Countertop cooking equipment is as essential as the full-size units. From countertop ovens to hot plates, countertop cooking equipment is a lifesaver for commercial kitchens of all sizes, as every kitchen needs these small appliances for daily use. We have prepared a list of countertop cooking equipment for your business’s needs from this point forward.
1. Commercial Countertop Ovens
An oven is indispensable in a commercial kitchen. Countertop ovens’ contact sizes allow you to fit them wherever you want, eliminating concerns about the size of your commercial kitchen and enabling you to use your space more efficiently. They are not just perfect for small kitchens, but they are also efficient for warming foods or roasting little portions or sides. They eliminate the need for full-size heating units, saving time and energy. Most commercial oven types are available in countertop models, so you can choose whichever type you want depending on what you will use it.
a. Commercial Countertop Convection Oven
Using fans to circulate hot air, countertop convection ovens are essential pieces of countertop cooking equipment. The fans prevent food from drying, cook evenly, and lower cooking times. Countertop convection ovens take up minimal space, saving you valuable area in your commercial kitchen, unlike standalone convection ovens.
b. Commercial Countertop Conveyor Oven
A conveyor oven cooks food by moving it through the oven on a conveyor belt. This system ensures the food cooks evenly, allowing you to place additional items to cook as the belt continually moves and cooks. A countertop conveyor oven is ideal for heating food or cooking small portions without the need to heat a full-size oven, and it is also energy-efficient.
c. Commercial Countertop Deck Oven
A deck oven bakes via a heated stone and uses radiant heat. It allows controlling both upper and lower slopes separately, providing complete control of the heat. Deck ovens are also recognized for their energy efficiency, resulting in lower operational costs. Additionally, a commercial deck oven can be heated by gas, electricity, or thermal oil, and some models include a steamer, allowing you to choose the most convenient option for your business. In our “How to Choose the Best Commercial Oven” blog post, you can find detailed information about commercial deck ovens.
d. Commercial Countertop Steam Oven
Steam cooking is a healthy method of cooking that can be used for vegetables, seafood, and many other foods, which helps keep the food more nutritious, moist, and flavorful than other cooking methods. Plus, the steam will make the food cook faster.
e. Commercial Microwave Ovens
Commercial microwave ovens are the easiest way to rapidly cook or heat food in a short amount of time. Since they don’t require ventilation, they come in handy. There are also power options, including light, medium, and heavy-duty versions, allowing you to choose one that suits your business volume. Ones with higher power will cook faster.
f. Commercial Countertop Rapid Cook Oven
Rapid cook or high-speed ovens are other practical pieces of commercial countertop cooking equipment that combine various cooking methods to achieve optimal outcomes. The microwave is one of these methods, combined with convection cooking, that allows for ideal cooking or baking. The convection heat completes the baking process, eliminating the cold spots that microwaving may cause, or adds a crunchy finish or browning to pizzas or other baked goods.
The impingement method involves sending jets of hot air directly to the food, significantly reducing cooking times. It is generally used for melting or browning foods to achieve a finished look.
g. Commercial Countertop Pizza Oven
A commercial countertop pizza oven is helpful for various tasks beyond just cooking pizza. You can use this compact unit to warm or bake a variety of foods. Because it saves you extra counter space, it’s ideal for small-footprint restaurants that require multiple cooking options.
A countertop pizza oven can be deck or conveyor style. By stacking multiple conveyor ovens on top of each other, you can expand production. Most countertop pizza ovens are electric-powered, allowing you to place them on any countertop with an electrical connection.
For more information about commercial ovens, refer to our blog post, “A Complete Guide for Commercial Kitchen Ovens.”
2. Commercial Deep Fryers
A commercial deep fryer can use either gas or electricity as a heat source, so deciding which one is suitable for your establishment is the first step before choosing a commercial countertop deep fryer. A countertop electric deep fryer heats up quickly and is generally less expensive than gas models. You need to ensure you have the same voltage as your electric fryer requires. Countertop gas fryers maintain heat more effectively than electric types, but they can take longer to heat up initially.
Commercial donut fryers are countertop cooking equipment with specially designed pans that are large enough to accommodate donuts and funnel cakes. Ventless models eliminate the need for additional ventilation, allowing you to use the fryer anywhere and saving you money. Lastly, greaseless fryers fry without oil and hot air instead. They are healthier and easier to clean than standard fryers.
3. Commercial Griddles
You can cook almost everything on a commercial griddle, from bacon to pancakes. Commercial griddles are typically electric or gas-heated and constructed from aluminum, cast iron, or steel. A teppanyaki griddle fits neatly into the countertop, making the cooking process an attractive display. The middle part is for cooking, and the sides are for warming.
4. Commercial Charbroilers
Commercial charbroilers are a type of grill that is designed for indoor use. This countertop cooking equipment imparts a smoky flavor and creates grill marks. They are generally larger than griddles, allowing them to cook a more diverse range of food at once. A charbroiler can be heated by gas, electricity, lava rock, wood, or radiant heat, allowing you to choose the best option for your commercial kitchen. Unlike griddles, they can be made from a more diverse range of materials and are generally used for grilling meat, fish, or vegetables.
