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Commercial convection oven in a café kitchen

Commercial Cooking
Buying Guide

Ovens, fryers, griddles and grills explained.

The Heart of Your Kitchen

Your cooking line decides how fast food leaves the pass. Build it around your menu.

Every menu needs a different mix of cooking equipment. A café might run on a microwave, a panini grill and a convection oven. A burger bar lives on its griddle and fryers. This guide explains each type of commercial cooking equipment, so you can pick the right mix for yours.

Commercial Cooking Equipment Types

Convection Ovens

Convection Ovens

A fan spreads the heat for even results on every shelf. Great for baking and roasting.

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Pizza Ovens

Pizza Ovens

Stone decks for crisp bases. Single and twin-deck models in electric and gas.

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Combi Ovens

Combi Ovens

Steam and convection in one cavity to roast, steam, bake and regenerate.

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Microwaves

Microwaves

Heavy-duty microwaves for fast reheating and regeneration.

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Fryers

Fryers

Countertop and freestanding fryers with single or twin tanks.

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Griddles

Griddles

Flat hot plates for burgers, breakfasts and stir-fries.

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Chargrills

Chargrills

Open-flame grilling for steaks, burgers and vegetables.

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Contact Grills

Contact Grills

Ribbed or flat plates top and bottom for paninis and toasties.

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Choosing a Commercial Fryer

Countertop twin tank electric fryer

Gas or electric, countertop or freestanding

Countertop electric fryers are the easiest to install and suit cafés, pubs and kitchens frying in smaller batches. Twin tank models let you fry two foods at once, or keep chips separate from fish and allergens.

Freestanding gas fryers heat a large tank fast and recover quickly after each basket goes in, which matters when you are frying chips all evening. They need a gas supply and installation by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Tip: look at the drain. A drain tap or valve makes changing oil faster and safer than lifting the tank.

Which Cooking Equipment Suits Your Menu?

If you serve…Start with…
Breakfasts, burgers and wrapsA griddle, a contact grill and a twin tank fryer
PizzasA pizza oven, a dough mixer and a refrigerated prep counter
Roasts, bakes and pastriesA convection or combi oven
Ready meals and reheated dishesA heavy-duty commercial microwave
Fish and chipsFreestanding gas fryers and a chip scuttle
Steaks and grillsA gas chargrill and a salamander for finishing

Not sure about microwaves? Read our commercial microwave buying guide.

What to Check Before You Buy

Power supply

Check whether it plugs into 13 amp, needs a hard-wired or three-phase supply, or runs on natural gas or LPG.

Footprint

Measure your counter depth and the space either side. Leave room for air to circulate around hot equipment.

Recovery time

How quickly the equipment gets back to temperature matters more than its maximum heat.

Cleaning

Removable grease trays, crumb trays and drain taps save time at the end of every shift.

Ready to build your cooking line?Shop Commercial Cooking

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need extraction for commercial cooking equipment?

Most commercial kitchens need extraction above the cooking line to remove heat, steam and grease. Gas appliances usually need an interlock between the gas supply and the extraction. Ask your installer what your site needs.

What is the difference between a convection oven and a combi oven?

A convection oven uses a fan to circulate hot air. A combi oven adds steam, so it can roast, steam and bake in one cavity and keep food moist when regenerating.

Is a griddle or a chargrill better for burgers?

Both work. A griddle gives an even sear and is easy to clean. A chargrill adds flame-grilled flavour and char lines.

Can I run a countertop fryer from a normal plug?

Many countertop electric fryers plug into a 13 amp socket, but larger twin tank models may need two sockets or a hard-wired supply. Check the power source on the product page.

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