What to look for in a commercial kitchen

Arguably, one of the fundamental features of any commercial kitchen, whether you have just started a small business or you run a successful chain, is the oven. There are different factors to keep in mind to ensure you get the most effective and suitable option for your needs.

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The different types of oven

Commercial ovens can generally be divided into 8 different types.

An oven range will have a large internal area for cooking, plus electric or gas hobs.

Convection ovens utilize fans for quicker cooking and less shrinkage of meat, and they’re less bulky than an oven range. If you’re really short on space, a combination of the oven is versatile and multi-talented.

Conveyor ovens are ideal for quick cooking in large volumes, providing foods fit the smaller 3-5″ opening. For the best thin crust pizza results, deck ovens with a stone base are often preferred. When it comes to large quantities of potatoes, a separate potato oven is an ideal solution.

The traditional 1970s cook and hold oven is still widely used, as it produces mouth-wateringly tender meat, and gives the ability to leave foods without them overcooking, making them useful for carveries and canteens.
To get a delicious BBQ flavor indoors for the likes of steak and vegetables, charcoal ovens cook with greater heat and require no gas or electricity.

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Meanwhile, steaming ovens can quickly cook things like rice, vegetables, and fish, while locking in nutrients and preventing shrinkage, though they can’t brown or crisp foods.

For a range of commercial ovens to suit every need, choose a quality supplier that won’t break the bank.

Health and safety

The HSE details the regulations that need to be followed regarding adequate ventilation and gas safety: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cais10.htm. You’ll want to consider a means of extraction, such as canopies and extraction filters, for smoke and grease.  This will help with the heat in your kitchen as well.  The last thing you want is to be stood freezing cold, trying to work as it won’t be productive.  If this is the case a column radiators company found at links like https://apolloradiators.co.uk/designer-radiators/roma-horizontal-steel-column-radiator could help you install proper radiators in the right places.

Check your requirements

Size is a crucial consideration, as the oven needs to fit in your kitchen, but it also needs to have a suitable internal capacity for your needs. Ensure you have the connections required depending on whether the oven runs on electricity, charcoal or gas. Some ovens may also need water, so when you’re measuring up for an oven, keep in mind the ability to connect to a water source.

Fascinating Café Designs from Across the World

With a diverse and huge number of cafes and coffee shops around the world, some stand out more than others for architectural uniqueness and distinctive interiors. As one of the most popular hot drinks in the world, drinking a satisfying cup of coffee can rely as much on your surroundings as the quality of the drink itself.

Here are just a few of the most interestingly designed coffee shops and cafes from across the globe:

  1. Dreamy Camera Cafe

Yangpyeong, South Korea

Inspired by a love of vintage cameras, this family from South Korea have designed and constructed an outstanding cafe to emulate a classic twin-lens vintage camera, right next to their home. Army pilot Park Sung-Hwan and his wife, a former pilot herself, made the decision to build a cafe for the family to enjoy, including their daughter, as well as local customers. Dreamy Camera is all about capturing special moments of life, living at one with nature and enjoying family life with their dog whilst welcoming customers.

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  1. Mirrors

Gifu, Japan

As you would expect, with a name like Mirrors, this otherwise nondescript cafe is covered in wall-length mirrors on the exterior, reflecting the areas iconic Cherry Blossom trees opposite. Created by Bandesign, the coffee house is located along one of the busiest tourist routes of Japan in Gifu – a certain way of welcoming tourists inside.

Camellia tree is surrounded by cream-colored gravel, while the remainder of the building is painted white to give the effect of a traditional clapboard image. It’s a perfectly balanced aesthetic with this coffee house, allowing the main focus to speak for itself. It doesn’t matter if your cafe isn’t quite as grand. Make up for it interestingly designed furniture, like the Eames Eiffel Chair from https://www.pash-classics.com/eames-eiffel-chair/

  1. Knoll Ridge Cafe

New Zealand

This stunning café is dramatically set on the North Island Tongariro National Park, Mount Ruapehu.

What do people like about it? As well as it being on the Whakapapa mountain, part of the biggest commercial skiing area in New Zealand, but also the biggest active volcano in New Zealand. Imagine that for a drink with a breathtaking view. This design was planned after the original chalet was ruined by fire in 2009 and it didn’t take long for an architecture firm to take on the challenge to redesign.

Not only the architect must take into account the adverse weather conditions of the mountain, including winds up to 200 km/ph and temperatures below freezing, but due to the remote location, the delivery of materials and installation had to take place using helicopters.

  1. BarTopolski

London, UK

This café-bar-gallery pays homage to its former inhabitant; Polish-born artist and illustrator Feliks Topolski. It features original artwork by Topolski, meaning customers can pursue their love of art history while sipping a special house-infused spirits.

Situated near London Waterloo railway station, these are the same railway arches Topolski painted and where he exhibited many of his works, such as sketches and paintings of a wide variety of people, from Kings to Kings of Rock and Roll.

  1. The Salvaged Ring Cafe

Vietnam

Located next to a highway, the cafe is found in the rural area of Nha Trang, Vietnam. What makes it special is that it belongs to a joiner who rescues pieces of wood from previous projects to build this impressive structure. The first view most people get of the unusual cafe is the curved thatched roof that extends from the highway to the river bank. A single roof connects two different levels together with a softening of the rigid support structure below.

Current Thinking on Optimizing Efficiency in Food Processing

Food manufacturers are faced with daily challenges, and how to optimize efficiency and reduce waste are two of the biggest concerns that companies of every size need to juggle. Experts believe that there are a number of ways that food and beverage firms can rise to these challenges with satisfactory results.

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The Rise of Automation Technologies

When deciding which factors are key for purchasing new equipment in the food and drinks industry, trends have changed over time, from being driven by applications to focusing on financial gain. According to Process Expo companies want to make sure that when they invest in new equipment, their investment will have a strong payback in the marketplace.

For businesses seeking financial investment, equipment based on automation technologies is proving incredibly attractive. With improved efficiency, automation reduces maintenance time and employee downtime, boosting financial savings.

Tighter Budgets

With smaller budgets and every penny needing to be accounted for, food manufacturers are also under increasing pressure to spend money wisely when buying new equipment. In some cases, firms are forced to run equipment until it dies a death, but for improving efficiency, many forward-thinking companies are investing in used food processing machines.

Cleaner Systems

Experts also believe that efficiency can be achieved for food firms by using clean-in-place, or CIP, technology. Such systems enable businesses to clean equipment whilst minimising downtime and enabling production to continue during this process. Mixproof technology, for instance, has been shown to increase productivity by up to 40 percent. Even small changes to a company’s CIP systems can make a big difference to efficiency.

Clever storage

Companies are being clever about storage and there investing in Steel Shelving from companies like Rackzone and putting them all along disused walls and putting extra resources and accessories on them for speed and efficiency.

 Efficient Use of Water

Water is an integral ingredient for food manufacturers and is also essential in the cleaning process. For businesses in this sector, there’s mounting pressure to use this scarce commodity wisely. There are several strategies businesses can take to conserve water use, including the use of special pumps that optimize usage and slash maintenance, which can result in lower costs and improved efficiencies. Firms not only have a responsibility to better manage water for the sake of their business but on a global level – it’s an aspect that everyone must rally around to safeguard. According to experts, if the water is not better managed, we could face a global shortage by 2030.

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