5. Commercial Broilers
A commercial broiler is typically used to finish dishes, roast meat, or melt cheese by using radiant heat. A rotisserie broiler is a countertop cooking appliance designed with a skewer that rotates the food, providing even cooking. While radiant heat browns the food, convection roasts, and it is generally used to cook the chicken slowly, and it simultaneously serves as a display. But you can cook various dishes, types of mea,t or seafood.
Another type of broiler is the salamander broiler, which cooks with infrared heat and maintains heat for longer than other types. They’re designed to cook only the top part of the dishes and apply a very high-intense temperature directly to the food through the top heaters, adding a final touch by browning, caramelizing, or melting for the last effect.
Gyro machines (vertical broilers) are countertop cooking equipment specially designed for commercial kitchens to cook some well-known Greek, Turkish, and Mediterranean foods.
6. Commercial Steamers
Cooking with steam allows food to retain its color, flavor, and moisture, which is precisely what a steamer does. Commercial steamers offer a healthier cooking method and help prevent food from drying out. There are two types of it: pressure and convection steamers. Pressure steamers are renowned for their fast cooking, while convection steamers cook at lower temperatures, resulting in high-quality results. Convection steamers are preferable due to their lower price. One of the crucial points to consider before buying a commercial countertop steamer is the type of water supply it requires. While some need to be filled manually, others draw water directly from the water line.
7. Tilt Skillets
A tilt skillet is a countertop cooking equipment that can fry, grill, simmer, or sauté large amounts of food. As the name suggests, the most distinctive feature of a tilt skillet is its capability to tilt the pan, providing easy transfer of food, and this is achieved with lever handles in countertop models. They come in either gas or electric models. Whereas gas types heat up more quickly, electric ones use less energy.
8. Commercial Hot Plates
Commercial hot plates can serve as an alternative to a range, providing extra cooking equipment when space is limited for a full-size range in a commercial kitchen. A commercial hot plate can have 1, 2, or 4 burners and can be either gas or electric. Electric hot plates are available in solid plate burners and coil burners, and are safer than gas models. In contrast, gas hot plates typically use cast iron or stainless steel grates, are more affordable, and cook more rapidly.
9. Commercial Rice Cookers
A commercial rice cooker is a necessary piece of countertop cooking equipment for every restaurant that serves rice on its menu. Aside from cooking rice, a rice cooker can also keep rice warm, and some models even automatically switch to warming mode after cooking.
10. Commercial Waffle Makers
Waffles are one of the most preferred desserts these days, with many new variations. Therefore, having a commercial waffle maker would be wise to boost the business. Commercial waffle makers come in three types: Belgian waffle makers, bubble waffle makers, and cone makers. Their features are almost identical; they are all made of heat-retaining materials, but the differences lie in shape and size.
11. Commercial Crepe Maker
Crepe is a versatile food that can be served with a wide variety of ingredients, from meat to sweets. Therefore, a commercial crepe maker is one of the essential countertop cooking appliances for an establishment that serves crepes on its menu. A crepe maker is a kind of griddle made of cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic, designed as a double or single round.
12. Panini Press
A panini press is a type of hot plate with two plates used to create grill marks or toast food by applying pressure. It can be made of cast iron, stainless steel, or aluminum. Panini presses and grills can be used in various ways, from making sandwiches to browning food. Depending on your usage frequency, you can choose from medium or heavy-duty panini presses.
13. Countertop Smokers
Countertop smokers, also known as indoor smokers, are compact commercial cooking equipment that provide barbecue meat flavor without filling the indoors with smoke. Thanks to their portable design, they’re made for limited cooking operations inside, but you can take them to outdoor events or catering.
14. Sous Vide Immersion Circulators
Sous vide immersion circulators are commercial countertop cooking equipment designed to cook food in a vacuum-sealed bag in water at a consistent temperature. Sous vide cooking technique is preferred for its healthy, and you can have high-quality sous vide immersion circulators to cook the food for the healthy-eating addicts.
15. Commercial Egg Stations
Commercial egg stations are great countertop helpers for breakfast preparation and other made-to-order egg recipes. They use heat and steam to cook the eggs while preserving their texture.
16. Commercial Cheese Melters
Commercial cheese melters allow you to melt cheese, heat sandwiches, and warm pre-cooked food. You can warm the plates and prepare for the service. Commercial cheesemelters are compact countertop cooking equipment that adds the finishing touch to your dishes by browning or caramelizing the toppings.
17. Countertop Hot Dog Rollers
Countertop hot dog rollers hold approximately 10-75 hot dogs and cook them evenly to a minimum temperature of 145°F. They help you keep the hot dogs warm till the service.
To Sum Up
A commercial kitchen is where the chefs create their masterpieces with the assistance of commercial equipment. Countertop cooking equipment holds an essential place in a commercial kitchen and is not just ideal for small establishments. Still, it is the backbone of any cook, providing the speed and facilities they need.
