When you cook hamburgers at your restaurant, do you use char broilers or griddles? Do you season the patty? And what about the bun? We realize these questions can result in a heated debate when those passionate about hamburgers are asked to answer, but, really, there’s no right answer. There are countless ways to make delicious hamburgers, and here is some quick information on restaurant equipment that can help you get the job done.

Commercial Griddles

Hamburgers call for high-production griddles since more recovery is needed. Relatively simple restaurant equipment, griddles allow you to cook a variety of food at once without taste contamination. Commercial griddles may be made out of cast iron, aluminum or steel, and they should sit on either a refrigerated base with drawers or a heavy-duty stainless steel stand with casters. When choosing one, keep in mind that gas griddles are less costly to operate and cheaper to maintain than electric griddles.

Commercial Char Broilers

Grill marks on the patty are a trademark of char broilers, which are designed to bring the taste of the backyard grill inside. Getting grill marks on the meat can be achieved with radiant heat or with char rocks. One thing to keep in mind with char broilers is that they have a high energy use, since there’s an open burner that has to be lit the entire time you’re using the char broiler.

Be sure and check out our selection of char broilers, including the APW Char Broiler GCRB-24H-NAT, a unit that runs on natural gas. It’s also the recipient of an Editor’s Choice award and a five-star rating.

Restaurant Equipment at ShortOrder.com

You’ll find much more than just griddles and char broilers at ShortOrder.com, where our Low Price Guarantee means you have the assurance that you’re getting your restaurant equipment for the lowest price. From Manitowoc ice machines to Dean fryers, ShortOrder.com has you covered.

Beverage-Air kegerators, also called draft beer coolers, are ultra sleek — and they’re the perfect way to keep your keg chilled and maintained for typically up to a couple of months. Since beer can be very sensitive to temperature, Beverage-Air kegerators keep it cool at the temperature it needs to be in order to maintain the quality in taste.

For restaurants and bars, Beverage-Air kegerators can be quite useful. Not only do they keep the beer chilled to an ideal temperature, but they make it easy to serve beer since they have a faucet. With the outstanding quality of Beverage-Air, kegerators made by this company are known for being reliable and durable. There are several different kinds of Beverage-Air kegerators offered at ShortOrder.com. So depending on your needs, you’re likely to find something that will work well in your restaurant or bar.

Something that’s great about Beverage-Air kegerators is that they come complete with interior lighting, durable exteriors, self-closing doors with locks. Many of these units offered at ShortOrder.com are highly rated, with Editor’s Choice ratings and five-star ratings. One of those is the Beverage-Air DD58-1-B Kegerator. This draft beer cooler is one of our top sellers.

Beverage-Air Kegerators for Your Home

If you think the idea of having the ability to serve draft beer in your own home sounds like the best thing ever, you’re not alone. Buying Beverage-Air kegerators or draft beer coolers for the home is something that’s getting more and more popular. Having a kegerator is perfect for entertaining. It can also cut way down on bottle and can trash. Plus, buying beer in kegs can usually be a bit cheaper than buying the same amount in bottle or can form. The classy, clean look of a Beverage-Air kegerator is simply unbeatable, though.

More Than Beverage-Air Kegerators

You’ll find more than Beverage-Air kegerators here at ShortOrder.com. We have an impressive selection of restaurant equipment. Don’t miss Vulcan ranges, Manitowoc ice machines and more.

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) recently released employment projections for summer 2009, and the information is positive: It’s expected that eating and drinking places across the country will add over 381,000 jobs during summer. This is a 4.1 percent increase from the employment level in March of ‘09.

Many are interpreting this good news as an indication that the restaurant industry is recovering from the economic downturn. Jobs in the restaurant industry play a large role in America, as there are 13 million employees working at about one million restaurants in America — which makes the restaurant industry one of the biggest employers in the country. In the next decade, it’s expected that there will be 15 million employees in the restaurant industry.

