Those that think your at-home variety of toaster will cut it in a commercial kitchen, think again. Commercial toasters are engineered to meet the high demands of a restaurant without frying out prematurely. Before purchasing a commercial toaster for your restaurant, first consider what you're toasting and how much of it. For example, a commercial pop up toaster would for a hotel that wants to provide a toaster to guests for a morning continental breakfast; a diner that serves breakfast all day will need a unit better equipped to handle that demand. Also don't fail to take the physical size of the toaster into account. Conveyor toasters need as much as 14 inches in counter space, so be prepared for the sizable footprint on your countertop.
Types of Commercial Toasters
The most popular commercial toasters you'll find gracing the countertops in restaurants are pop up toasters, conveyor toasters and bun and bagel toasters. When choosing which commercial toaster is right for you, also consider additional features such as programmable options, wall mount and stacking kits, convertible options and much more.
Pop Up Toasters
Pop up toasters are similar to the ones you had at home except that commercial pop up toasters can toast up to 500 slices of bread per hour and won't burn out in the process! For those who may serve the occasional brunch, this toaster is perfect for you.
Conveyor Toasters
For those who serve up a busy morning service or have 24-hour breakfast, look to the conveyor toaster, which can get you as much as 3 times the amount of toast slices than a traditional pop up toaster. Conveyor toasters work by moving bread along a belt within a heated chamber to toast boast sides quickly and efficiently. With conveyor toasters it's important to be aware of product specifications—some conveyor toasters are not suited for thick slices of bread, like Texas Toast or bagels (you might be able to get it in the toaster, but having enough clearance for the bread to flip properly in the back of the toaster is a whole other matter.
Bagel and Bun Toasters
Bagel shops or hamburger joints do well with specialized toasters like bagel toasters or bun toasters. Bagel toasters work by utilizing just one set of heating elements (on the interior) for the perfect toasted interior and warm and soft exterior. Bun toasters on the other hand utilize griddle plates instead of heating elements. With griddle plates you can toast items dry or use oil, making it perfect for restaurants who serve up hundreds of burgers and sandwiches per day.
