Making the Most of Commercial Food Preparation Equipment

Get the most out of your commercial food preparation equipment

To protect your investment, you should know the best ways for making the most of commercial food preparation equipment. Since this equipment is expensive, you should learn about the best way to take care of it.

Every person in the kitchen should know how to care for your commercial food service equipment. That includes the safe operation, cleaning and light maintenance. Each piece of commercial food service equipment should have its own designated storage area. If machines such as industrial food grinders have special blades and attachments, each of those should have a storage place as well.

Taking good care of commercial food preparation equipment also involves organizing and safely storing the paperwork that came with it. Keep the following information handy:

1. Warranties for each piece of commercial food equipment should be kept in a readily accessible file in case it should break.

2. Save operational instruction booklets. If possible, post a laminated copy of the operational instructions on the wall beside each piece of equipment.

3. Keep parts lists and websites in a file in case you need to order replacement parts.

 

Read expert opinions on making the most of commercial food preparation equipment

Commercial food preparation websites often offer expert articles on how to care for commercial food preparation equipment. These informative pieces offer tips and tricks of the trade to help you make the most of your investment.
Try: CaterSearch.com offers expert advice on making the most of commercial food preparation equipment. This site explains how to get the most efficient use out of food preparation equipment. You can find information on Buzzle.com that tells you how to care for and clean household appliances. Many of these common appliances, such as microwaves, are also standard commercial food preparation equipment.

Teach your employees safe handling techniques for your commercial food preparation equipment

If employees handle knives, paddles and any other attachments with care, the equipment lasts much longer. Make sure everyone in the kitchen knows how to use each piece of equipment properly. If employees misuse the equipment, offer them retraining. Make it clear that you do not tolerate unsafe practices in your kitchen.
Try: The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website focuses on teenagers who use commercial food service equipment like commercial food mixers and commercial yogurt machines. While the website focuses on younger workers, the information is applicable to all employees. Food Service Warehouse offers instructions on the proper usage of machine guards to protect your workers as well as your food prep equipment.

Sanitize your commercial food preparation equipment properly

If the equipment is clean, it is going to perform better. Some pieces of equipment can go into a dishwasher while others cannot. Make sure your employees know the difference to avoid costly mistakes.
Try: Delmar Cengage Learning offers tips on how to properly sanitize food prep equipment. Hobart also offers tips to help you provide a sanitary food prep experience for your customers, as well as a safe experience for your kitchen employees.

 

• If a piece of your commercial food equipment breaks down and you find you can no longer order replacement parts from the company, look at a website that offers used commercial food service equipment for sale. You may be able to find a similar machine you can buy at a discount and use for spare parts.

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