What are The Must-Have Restaurant Supplies?

One of the questions that comes up often in any discussion of provisioning a restaurant for business is: which items are absolutely indispensable, and which are ones that someone can get away with waiting to purchase until later. The same question, of course, comes up for home kitchens as well--but of course, many if not most homes come with the most essential needs already in place. There are certain things that obvious needs: a range, ovens, refrigerator, and so on. But from there, some things may be harder to decide on. So we’ve compiled a general list of the must-have restaurant supplies to keep any kitchen running smoothly. Small appliances Not all small appliances are created equal, and not all of them are needed for all operations; however, there are certain things that every kitchen--commercial or residential--should have, to maximize efficiency. While it is technically possible to operate without many of these appliances, it takes far more time and effort to do so. - Blenders (carafe and/or immersion) - Food processors - Mixers - Honorable mention: deep fryers While blending, mixing, and processing ingredients can, of course, be done without the aforementioned appliances, the process takes twice as long--or longer--and the results are impossible to make maintain consistency. The question of whether your operation would function better with only an immersion blender, only a carafe-style blender--or if you need both--is an important one to consider, as well. While a carafe blender is useful for many of the same things that an immersion blender can do, it is not as efficient at, for example, pureeing soups and sauces on the spot--or at some other functions. Deep fryers are useful for a variety of levels of operation, from the home kitchen to the biggest restaurant operation; while you can certainly deep-fry items in a pot on a cooking range, a dedicated deep fryer helps to get consistent results and increases safety as well as speed. However, there are some operations that simply don’t fry--and for them, it’s clearly not a necessity. As a final note: when purchasing small appliances, there are a few general things to look for. Durable construction--particularly for the area where the food is--is vital, as is the ability to break down and clean the necessary components. From there, look at the power that the appliances pull, as well as how effectively that power is used. With those basic guidelines in mind, you can be fairly confident to pick items that will stand up to the kind of constant use you expect from them. Storage and Cleaning Storage and cleaning supplies are a vital need for any kitchen. The best storage containers have firm, watertight seals (some are even airtight), and clear labeling of volume. Polycarbonate and other hard, clear plastics are the best materials, because they’re inert and won’t absorb or leech into the foods stored in them. Polycarbonate withstands temperatures from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 210 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a versatile material--but it does cost more than polypropylene or polyethylene. Shape and size of storage containers are also important considerations: square containers allow for better use of space, but round/cylindrical containers do have their place in the kitchen. Alongside storage, cleaning supplies are an absolute necessity for making sure that the food you serve is safe to eat. Cleaning rags, specially-labeled buckets for cleaning solutions and sanitizer, spray-bottles, and of course cleaning solution concentrates are all important things to keep a surplus of: it is far, far better to have more of these shelf-stable products on hand than it is to run out unexpectedly. For commercial kitchens in particular, it can be difficult to get a food service-compliant replacement on short notice. Beyond these two categories, of course, there are the basic, bare-bones restaurant supplies that anyone can agree on the necessity for: utensils, pots, pans, and service items, and so on. The most basic set of utensils that a kitchen would require includes: saute pans, soup/stock pots, saucepans of at least two sizes, baking sheets and pans, spatulas, ladles, tongs, knives, and whisks. We’ve talked about knives before--and how to select the ones best suited to your budget as well as your needs--and some of the basics of cooking implements like tongs, spatulas, and more; all of the items that you purchase for your kitchen should be easy to clean with the cleaning supplies you have available.