Choosing the best commercial kitchen equipment for personal use or for your food business can be a tricky thing to sort out. There are inevitable choices you have to make, such as whether to opt to buy brand new or used kitchen equipment, and each decision should be settled through a thorough deliberation process. Keep in mind that the equipment you use in preparing your meals is crucial to the success of your cooking. They will either help you or give you headaches in the long run, and you’d do well to avoid the latter as much as possible.
Cooking should be a pleasant experience for everyone. Whether someone is already an adept cook or still learning how to do things properly, the kitchen must have equipment that will enable anyone to prepare food without any hassle or any drawbacks. Of course you’d only want the best, hence this article will be of great help in assisting you on how to efficiently shop kitchen equipment.
1. Start with the essentials
If you are on tight budget, starting with the kitchen must-haves is a good decision, especially if you do not want to spend that much to begin with. Some of the essentials every kitchen must have are: a pan designated for everyday use; to help you deal with almost every basic recipe and even do some little baking, a saucepan; and for when you begin to make sauces and the like, a covered casserole.
Other equipment such as refrigerators and freezers such as those from kitchen venture in Singapore in Singapore are also essential to help preserve food longer. You will also need a stove to cook in your kitchen. You also have to get hold of kitchenware such as knives, kitchen tongs, and the like. It is important to equip your kitchen with the necessary tools in order to help you prepare and cook your meals well.
2. Opt to buy commercial-grade equipment
Buying commercial-grade equipment is considered an investment in the long run considering the many times you use it to prepare countless meals. If you buy the best—within your budget, that is—you are likely to prepare food much more efficiently. These tools will help you run the operations in the kitchen smoothly, thus increasing your productivity and enjoyment. Aside from that, these equipment are also generally easier to clean and much more durable, since they were designed with heavy and constant use in mind.
Meet up with a local kitchen equipment supplier to become familiar with the best brands today. If you disclose your budget from the start, chances are you will also be provided with the best plausible options you can take.
3. Buy new, if possible
If your budget allows it, opt to buy new commercial kitchen equipment. Buying brand new is likely to fall in your favor as it will save you from repair costs and other headaches down the road of your business’ journey. You will also be granted the peace-of-mind that you are using something that will remain in proper functioning for the years to come, as long as you handle it properly.
Another perk attached to buying new equipment is that it comes with warranty. Hence for a covered period of time, you don’t have to worry about contacting a local technician to do the repairs nor worry over costs for their services. This perk will protect you against any chance malfunctions, ensuring you that the tool is worth buying.
4. Buy used when practical
When operating on a strict budget, it is likely that you can’t have the option of buying new. Buying used is your best alternative in instances like these. There are premium brand secondhand equipment sold in the market that you can acquire for half the price of a brand new one. Stoves and ovens for instance, which can typically cost you a couple hundred dollars, can be bought for a much lower price in secondhand stores. The money you’ll save from buying used equipment can be allocated to other costs instead, such as buying meal ingredients in bulk.
In Singapore, there are a number of kitchen equipment auctions and even online website auctions you can check. It is best that you have a talk with your kitchen equipment supplier and see if there are relevant details you can get hold of. Who knows, there might be an auction happening next block tomorrow.
5. Inspect any scratches or dents
Regardless of whether you decide to buy new or used commercial kitchen equipment, there are instances of factory malfunctions that arise every now and then. It is then wise to thoroughly inspect your equipment for any scratch or dent in order to get the best of your money’s worth. You have to be extra cautious when buying brand new, especially if you’re putting out lots of dollars on a single tool.
In buying secondhand, however, it is often difficult to find something that hasn’t obviously been through wear and tear. What you can do instead is to ensure that these minor imperfections won’t affect the performance of the unit in the long run.
Remember that an investment in your kitchen equipment can play a crucial role in the success of your business, especially if you’re planning to generate revenue off your cooking. Considering you’re only in the beginning phase of your business, there might be financial restrictions, but having a strict budget is not necessarily a hindrance for you to get quality equipment. A number of shops in Singapore will offer you generous options. Weigh the options you may take for every situation, and anchor every decision based on what is good for your business.