From choosing your restaurant concept to menu curation to layout and design, these choices and purchases are critical to your restaurant’s success. Whether you’re shopping for the front-of-house or back-of-the-house, the equipment you purchase is a long-term investment. In addition, your choices impact the food quality and help determine your staff’s workflow and output. So what should you consider to help you make the best choice? Let’s take a look at some tips to make the process easier.

More than Dollar Signs

While purchasing the cheapest kitchen equipment available is tempting, this can have long-term financial consequences. Opting for the lowest-priced option can mean more breakdowns, which leads to unaccounted-for repair costs, staff frustration, and slower output. The combination of these things can affect customer satisfaction. 

A great place to start is by outlining your kitchen requirements and seeing what suits your operation. Your kitchen floor plan will ultimately determine your space for prepping and cooking your dishes. Choosing expensive, oversized commercial kitchen equipment can not only be costly but can mess up the flow of your kitchen staff. This Oven Quiz can help you find the best cooking solution for your situation. 

Purchasing Checklist

While it’s normal to be focused on your return on investment, there are many critical factors you should consider besides the upfront costs:

1. Chef Knows Best

   If you’re not the one doing the menu planning and cooking, it’s best to get input from your head chef. They can give insight into what features are essential to cooking your desired menu. Purchasing equipment with fancy specs that will not be utilized can be a waste of your limited budget. Want to get a second opinion? Schedule a culinary consultation with our first-class chefs. They can help you with menu development and equipment installation.

2. Energy Efficiency

   Choosing Energy Star rated products will help reduce your power consumption and utility bills. This Energy Savings Chart can help you see how much energy your operation will utilize during a typical business day.

3. Speed Cooking

   Time is money. Take the time to check specs like BTUs, RPM, and hourly output; it is important that the unit matches your expectations. Our handy Pizza Calculator can help determine if the equipment can keep up with your busy operation.

4. Press 3 to Speak to a Representative
   

   What’s more frustrating than your equipment breaking down? Not being able to reach a human to assist you with those unexpected equipment failures. Consider the type of customer service available for the equipment you choose. 

Choosing your kitchen equipment carefully will ensure that you’ve made the best long-term investment for your operation. We understand that your kitchen is the heart of preparing delicious foods that keep your customers happy and coming back. All Ovention Ovens are designed and manufactured in the USA. Backed by the industry-wide-respected Hatco Corporation, all our ovens are dependable and built to withstand. Not sure if an Ovention Oven is right for you? Reach out today to schedule a demo with one of our kitchen experts!