing the proper safety precautions can make you and your chefs more efficient.

3. Joining professional organizations allows you to access and share tips with other professionals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use reviews and information written by foodservice experts to help you select your commercial pots

Choosing the right commercial kitchen pots is key to a smooth-running kitchen. In order for you to acquire the correct commercial cooking pots education and training to help you select the right cookware, browse professional articles and reviews to assist you in making the right choices. Experts in the field have experience that you can benefit from, so let their knowledge improve your kitchen.

I recommend: What's Cooking America offers a complete guide to the pros and cons of specific types of cookware including the differences between aluminum cooking pots and stainless steel. Cooking Light has an explanation of what types of dishes should be used for what types of recipes.

Know what safety precautions you need to take with your commercial stock pots

Safety should always come first in your kitchen. It is important to know as much as possible about your industrial cook pots so that you and your employees are always safe when they are using them. Taking the time to know what temperatures are appropriate and how to properly handle your commercial cookware can be the difference between an accident in the kitchen and a safe environment for your staff.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlines safety precautions that should be taken in any commercial kitchen. The City of Vancouver, Washington has a list of tips for staying safe in a commercial kitchen.

Join professional cooking organizations to learn more about your commercial grade cooking pots

Being a member of a professional cooking organization can deliver a host of information to you and your establishment. Networking with other foodservice professionals affords you the opportunity to find out what commercial cooking pots others in your business are using and what tips they may have for the best results.

I recommend: The International Association of Culinary Professionals outlines the perks of becoming a member of the organization. The National Restaurant Association offers many opportunities to further your commercial cooking pots education and training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Attending culinary classes at the local culinary arts school can also help further your restaurant cooking pots education and training. These types of classes will mostly appeal to you if you are new in the industry.