Restaurant Smallwares Key Terms

Know kitchen smallware terminology to make the best purchases for your commercial kitchen

By Michele Vrouvas
Knowing restaurant smallwares key terms before you start buying supplies for your commercial kitchen will help you make informed decisions. It's easy to get confused as you survey the hundreds of different smallwares for foodservice that restaurant smallwares suppliers provide.

Most restaurant grade smallwares fall into categories based upon where in the restaurant they are used and by whom. Chef's and prep cooks depend on kitchen tools while, in the dining room, your patrons will be using flatware and dinnerware. Once you've decided on your restaurant's particular needs, you'll be in a better position to decide which kitchen grade smallwares to buy.

1. Identify the restaurant gradeware smallwares known as baking supplies.

2. Find out what foodservice smallwares professionals consider as cookware necessary for commercial kitchens.

3. Get to know which commercial grade smallwares are flatware.

4. Know how restaurant smallwares suppliers describe kitchen tools.

 

Know which restaurant smallwares fall under the category of baking supplies

The term "baking supplies" refers to all the tools professional bakers depend on to prepare cakes, breads, biscuits, muffins and pastries. These supplies are not only for use in commercial bakeries. They're also in food establishments, like diners, that do the baking on the premises.
Try: Read the product descriptions and view the images of commercial baking supplies at Restaurant Source and A Best Kitchen. These sites group the baking supplies according to their use, for either mixing or baking, and set forth the various materials these products are, such as stainless steel or copper. Read about the different packaging options for baked goods at Food Bakery.

Identify the foodservice smallwares that professionals call cookware

Even heavy duty cookware is considered a restaurant smallware. You'll need to be acquainted with the different categories of cookware-such as fry pans, sauté pans, saucepots-and the materials that they are.
Try: Read the product descriptions for commercial stainless steel stove top cookware at Maine Supply. Scanning the product descriptions at Nordic Ware will help you understand what size pots restaurants use for different foods. Learn why professional cooks consider copper cookware special by reading product descriptions at Bourgeat.

Learn which commercial grade smallwares are flatware

The term "flatware" refers to the utensils you'll put on your restaurant tables for patrons to eat with as well as the serving utensils your wait staff will use in the dining room. View dessert spoons, dinner and dessert forks.
Try: Twin Supply and Central Restaurant have an extensive list of different kinds of flatware used by restaurants and caterers.

Get acquainted with restaurant equipment smallwares called kitchen tools

The term "kitchen tools" refers to any utensil used by your cooks and kitchen staff to prepare food. Restaurant grade kitchen tools look quite different from those used by home cooks. That's why you should know what real commercial quality kitchen tools look like.
Try: Restaurant Solutions provides a list of wood handled utensils used by short order and grill cooks. Get more information on many different categories of catering kitchen tools at Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies.

 

  • Restaurant smallwares key terms are essentially used in the same way from supplier to supplier. However, make sure you receive the product you want by specifying sizes and materials when placing orders for these smallwares.

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