Our love for Manitowoc Ice Machines continues ever onward this week, with this new spotlight on a few additional models that we have yet to acknowledge. And the last thing we want is for these cool (literally) S-Series machines to go without recognition. We’ve just been busy testing and enjoying all the other dozens of Manitowoc units in our inventory here at Short Order. In our last post, we introduced all you restaurant equipment fans to the Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-0604A, capable of yielding up to 650 pounds of half-dice ice cubes in 24 hours. Pretty impressive stuff. But moving right along…

Manitowoc Ice Machine SD0302A

Welcome to this week’s featured model, the Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0302A. It’s a head-and-bin combination unit, meaning the storage bin for your freshly diced ice cubes is connected directly to the production zone, where all the magic happens. A model like this is convenient because of its relatively small size. But what it may lack in size, it makes up for in dependability, producing at a rate of 325 ice cubes per 24 hours. This guy will give you very few service problems, if any. Like basically all Manitowoc Ice Machines, its operating costs are low and its S-Series design makes it exceptionally easy to clean and maintain.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-1402A

This next model we’d like to discuss could be considered the larger, high volume cousin to the aforementioned SD-0320A. The Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-1402A is also a head-and-bin combo unit, but this guy churns out a whopping 1,160 pounds of dice-sized cubes in the same 24-hour period. This workhorse is better suited to the high-volume kitchens found in establishments such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools.

Shop for these and other awesome Manitowoc ice machines here at ShortOrder, where the lowest price is guaranteed.

The Manitowoc ice machines love continues over here at the What’s Cooking blog.  Last time out, we profiled a couple choice products, including the Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0322A and the Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-1402A, the latter a real workhorse capable of pumping out 1,450 lbs of ice in a 24-hour period.  (This blogger, it might be pointed out, uses a lot of ice.  This blogger, however, cannot conceive of a way to use 1,450 lbs of dice-cut ice outside of a commercial kitchen environment.  But we’re trying.)

This time out, we’re going to pick out two other products, both of which are just as deserving of the praise we heaped on the aforementioned ice machines.  Why?  Easy!  It’s because we’re huge, unapologetic fans of the Manitowoc brand, and we just can’t stop writing about them!  It’s not hard to see why, either: With nearly uniform accolades from every corner of the restaurant world, accolades that manifest themselves in Best in Class nods by Food Service Equipment Supplies Magazine and Energy Star compliant designations from the U.S. government, Manitowoc products are simply a pleasure to write about.

And the first on the block is…

Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-0604A

The Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-0604A!  This handsome model is a highly reliable, easily serviceable, top-of-the-line product made by those restaurant equipment craftsmen up in Wisconsin.  There’s a thoughtfulness, an attention to user-friendly simplicity put forth in this model’s design, something that’s gratefully noted when it comes time to clean.  Here’s something else it’s got going for it in the user-friendliness department: a production rate of 650 lbs of half-dice ice cubes in a 24-hour period.  That’s a pretty hefty and satisfying clip, for those of you taking notes at home.

And if you are taking notes, get ready to turn the page, because…

Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-0324A

The  Manitowoc Ice Machine SY-0324A is our next topic!  A nifty little machine, the SY-0324A is capable of pumping out 325 lbs of ice per day, all while exhibiting all those wonderful characteristics we’ve come to know and appreciate from Manitowoc ice machines.

That’s all she wrote for today, folks!  See you next week.

There’s a good chance that, if you know anything about this blogger, that you know he is a huge fan of Manitowoc ice machines, to the point of excitedly indicating the presence of a Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0302A at a Mexican restaurant to his breakfast partner (the riveting details of said breakfast can be found here).  With this fascination (healthy obsession?) in mind, let’s go over a few others that we’re big fans of, beyond the typically glorious (and immortalized) SD-0302A.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0322A

The Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-0322A is an excellent, reliable, top-of-the-line ice machine.  It’s Energy Star compliant, and has been voted Best in Class by the fine folks over at Food Service Equipment Supplies Magazine, a premier industry publication.  Capable of producing up to 340 pounds (or 154 kilograms) of dice ice cubes in a 24-hour period, this ice machine head can really get things cranking.  It’s also an incredibly sanitary unit, featuring patented cleaning and sanitizing technology, including select components manufactured with AlphaSan antimicrobial.  It’s also user-friendly in a way that makes maintenance a breeze, featuring a water distribution tube that is removable without tools.

Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-1402A

There comes a time when what a product arrives that is so stupendously magnificent, so incredibly powerful and handy, that one is at a loss of words.  The Manitowoc Ice Machine SD-1402A is not that, at least not for this blogger, because we’re never at a loss of words, but shucks, does it ever come close.  The SD-1402A is capable of humming away to the tune of 1,450 pounds (that would be 658 kilograms) of ice each and every day!  That’s a hair shy of three-quarters of the way to a ton of ice produced in a 24-hour period.  Impressive.  The SD-1402A also features a very handsome 5-year parts and labor warranty on the ice machine evaporator, 5-year parts and 3-year labor coverage on the compressor, and 3-year parts and labor on all other ice machine, dispenser, and storage bin components.  Way to protect your investment!

These are just a few of the wild and wonderful ice machines Manitowoc has available to offer.  That’s all we’ve got for now, but something tells us we’ll be back on this topic sooner rather than later.  We just can’t get enough!  In the meantime, see what other restaurant equipment Short Order has to offer.

Panasonic microwaves are the perfect tools you need for heating up large quantities of food or liquid in a restaurant setting.  If the name “Panasonic” sounds familiar to you, well, it would be hard for it to not ring a bell.  After all, they are those famed purveyors of electronic equipment of all stripes, including televisions, camcorders, phones, faxes, vacuum cleaners, blood pressure monitors…you get the idea.  Oh, let’s just list one more: home appliances.  Many a home kitchen across this fine land are festooned with bread makers, refrigerators, rice cookers, and microwaves from Panasonic.  There’s a reason why, and it’s more than just the ubiquity of the brand: Panasonic makes good stuff.

This good-stuff-making extends to the commercial kitchen, as well.  Take the Panasonic Commercial Microwave Oven NE-1024T, for example.  This 1000-watt model was voted Best in Class by Food Service Equipment Supplies Magazine, which is a premier publication in the field.  Our editors happen to support this assessment, giving the microwave five stars.  All those accolades come with this affordable, useful model.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Panasonic Microwave Oven NE-3280, a true behemoth of a machine.  Its 3200 watts of power will cook whatever you need it to.  It’s got 10 programs available, as well, which makes operating the thing a whole lot easier and more effective.

As you can see, we’re pretty high on the microwaves we have available (check our Amana microwaves for examples of other ones we sell), but that’s not all we here at Short Order have to offer.  If you’re looking for any kind of restaurant equipment from a trusted manufacturer, like Vulcan ranges or Manitowoc ice machines, chances are we’ll have it, and we’ll be offering it at a fair price.  At Short Order, we’re here to make your commercial kitchen function more smoothly and efficiently.  Let us help!

Amana microwaves are, for our money, some of the best microwaves on the market.  Even if you’re new to the restaurant business, you’ll certainly recognize their name brand: After all, Amana is an industry leader in home appliances, which include everything from refrigerators to ranges.  You might be surprised to know, then, that they also produce excellent restaurant equipment—indeed, some of their offerings are some of our favorites.  Here’s just a few of the many microwaves that Amana manufactures and that we offer here at Short Order.

Amana Microwave Oven ALD10T

The Amana Microwave Oven ALD10T is an excellent, efficient product.  At $325.00, it’s also reasonably priced.  The 1000-watt ALD10T is NSF-approved, which should come as a seal of approval for all you restaurateurs looking to maintain an NSF-friendly commercial kitchen.  We’re pretty high on this microwave, having designated it an Editor’s Choice product and awarded it a five-star rating.  We’re not the only ones, either: the ALD10T was awarded Best in Class by Food Service Equipment Supplies Magazine, a premier publication in the industry.  All told, this is a solid machine.

Amana Microwave Oven HDC12A

Looking for something a little more heavy-duty?  The Amana Microwave Oven HDC12A will serve you wonderfully.  The HDC12A features a stainless steel exterior and interior and is powered with 1200 watts, giving you plenty of juice to cook with.  Its extra power doesn’t mean that you’re buying a bulky product, however: The HDC12A is remarkably compact.  You get a lot of bang out of this tough guy, which is great news for kitchens where every square foot counts.  And really, what kitchen isn’t like that?

All these microwaves, along with many other products we’re proud to sell here at Short Order, come with our vaunted Low Price Guarantee.  That means you can rest easy knowing you’re getting a good product at a great price when you shop with us.

