Restaurants around the country are redifining the salad in order to give customers what they want. And they don’t just want a plate of iceberg lettuce — customers want a salad that’s filling, healthy and on par with an entree.

Not too long ago, salads were merely ordered as a side, or when someone didn’t see anything on a restaurant menu that they liked. A last resort, a way to appear healthy, ordering a salad is now neither of those things because consumers really, truly are paying attention to eating healthier meals.

A recent article in QSR Magazine talks about this new, growing trend in restaurants. The article noted that Technomic Information Services’ “Salad Category Report” showed 55 percent of consumers said they ordered a salad most of the time or every time when they dine away from home. This report also showed that if a salad is unique, new and sounds appealing, 43 percent of consumers are likely to purchase it.

Fast food restaurants are even working to meet the demands of consumers by offering affordable salads. It’s a good move for fast food restaurants, since the National Restaurant Association’s 2008 Restaurant Industry Forecast found that entree salads are growing in popularity, according to 59 percent of quick-service operators. What’s more is that they found 76 percent of consumers are trying to eat more healthfully now than they did two years ago.

Restaurant Equipment to Make Salads

Restaurant equipment to make salads is a necessity — just having fresh, delicious ingredients isn’t enough to get the job done. If you’re serving up tasty salads at your restaurant, you’ll need a way to keep the carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, sprouts, dressings and anything else you’ll have on hand at a safe temperature. Kolpak walk-in refrigerators can get that job done. And to give chefs and restaurant staff members a place to chop and dice ingredients, you’ll want a quality commercial work table. Hobart food cutters are also worth considering, as they could help get food prep work done more quickly and efficiently. Get the lowest prices on restaurant equipment at ShortOrder.