An article in QSR Magazine talked about the NRA’s projections, noting that the industry added jobs in May for the first time in 10 months, though U.S. employment growth remains negative. Because of travel and tourism in the summer months, restaurants typically beef up their staff to be prepared for an increase in traffic. Only the construction industry beats the restaurant industry when it comes to America’s largest creators for seasonal jobs during summer.

So which states will add the most jobs at eating and drinking places for summer 2009? New York tops the list with 32,900 jobs; Calfornia comes in a close second with 30,900 jobs; and Texas is third with 26,400 jobs. On the other end, because summer isn’t their peak season for travel and tourism, the states of Arizona and Florida will see a decline in employment.

Keep Up with Summer Restaurant Traffic

Does your restaurant typically see an increase in traffic during the summer months? Be sure you’ll be able to handle more customers by getting quality, reliable restaurant equipment. From Vulcan ranges to Vita-Mix Blenders, ShortOrder.com has the lowest prices on restaurant equipment.

Affordable restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com includes everything from Cadco sandwich grills to waffle irons. And no matter what you buy at ShortOrder.com, you have the assurance that you’re getting it at the lowest price thanks to our Low Price Guarantee on restaurant equipment. If you find an item priced lower than it is at ShortOrder.com, we’ll refund 110% of the difference on an identical item from another dealer. This truly makes our store the best place to get affordable restaurant equipment.

We know that because of the rising costs of food, restaurant profits are suffering. One idea to handle this situation is to purchase affordable restaurant equipment, especially the type of restaurant equipment that produces popular menu items. An example is sandwich grills — these are affordable and enable you to quickly serve your customers a menu item that many in the industry currently consider to be one of the hottest and most popular.

Affordable restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com isn’t just limited to sandwich grills. You’ll also find affordable restaurant equipment like hot dog cookers, ranges and char broilers, to name a few. We offer equipment from well known brands like Vulcan, Manitowoc, Frymaster and Globe. With such a great selection, you’re bound to find all the affordable restaurant equipment you need.

Shop for Affordable Restaurant Equipment

Restaurants looking to save money should shop for affordable restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com. We understand all it takes to open and operate a restaurant and are proud to offer the lowest prices out there. Shop for affordable restaurant equipment today at ShortOrder.com!

Restaurant menu items that seems to be getting hotter and hotter as of late? Grilled sandwiches and paninis! If you own a restaurant, you may want to consider getting sandwich grills for your kitchen so that you’ll be able to put these popular items on the menu. What’s even better is that sandwich grills are affordable restaurant equipment. This has the possibility to allow you to add new menu items without spending more than your budget allows.

Also sometimes called sandwich toasters, sandwich grills are must-haves in delis and lunch spots, as they allow chefs to quickly deliver toasted sandwiches and paninis to hungry customers. Melted cheese with warm, crunchy toasted bread — it’s an irresistible menu item that can be easily paired with chips, a salad or another delicious side. When it comes to sandwich grills, most have a pressure element like a hinged lid with an embedded heat element that swings down on the food. This is for compressing sandwiches to make sure the bread and what’s between the bread are evenly browned.

Cadco Sandwich Grills

At ShortOrder.com, we offer a couple of different Cadco Sandwich Grills. Both of these units have received an Editor’s Choice rating from ShortOrder, meaning they’re quality restaurant equipment of good value.

For consistent quailty and reliable production, the Cadco Sandwich Grill CP-10 is a medium-duty unit with an Editor’s Choice rating. There’s also the Capco Sandwich Grill CPG-20, a 24-inch sandwich grill that also provides consistent quality and reliable production. You’ll want to consider the size of each of these restaurant toasters and decide what best fits your needs.

Sandwich Grills at the Lowest Prices

You’ll find sandwich grills and an impressive selection of restaurant equipment at the lowest prices at ShortOrder.com. With our Low Price Guarantee, you have the assurance that you’re getting the lowest price out there. Shop today for sandwich grills!

