Buying restaurant equipment can be a daunting, even frightening task.  Restaurant equipment is not what you would call inexpensive, so you want to make sure you get the right equipment for your restaurant the first time.  To assist you in this endeavor, we created buyer’s guides on our site which enable you to make the best decision.  However, we thought that we would go a step further and provide you with some tips on buying restaurant equipment.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip One

Make sure you do your research.  When buying restaurant equipment, it is best to go into the shopping mode with a full knowledge of what type of equipment you need, what the average cost is, as well as what features are the most important to you.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Two

One of the most frustrating things that can happen when buying restaurant equipment is getting your new brand new refrigerator or prep table and realizing that you don’t have adequate space for it.  Please measure your space and know the required dimensions of the equipment you are buying.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Three

Confirm if your equipment needs to be gas-powered or electric.  Your new pizza oven wouldn’t do you much good if it was electric and your restaurant was running on gas.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Four

Speaking of electricity – you will want to make sure that your new equipment won’t blow a fuse once you plug it in.  Check your available amps and then make sure that your new icemaker doesn’t require more than you have.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Five

When buying restaurant equipment, whether for a new restaurant or as a replacement, try and not get so excited that you buy more equipment that you actually need or can use.  Do you really need three microwave ovens?

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Six

If you are concerned about your environment, you will want to buy restaurant equipment that is Energy Star rated; which means the steamer or dishwasher you are buying meets the high standards of energy efficiency established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Seven

Just as we mentioned in step one, doing your research is important and knowing the manufacturer of your restaurant equipment is just as important.  Make sure that you are buying restaurant equipment that is manufactured by a respectable company with an impeccable history of quality.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Eight

Know your financial limits when buying restaurant equipment.  Make sure that the brand-new walk-in with all the fun and exciting bells and whistles meets your needs and doesn’t go over your budget.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Nine

Before you go out and buy all the restaurant equipment you could ever want and need, it is best to contact your local health, fire and building code department to ensure your equipment will be code compliant.

Buying Restaurant Equipment: Tip Ten

Finally, you will want to buy your restaurant equipment from a dependable and high quality dealer that stands behind everything they sell.  This is where ShortOrder.com comes in.  At ShortOrder.com you know that you are getting the highest quality restaurant equipment from top manufacturers, such as Vulcan, Hobart, Manitowac, and Beverage-Air.

We hope that these restaurant equipment buying tips were helpful.  However, if you find that you still have some questions; please feel free to give one of our customer service agents a call.  They are more than happy to help.

When it comes to choosing a commercial range for your kitchen, the choices seem endless. Why is one range more expensive? Where do you start? Commercial ranges come in many shapes and sizes and are manufactured by different companies like Vulcan and Wolf. You can get a
standard oven, convection oven or space saver oven, and with as many or as few burners as you need, with or without a griddle. There is a variation to fit the needs of any commercial kitchen.

Heavy Duty vs. Restaurant Duty Commercial Ranges

Hotels, hospitals, schools, institutions and some high volume restaurants use heavy duty commercial ranges. They have higher energy output and shorter cooking time. Most restaurants and chains can get by with a high quality, restaurant duty commercial range. They can usually accommodate a salamander broiler or cheesemelter.

Heavy Duty Commercial Ranges

Heavy Duty commercial ranges are durable ranges with larger gas valves to allow for easier combining of other components. They can be batteried together to create large units for high volume kitchens and
are built to withstand intense use. They do cost more both up front and in service fees. The higher energy output also means higher energy costs.

Restaurant Duty Commercial Ranges

Restaurant duty commercial ranges are suitable as free standing models with BTU and power levels close to the heavy duty standards, but for an economical price. They cost less and have lower service fees, but they are more costly to install and are not built to withstand intense use as well as the heavy duty commercial ranges.

Commercial Range Configurations

Just about any mix of open burners and griddle tops are available for commercial ranges. Convection ovens can also be added to the standard oven base.

Open Gas Burners for Commercial Ranges

The top choice for most professional kitchens, open gas burner commercial ranges provide instantaneous heat that is easily controlled. Look for easily removable top grates, a wide range of flame heights, ring or star burners, individual pilot lights for each burner and consider the BTU rating.

Griddles for Commercial Ranges

Instead of a burner, you can choose a griddle for the top of all or part of your commercial range. It is a flat metal plate made of steel, cast iron or aluminum and food is cooked directly on top allowing multiple food items to cook simultaneously. Look for a large grease trough for easy clean up, manual valve controls for user regulated temperature control, thermostatic controls for accurate temperature control and a non stick or well seasoned surface.

Other Considerations When Choosing a Commercial Range

Sold as options on most commercial ranges, casters are highly recommended for easy clean up and service. Also, if you will be using your range at an elevation above 2000 feet, be sure to note that while ordering. Gas valves must be adjusted to account for higher elevations.