The Dean Fryer SR42G comes in two flavors.  The first (which is where you’ll be directed if you click on the previous link) is the SR42G-Nat, which runs off natural gas.  The second is the Dean Fryer SR42G-LP, which is powered by liquified petroleum of some sort, usually propane or butane.

Well!  Now that we’ve gotten that unsavory bit of throat-clearing out of the way, here’s the buried lede for you all.  The SR42G, whichever one you end up using, is an excellent lightweight fryer perfect for smaller kitchens looking to fry up some goodness for its customers.  It’s efficient and affordable, costing only $604.  Despite its svelte construction (and price tag), however, this Dean fryer will stand up to some pretty sustained use.

This fryer, like all Dean products, is ingeniously designed.  It seems as though we keep belaboring its size, so if that gets old, we apologize.  However, we just can’t help but point this out: Its incredibly slim design belies its surprisingly large frying area measuring 14″ x 14″, which is perfect for anything from French fries up to large food items.

The efficiency of the SR42G doesn’t end there, however.  This fryer uses an exclusive Thermo-Tube design, in which the heating elements are shaped like tubes, which are surrounded by the cooking oil.  The heat absorption is maximized through a system of diffusers which force the heat directly into the oil, making cooking more efficient.  And since this makes heat-up time quick, idle costs low, and saves on gas consumption per load of food cooked, the Thermo-Tube design means a less aggressive energy bill at the end of the month, which is something we can all cheer about.

Looking for something a little larger?  Check out our other Dean fryers that we have available.  Looking for something else entirely?  At Short Order, we have a wide variety of restaurant equipment, so you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for at a low price.

Microwaves are every bit as indispensable to restaurant kitchens as they are to our own homes.  Indeed, they might even be more so, since, in the high-pressure environment of a commercial kitchen, such a premium is placed on time.  In addition to the commercial microwave’s ability to warm large quantities of food in a rapid manner, they also provide an excellent way to cook low-fat meals, and are also more energy-efficient than many other methods of cooking.

We here at Short Order stock models by two well-known appliance manufacturers, Amana and Panasonic.  Both of these companies make, among other things, excellent microwaves for the home.  But though the make names might be familiar to many home consumers, their capabilities certainly reach beyond what casual microwave operators are used to.  Simply put, these bad boys can cook.  (What’s more, they’re designed and built with NSF sanitation standards in mind, something that really matters to commercial kitchens.)

Without further ado, here’s one microwave from each manufacturer.  As always, these, along with all the other restaurant equipment we offer here at Short Order, are backed by our Low Price Guarantee.

Panasonic Microwave Oven NE-3280

The Panasonic Microwave Oven NE-3280 is a microwaving behemoth, capable of heating virtually anything your kitchen requires in a rapid and even fashion.  It has been voted “Best in Class” by the prestigious Food Service Equipment Supplies Magazine, and has also been given a five-star rating by our editors here.  Ten preset programs are available for quick and uniform results every time.  And its 3200 watts of power means it can cook a lot.

Amana Microwave Oven ALD10T

The Amana Microwave Oven ALD10T is an NSF-approved, Food Service Equipment Supplies Magazine Best-in-Class model perfect for smaller restaurant kitchens.  Though it’s considerably lower-powered than the NE-3280, it’s also significantly more affordable.  And why pull out a jackhammer when all you need is an awl?

June is here, and in Texas that means triple digit temperatures, brown grass, high electric bills, and oh yeah! Father’s Day! Happy Father’s Day to my dad, and all the dads out there.

On a brighter note, the summer does mean busier times for restaurants and vacationing families. Do you notice an up-swing in the summertime? I heard recently that there were less students looking for summer jobs, and more people are choosing to rely on unemployment benefits through the summer. Have you had a hard time filling summer positions? How have you handled it? I’m glad to share any good tips that I receive.

Have you purchased restaurant equipment from Shortorder.com? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Tell us and your peers why. Go to Shortorder.com and submit a product review! Remember, this newsletter is for you and if there is anything you’d like to know more about - give us a shout! We’d love to hear from you.

No, it’s not an oxymoron, nor is it a myth! Frymaster has done some research and written an article on how it can be done!

