Running a commercial kitchen is a dream that many people have, but it does not come without challenges. There is a lot involved in the inner workings of making a kitchen successful, and if you’re not careful, you can end up in over your head in no time at all. One of the most important things you can do is to have patience and a good plan in place. Your kitchen may require some updates for the most success.
Consider Switching to a Dark Kitchen
One update you can do that will not only save you a lot of money in the long run but also make things run more efficiently is to switch to a dark kitchen. The main idea of a kitchen like this is that it does not have any dine-in capacity and is strictly delivery only.
There are fewer costs associated with dark kitchens, including not needing a space big enough to accommodate guests, and you save money on not needing as many staff members. Opening a dining restaurant can take a lot of time to get everything ready, but a dark kitchen is something that can be launched a lot quicker.
Upgrade Your Cooking Utensils
When it comes to cooking and preparing food, you should be using only the best utensils, such as quality steak knives. It’s a good idea to invest in products that are built to withstand the wear and tear of commercial kitchen use. If you don’t have the money to invest in all new utensils right away, you don’t have to. You can upgrade what you can and when it fits your budget, a little bit at a time.
Some important gadgets used often by professional chefs that you can consider upgrading include rubber spatulas, wooden spoons, balloon whisks, paring knives, scoops, and offset spatulas.
Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances
One thing that will save you money, in the long run, is switching to energy-efficient appliances. When shopping for appliances, make sure to look for the Energy Star label.
Energy Star means that it meets strict guidelines established by the DOE and EPA. Appliances with the label can save you 15% to 30% on energy costs, which can add up significantly.
Another benefit to upgrading your appliances to energy-efficient ones is they use less water, allowing you to do your part to conserve water. They also reduce your carbon footprint, which has a positive impact on the environment.
Declutter the Work Environment
One of the easiest yet most effective upgrades you can do to your commercial kitchen is to declutter your work environment. Your workspace is one of the most important factors that determine how well your kitchen runs, and if it’s cluttered, you’re going to have a hard time doing things efficiently.
Some key tip to keeping things tidy is to hang the items you use the most where you can reach them easily. Your kitchen should be divided into separate zones, such as keeping certain appliances in one area, prepping in another area, and keeping your sanitizing solutions in their dedicated area. Having a space for everything is one of the best ways to know where everything belongs when it’s time to clean up.
Update Your Food Storage
Your kitchen’s food storage should be one of your top priorities because it will ensure the food you prepare and serve to your guests is as safe as possible. The FDA has a lot of dos and don’ts when it comes to food storage, and if it’s time to update any of your food storage options, you shouldn’t procrastinate on that. If your refrigerator is old and doesn’t work as well as it should, you should prioritize getting that replaced as soon as possible.