We all know times are tight right now. Some experts are pointing towards signs of a slow recovery, the keyword there being slow. How do you keep customers coming into your restaurant, and more importantly spending money?

Get the customers in the door!

You might consider lowering the prices on your offerings, or offering free desserts to entice clients. In order to make up for lower tickets, you’ll need to turn more tables. Avoid rushing the customer experience, but the more tables you turn, the more money you’ll make.

In house marketing

It’s usually pretty affordable to get some table tents and run contests to encourage servers to up-sell. Sometimes it’s as easy as a server walking through the restaurant with a fresh loaf of garlic bread or some sizzling onions, both known to stir hunger in customers.

Broaden your appeal

Do you donate to charity? Perhaps you could consider it now. Have charity nights on your slower nights. Encourage customers to bring in canned goods for a local charity and offer $5 off a ticket of $30 with 3 canned goods. Or host a job fair and let local businesses set up tables for short interviews — have a “job fair” special for those attending.

Customer service

Customer service will be of utmost importance for your business now. Gone are the days of snooty servers; guests will want to be treated as such and want to feel welcome and appreciated.

Though the economic recovery is sure to be a slow one, it is not time to cut marketing budgets, no matter how tempting that may be. Encourage locals to choose your business over the others by teaming up with other local businesses for a co-marketing theme coupon (think dinner and a movie, or family night out).

Flexible restaurateurs are sure to succeed in any economy, so think outside of the box and have some fun with it!

Discount restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com means big savings for restaurant owners. We understand that equipment costs can add up quickly, whether you’re replacing old restaurant equipment or opening a brand-new restaurant. With all the costs involved with operating a business, discount restaurant equipment can really help owners and managers meet their budget and save money.

Discount Restaurant Equipment: Ranges

Looking to save big on commercial ranges? Discount restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com includes discount prices on ranges. Vital to most restaurant kitchens, ranges are a popular and much desired type of discount restaurant equipment. Don’t miss Vulcan ranges at ShortOrder.com — they’re well known for their durability, quality and value.

Discount Restaurant Equipment: Scratched and Dented

If you don’t mind discount restaurant equipment that has minor damage from freight but is still good and working, scratched and dented restaurant equipment might be a great option for you. This type of discount restaurant equipment can mean serious savings for restaurant owners who don’t mind that the appearance of the product is slightly damaged.

Buy Discount Restaurant Equipment

Buy discount restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com, where we carry a huge selection of equipment. Find Manitowoc ice machines, Vulcan ranges, Frymaster fryers, Globe slicers and more — and they’re all at great prices. Even if you’re buying something that isn’t at a discount, restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com has a low-price guarantee that means you have the assurance that you’re getting it for the lowest price possible. Many items are also rated as Editor’s Choice or with five stars to show that they’re outstanding.

Don’t miss discount restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.com. From slicers to ranges, we have everything you need for your restaurant — and it’s all offered at low prices.

Restaurant health inspections are just a simple way to prevent your kitchen from being attacked by illnesses. It’s a way to keep your customers happy and healthy. If you have one coming up, here are some helpful tips on what to do before the restaurant inspector even arrives.

What to Do Before an Inspector Visits

Without a health inspection, your restaurant could fall victim to a food borne-illness outbreak that could ruin your establishment’s reputation and even force you to close your doors.

The proper strategy for a successful health inspection is to be ready for an examination at any time. This means that you and your managers should become inspectors and conduct weekly, in-house examinations before health inspectors arrive.

When conducting a self-assessment, you should use the same form — or a similar form — that your health department uses and put yourself in the health inspector’s place.

Your self-inspection should include walking into your establishment from the outside to get an outsider’s impression.

After you inspect your operation, hold a 10-minute briefing with kitchen staff to review any problems. This step will help convey the importance of food safety to staff members.