The Challenge

It’s not easy being a foodservice operator today. Everyone, it seems is telling you how to cook. Government agencies are mandating the removal of trans fats from menus and the Food and Drug Administration expected to deliver recommendations for reducing acrylamide in fried foods next year, delivering maximum taste in foods that are as healthful as possible is a major challenge. Consumers have made it clear that they are not willing to compromise taste for healthfulness. If something doesn’t taste good, they won’t eat it. Witness the multitude of healthy menus items that have been deleted from menus over time because they weren’t ordered.

Customer Demand

That’s why fried foods are more popular than ever with patrons: they consistently deliver on flavor. Data from Mintel, a global research company, shows that chicken wings and fingers, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks are among the top ten appetizers on chain menus. Clearly, frying is one of the most popular cooking methods with patrons and one that provides unique challenges.

The Solution

The good news is that by following a simple set of principles called The 5 Factors for FitFrying, you can be assured your frying methods address current health issues such as trans fat, while also optimizing taste and extending oil life. The 5 Factors for FitFrying program was developed by Frymaster, LLC, a Manitowoc Foodservice company, and offers best practice guidelines for anyone serving fried foods. It consists of five steps you can take to make sure the fried foods you prepare are flavorful and healthful.

Work tables, as we’ve written elsewhere on our fine site, are the fundamental beginning point of employee productivity in any commercial kitchen.  Your workspace may be stocked floor to ceiling with high-end restaurant equipment from all manner of top manufacturers, but if you lack the space to actually do the prep work that is the blood and guts of any restaurant worth its salt, your enterprise will be doomed from the outset.  As fond as we are of them, no number of Vulcan ranges or Hobart slicers will bail you out from a work table shortage.

And when we talk work tables, we hold one manufacturer in higher regard, to a higher standard, than all others: Eagle work tables.  They’re industry leaders, and have earned the coveted five-star editor’s choice designation by our editors here at Short Order.  We also carry other quality manufacturers, such as those from BK Resources (which also makes excellent equipment stands) and Advance Tabco (a trusted forger of kitchen sinks), neither of which make products that are anything to sniff at.

Eagle work tables come in a wide variety of dimensions, which is perfect for restaurants for all sizes.  Not only do smaller concerns benefit from more modest tables, but even in large kitchens, space is at a premium, so it never hurts to have a small table squeezed in a tight nook when it makes sense.

These sizes run from a compact 24″ x 24″ model (the Eagle Work Table T2424B, the perfect size for a small spot next to a sink) to a roomy 36″ x 96″ product (the Eagle Work Table T3096B, great for multiple people doing prep work at the same time, or for conveyor belt-like assembly).  No matter what you decide to buy, you’ll know that it’s a quality piece of equipment because it’s manufactured by Eagle, and that it will come to you at the lowest price, guaranteed, because you bought it from us at Short Order.

Display refrigeration can bring a whole new and enticing element to your restaurant.  If the business you operate attempts to foster a more casual atmosphere, it can be used to stock items like beverages and pre-made salads for your customers.  Traditional can benefit from it by displaying their pies, and even upscale restaurants can proudly display luxury items near their entrance as a way to entice their customers.  Who isn’t at least a little bit swayed by an elaborate display of crab legs or by beholding an outrageously extravagant, gravity-defying chocolate confection?

Display refrigerators, as you might imagine, come in a wide variety of manufacturing flavors.  Here are a few of some of our favorite models, organized by make.  (It’s almost like we’re talking about cars, here!  But no, this is an entirely different kind of eye candy.)

Beverage Air Display Refrigerators

Beverage Air makes some excellent restaurant equipment, and we’ve written about them at length before.  Chances are, if you’re a regular of this blog, you’ll know just how far our fandom goes.  With that in mind, you’ll likely not be surprised how bullish we are on their Beverage-Air Display Refrigeration CDR3 model.  Featuring a roomy, illuminated viewing area, this display refrigerator has plenty of room for your products to be on display.  Its self-closing rear service glass doors allow for easy access to the food inside, making it perfect as a serving area for delis, bakeries, and more.

True Display Refrigerators

True refrigerators don’t get as much press here as some of the other restaurant equipment manufacturers that we carry, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love them anyway.  Take the True Display Refrigeration GDM-9, for example.  This is an excellent self-service model for customers to grab drinks out of before buying them at a counter.  And at only $1,611, while featuring the latest in energy-efficient technology, the GDM-9 is sure to please your pocketbook at least as much as it will any patrons.