Proper Kitchen Equipment Care And Maintenance
- By: Isabelle
The kitchen is the heart of every restaurant, and it is important to have high quality and well-functioning kitchen equipment to support its success. Regular maintenance is a simple but effective way to make the equipment last longer and perform better. Without this practice, it can reduce equipment utility, lead to waste, and eventually result in high costs and losses in the long run.
To keep your kitchen equipment in tip-top shape, here is a guide on proper kitchen equipment repair and maintenance.
Refrigerated Equipment Maintenance
- All commercial kitchens have a mix of chillers and freezers for the storage of raw ingredients, prepped food, or finished goods.
- In order to minimize downtime, it is critical for restaurants to perform condenser cleaning and service maintenance regularly.
- The recommended frequency is 3 to 6 months. - Without necessary maintenance, refrigerated equipment will definitely experience irregular temperature spikes and eventually breakdowns.
Oven Maintenance
- A common issue with combi ovens is the lack of proper daily cleaning. As grease accumulates within the oven chamber especially after heavy roasting of food containing oil, oven chambers can catch fire and pose a safety hazard to kitchen operators.
- Apart from daily cleaning with manufacturer’s approved chemicals, it is important to factor in extra downtime for ovens to be fully checked and chemically cleaned by professionals as grease can reach areas behind the chamber through the fan vents.
- Grease or leaks in solenoid valves can cause damage to the ovens’ electronic boards which are expensive to replace. Preventing them in advance can reduce overall repair costs in the long run.
Deep Fryer Inspection
The deep fryer is an essential part of any restaurant and is also the biggest fire hazard in any commercial kitchen. An entire mall had to be evacuated after a deep fryer caught fire last year, and the safety of the stall involved was called into question.
To avoid such incidents from happening, it is important for the fryer to be maintained and cleaned daily according to the manufacturer’s manual. Filter and change the oil regularly and wipe off any food particles from the exterior to prevent oil from drizzling onto the floor.
Take note that your deep fryer should be inspected by a professional commercial kitchen equipment supplier or contractor every year. You should also check daily that all fittings are tight, with no leaks in the fry pot.
Staff Training
It is important for the staff to be properly trained in equipment etiquette. Besides knowing how to operate the repair kitchen equipment, your staff also needs to know how to clean them at the end of each working day.
Create a piece of kitchen equipment cleaning procedure and schedule for your staff to follow. Before each deep cleaning session, you should plan a schedule in advance based on the maintenance needs of the kitchen equipment.
Conclusion
Though kitchen equipment maintenance may seem to be a daunting task, the effort spent in its regular maintenance is worth it in the long-term. With constant cleaning and regular preventive maintenance services, not only can you maintain a healthy and hygienic environment, but you also can improve kitchen operation speed and efficiency. Overall, this will be more cost-effective for your business in the long-term.
Begin maintaining your kitchen equipment today and you will be pleased with the positive effects it brings to you and your staff!