If your staff includes employees for whom English is a second language, ask a bilingual employee to translate the findings to them so they also understand how important cleanliness is to the success of your restaurant.

Your self-inspection priorities for kitchen employees should include: food temperature, awareness of food types and hand washing.

Temperature guidelines include checking the temperature of products when they arrive, when they are stored and when they are served. Doing this will reduce food borne-illness outbreaks by 70 percent.

Food-type guidelines are divided into three categories: beef and beef blood; chicken; and all other types of food. These three categories can never touch each other during preparation.

The importance of hand washing should be re-enforced by posting signs at all kitchen sinks and in employee restrooms.

Train your managers to ensure that they are up-to-date on the latest food-safety techniques. Restaurant employees can use the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s ServSafe food-safety training program.

Review your local health code for any special, local requirements.

Another way to influence the outcome of your restaurant health inspection is to get involved politically. Join your state’s health-code-revision committee to give a restaurateur’s perspective. Involve senior staff on such committees as well.

These helpful tips were put together by the National Restaurant Association.

Thanks to all who contribute!

Lately, it seems newspapers and online media have had nothing but gloomy stories about the economy. Jobs cut, profits down — these are indeed stressful times for businesses. But an article recently from Forbes.com talks about how restaurants might prove to be more resilient than other consumer-dependent industries.

The article pointed out how in a note to investors, one analyst said that traffic might be down relative to what it was in more “robust times,” but same-store sales are “holding up relatively well.”

Many restaurant chains have even recently reported fairly strong sales trends, like Buffalo Wild Wings. So how do you explain this? The article says consumers have a desire for comfort from “the storm of daily living.”

This means, essentially, that restaurants are providing an escape for consumers who are looking for one. And with restaurants offering up specials and money-saving deals, consumers are enticed to skip cooking at home and go out to dinner. The deals are sometimes just too good for people to pass up, like dollar menus and buy-one-get-one-free deals.

Keep Your Restaurant Cooking with ShortOrder

ShortOrder.com has a ton of restaurant equipment that will keep your restaurant cooking. We have everything you need, from Vulcan ranges to Manitowoc ice machines. What’s even better is they’re offered at the lowest prices thanks to our Low Price Guarantee on restaurant equipment. So if you find an item priced lower than ShortOrder.com, we’ll refund 110% of the difference.

Save Money on Restaurant Costs with Efficient Equipment

With the economic downturn, restaurants may be looking to save money. One of the easiest ways to do that is to make sure you have efficient restaurant equipment. These products can help lower operating costs, making your energy bills lower. Look for Energy Star rated commercial fryers from Frymaster at ShortOrder and other Energy Star rated appliances.

This year, make it your resolution as a restaurant industry professional to save some money while saving the environment. Making your restaurant green is trendy, but more importantly, it’s for the future!

Did you know?

- Last year, almost 30% of all meals (and 40% of of food dollars) were eaten away from home
- Nationwide, the restaurant industry consumes 1/3rd of all retail electricity use
- Demand for organic food is growing at a rate of 25% per year

What can you do?

The website GoGreener.org has a large amount of helpful information for you, but here are some statistics and tips:

- Cooking equipment consumes the largest share of energy in most restaurants. Try to purchase energy efficient equipment — those featuring the Energy Star rating from the US EPA. Most of the Beverage Air line is Energy Star rated, and you can find it here at ShortOrder.com.

- Turn on electric appliances sequentially rather than all at the same time.

- Keep everything clean! The more debris that collects, the harder the restaurant appliances have to work.

- Install light sensitive dimmers that automatically dim when outside natural light is strong enough.

- Install occupancy sensors in restrooms and storage areas – they will turn off lights automatically when the rooms aren’t occupied.

- Install low-flow valves on pre-rinse sprayers. They cost just a few dollars reduce water use by 50% and could save hundreds per year in both heating and water costs.

For more information, check out GoGreener.org. Together, we can help make 2009 more profitable now and for the future!