Countertop cooking is all about big power in a small package. This type of restaurant equipment is suited well to smaller kitchens who might lack the space for a full setup, and can include everything from standard griddles to specialty equipment like induction units, sandwich grills and more. Some of our favorite countertop equipment includes fryers, ovens, microwaves and toasters, which can help your kitchen run faster and more efficiently. The best part about countertop cooking is that it helps prevent restaurant menus from being limited to what can physically fit within a smaller kitchen. At Tundra Restaurant Supply, we stock a variety of countertop cooking equipment from the industry's leading manufacturers like Vollrath, Globe, Nemco, Amana, Star and much more!
Countertop Cooking Essentials
If kitchen space is tight and versatility is high on your list, consider a commercial griddle. This single piece of restaurant equipment can take care of service in the morning all the way through your dinner rush. From pancakes to burgers, fajitas and more, griddles can be used to cook practically everything on your menu. When purchasing a commercial griddle, consider whether you want a manual griddle or a thermostatic griddle. Manual griddles give you absolutely control (low, medium, high and everything in between) when it comes temperature, but that means it'll also be up to you to adjust the amount of gas/electricity to maintain that temperature (for example, if you cook a lot of frozen food you need to consider recovery time). Thermostatic griddles on the other hand, work similar to an oven. Set a temperature (say 375° F) and the griddle will automatically adjust to hold it.
Another great (and versatile) piece of equipment most commercial kitchens can't do without? The microwave! This humble (and crazy powerful) restaurant equipment can drastically help you speed up the cooking process. Those with small kitchens that lack a hood can also expand their menus easily with the addition of a microwave. But don't think you can save a few bucks by buying a residential-grade microwave—those microwaves aren't built to handle the day-to-day demands of commercial diners, and you could be footing the bill for new equipment sooner than later. And remember, should the worst-case scenario happen and you've got an insurance agent in your kitchen, it'll be tough to claim as much as a dime if that agent sees anything but commercial-grade equipment in your kitchen!
Finally, our last favorite countertop cooking equipment is the commercial fryer. Practically everything can be fried, and local fairs are proving it (fried stick of butter anyone?). The countertop fryer is great for those who lack the space for a larger one, but still want to feature a large and popular menu. You'll love the versatility you get with this one piece of equipment! With countertop fryers you can add sides like French fries, chicken fingers and much more to your menu.