As with any gas appliance, be sure and include a new AGA commercial gas flex hose. They are designed extremely heavy duty, usually with a brass quick connect. Standard, plumber supplied home-type flex hoses are not designed for commercial applications and are not NSF approved.

Restaurant equipment dealers are starting to get a little busier this month, and that could be attributed to the restaurant industry seeing an overall improvement to business compared to the past few months.

Restaurant Equipment Dealers Enjoy Business Increase

According to an article that appeared last week on Forbes.com and on the Associated Press wire, privately-held restaurant chains, single locations and locations that have been open at least one year were down in August in 42 percent of the respondent restaurants.  However, these same restaurants are starting to see an increase in their sales this month, possibly due to the easing up of gas prices. This means that restaurant equipment dealers are seeing a business increase as well.

Restaurant Equipment Dealers See the Light

The article also stated that publicly-held restaurant companies are starting to see nice improvements in their stocks, with some stocks increasing by almost two dollars a share.  This light at the end of the business slump tunnel is great for everyone in the restaurant industry, including restaurant equipment dealers, as each section of the industry depends on the sales in the restaurants.  Though this means people in the restaurant industry are busy, it’s safe to say they’re probably not complaining.

Restaurant Equipment Dealers Have What You Need

With an increase in business in September and with the busy holiday season fast approaching, this might be a great time to check out all of your restaurant equipment and make sure that it is all up to snuff.  ShortOrder has the widest selection of commercial kitchen equipment at great prices.  We carry commercial ranges, ice machines, refrigerators and so much more from companies like Manitowoc, Vulcan, Hobart, Beverage-Air and Frymaster.

If you are finding that some of your equipment is in need of replacing, make sure to contact one of ShortOrder’s restaurant equipment specialists.

The 2008 NRA Show is Coming!! The 2008 NRA Show is Coming!!

That’s right! It’s true! It isn’t a typo! The 2008 NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel show is being held in Chicago on May 17th through May 20th; and the 89th year is sure not to disappoint. There are going to be so many exciting things to see and do there. There will be several special events and booths, such as “Ask the Design Experts,” Celebrity Book Signings, Chef Day, the “International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event,” and our personal favorite, the “2008 Kitchen Innovation Awards” Booth.

2008 NRA Show Brings Top Vendors

Strolling down the aisles of the 2008 NRA show, you will be sure to see all the newest equipment from all the top restaurant equipment manufacturers. The manufacturers will be pulling out all the stops to make their equipment stand out in hopes of winning a 2008 Kitchen Innovation Award; or at the very least, in hopes that you will stop by and see what they have that you just got to have in your kitchen.

Some of our favorite vendors will be there, so make sure you stop by their booths and check out their new gadgets and gizmos. Frymaster and Hobart have “Hot New Products” that are debuting at the show. Beverage-Air, Manitowoc, The Montague Company and Vulcan will all be there showing off their wares as well.

Come Join the Fun at the 2008 NRA Show

Now its time to start packing your bags, booking your flights and joining all of us at ShortOrder.com in Chicago for the most fun-filled four days this spring. However, if business is booming and you can’t seem to find the time to leave the restaurant to come join us … Never fear! We promise to keep you updated on all the cool things as they happen.

*photo by the National Restaurant Association

Green Restaurants Are Here to Stay

Green restaurants are sprouting up all over the place, as they should be. Restaurant patrons have a growing daily concern for the health of their environment and the health of their families. They are making their homes, apartments, offices, cars and lives more green; why wouldn’t they want their favorite dining spot to do the same thing. Fortunately for commercial kitchens everywhere, restaurant equipment manufacturers are helping out.

Green Restaurant Equipment

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have united to form the Energy Star movement. Currently, five categories of commercial restaurant equipment have established Energy Star guidelines. They are fryers, hot food holding cabinets, refrigerators/freezers, dishwashers, and steam cookers. These certified units can save over 40% in energy costs compared to non-Energy Star models.

Some examples of Energy Star rated equipment are the Vulcan VPX3 Counter Boilerless/Connectionless Electric Steamer, the Hobart LXi Undercounter High Temp Dishwasher, and the Frymaster H55 High-Efficieny Gas Fryer.

We care about the environment at ShortOrder.com; so if you have questions about Energy Star rated equipment that we carry, just give us a shout and we will be happy to help.

Green Restaurant Tips

You don’t need to buy all new equipment at one time to become a greener restaurant. There are several other things that you can do to start you down the green path.

• You can use low-flow pre-rinse spray nozzles at the dish machines.
• Use compact fluorescent lamps instead of light bulbs in break rooms, storage rooms, offices, walk-in refrigerators, etc.
• Use take-out containers that can be recycled (#1 and #2 plastics and aluminum) instead of Styrofoam.
• Use organic foods in the kitchen.
• Make sure to use recycled paper products whenever possible (i.e. napkins, office paper, menus)
• Install occupancy sensors in the restrooms, storage rooms and any other low-traffic rooms. Lights will turn off automatically when the rooms are unoccupied.

Here’s to greener restaurants and a greener future!