Tips to Maintain Commercial Kitchen Equipment
Commercial kitchen equipment is typically designed to withstand high-volume use. Equipment must work properly for your foodservice business to run smoothly. When restaurant equipment is not regularily maintained your equipment may suddenly break down bringing your productivity to a full stop. Getting the most out of your commercial kitchen equipment investment is important and the below tips can help you save time and money in the long run. A few cost-saving tips:
Review your owner’s manual
It is not uncommon for each piece of equipment to have care and handling requirements specific to the unit. It is best to be familiar with the restaurant equipment by reviewing the owner’s manual to understand exactly how to operate and maintain your equipment.
Repair Broken Parts
Parts and components wear out after years of use. When you notice that you have a broken or noisy component, it is essential to have this repaired by a professional technician. Staying on top of repairs and being proactive can keep your commercial kitchen equipment up and running for many years to come.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
Keeping your equipment clean and sanitized will help prevent food particles, grime, rust, and debris from building up, which can cause equipment failure. The wear and tear from dirty kitchen equipment happens slowly over time. However, if you make sure to clean and sanitize equipment regularly, you can reduce the risk and prolong the life of the equipment. Make sure to clean stainless steel appliances with mild soapy water. If you are unsure of how to clean and disinfect your appliance, it is best to review the owner’s manual or contact a professional.
Schedule Professional Planned Maintenance
Contact a professional repair technician to conduct regular planned maintenance on your cooking or refrigeration equipment. This helps not only with safety measures but also to ensure that your kitchen equipment is running at peak performance , minimizing unexpected interruptions for your business.
Maintenance for Common Commercial Kitchen Equipment
Regular maintenance is important for commercial kitchen equipment and appliances. Staying current on maintenance and inspections for your refrigerator, freezer, cooler, fryers, ranges, griddles and grills can help reduce breakdowns. In foodservice, lost time equals lost revenue. Below are some tips for maintaining common commercial kitchen equipment units.
Refrigeration Equipment
- Air Filters – check air filters in all refrigerators, ice machines and coolers. As dust and grease buildup, air flow to the machine is reduced preventing proper ventilation. If you notice debris within the filters, be sure to remove it as soon as possible with a shop vac and correct degreasing solutions. This will help with energy efficiency as well.
- Door Gaskets – cracks and tears around the door gaskets can cause air leaks.. Repair cracks and tears, and be sure to clean any gaskets or moving parts. Grease and dirt can damage the gaskets and cause unexpected interruptions.
- Clean drain pans and tubes – keeping the drain pans and tubes clean is important for walk-in coolers, freezers, and refrigerators. Refrigeration units collect debris from slime and sludge that can freeze on the unit. If these tubes are not cleaned regularly, it can cause breakdowns requiring repair , or worse, unit replacement.
Fryers
- Inspect for any gas leaks – this should be done every four to six weeks.
- Clean combustion fans – fans should be cleaned at least once a month.
- Boil out the fryer – boiling out the fryer on a weekly basis can help prevent carbon deposits, fat build up and protect food quality.
Griddles, Grills, and Ranges
- Clean grates, flattops, grease traps and burners – each one of the surfaces should be cleaned after every use. A more in-depth cleaning may be needed on a monthly basis, including drip trays and areas underneath these surfaces
- Check grease filters on exhaust units – dirty grease filters can cause build up and constrict airflow. If you notice any damage or excessive amounts of grease that cannot be cleaned, the filter may need replacement..
Maintaining commercial kitchen equipment can help prevent breakdowns and malfunctions. If you encounter interruptions in your foodservice operation, contact Smart Care Equipment solutions for routine maintenance and repairs.