If you’re running any kind of commercial catering operation, then you’ll know that dirty crockery, cutlery and glassware are simply not an option. But before you invest in a warewasher, you’ll need to ask yourself some serious questions about the kind of machine you’ll need.
What Does It Cost?
If you’re running a café, bar or a small restaurant then an undercounter commercial warewasher is more affordable and doesn’t take up much space. If you need higher capacity and fast cleaning, then a door or conveyor type warewasher is the smart option but you’ll need to have the budget and the space to install them, and there are often
additional costs in terms of water and energy use.
There are a range of energy saving catering tools available online and you should choose energy efficient appliances.
If you use a lot of glasses in your operation, you may need to consider a dedicated glasswasher to avoid costly breakages. You can often compare ranges online at websites like https://www.247cateringsupplies.co.uk/bar-supplies/commercial-warewashers to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
How Easy Is It To Use?
Commercial warewashers are in constant use during a busy service so they need to be easy to load, unload and programme. Make sure your racks and settings are easy to use and don’t compromise the efficiency of your kitchen.
Is It Fast, Clean and Quiet?
In a busy commercial kitchen, speed is of the essence, so make sure your appliance is fast enough to cope with turnover. High temperature washers are more costly to run as they use heat to sanitise dishes and can be fitted with a booster heater to meet sanitation standards and dry dishes faster. Low temperature machines cost less upfront and have lower energy running costs but rely on chemicals to sanitise incurring greater costs and environmental impacts. Finally, consider the placement of the machine and its noise impact on customers.
What Accessories Will I Need?
Unsoiled and clean dishes are a must in any busy commercial kitchen. Ensure your dish racks suit the kind of dishes you use frequently. Pre rinse units and a food waste disposer keep high turnover kitchens functioning smoothly. Finally, a manual wash cycle control will tell you when you need to descale your machine – invaluable in hard water areas to avoid maintenance issues.