Maximize Kitchen Productivity with Multi-Purpose Equipment

For most independent restaurants, both budgets and space in the kitchen are at a premium. That means chefs and owners must carefully consider every equipment purchase, from ovens to refrigerators and even food prep equipment. Mixers, food processors and specialty equipment need to be both affordable and versatile.

Having multi-functional and fit-for-purpose food prep equipment is one way to help improve efficiencies, while also controlling costs. 

Mixers

Most independent restaurants have limited batch needs when it comes to mixing, as opposed to a bakery that continuously mixes all day, every day. Independent restaurants may mix up meatballs for a spaghetti dish, mashed potatoes to accompany a protein or the occasional bread or pastry dough. For that reason, a heavy-duty mixer will typically suffice. These mixers offer good performance at a reasonable price and are intended for fewer hours of mixing a day. That is in comparison to a maximum heavy-duty mixer that is designed for continuous mixing throughout the day, batch after batch. 

Typically, an independent restaurant can accomplish its mixing needs with a smaller mixer, such as a 10- or 20-quart model. These sizes offer the advantage of having a smaller footprint, while also providing the capacity needed for most applications. The exception is a pizza restaurant, which requires a larger mixer for high volume dough production. 

To gain the most versatility from a heavy-duty mixer, look for one with an attachment hub. This allows for the addition of a vegetable slicer or meat chopper attachment to extend the use of the mixer beyond mixing to grating, shredding and dicing vegetables and grinding meat for sausages, burgers and more. 

Along with the lower purchase point, this equipment and its attachments reduce labor costs compared to manually mixing ingredients, cutting vegetables or grinding meat since they complete the tasks much more quickly. 

Food Processors

Some independent restaurants may not have a need for a mixer with attachments but want a more efficient means to process fruits and vegetables for menu items. In this case, a continuous-feed food processor offers speed and versatility compared to manual cutting — and at a faster rate with more consistency. This equipment offers the versatility to slice, dice, julienne, crimp and shred produce, and to grate nuts and hard cheeses. Having one machine that can accomplish multiple tasks helps introduce efficiencies into a kitchen and allows staff the time to take on more valuable jobs to help increase productivity and better generate profits.

Plus, buying whole fruits and vegetables and processing them in a continuous-feed food processor is less expensive than purchasing pre-cut and packaged items. Whole produce also lasts longer so there are lower costs associated with wasted food. 

Multi-functional equipment like a combination food processor adds more efficiency to the independent restaurant kitchen, effectively providing two machines in one with a smaller footprint. This machine is ideal for kitchens that have multiple processing needs and affordable mid-tier models are available in the marketplace. Combination food processors provide bowl-style processing and continuous-feed processing capabilities, which offers additional cost savings since chefs and owners don’t need to buy two machines. 

When fitted with the bowl, a combination food processor can be used to chop, mix, mince and emulsify ingredients, making them well suited for making hummus, salsa, salad dressing, pesto and more — again, faster and more consistently than manual processing.  When fitted with the continuous-feed chute head, this equipment offers the same capabilities as a stand-alone continuous-feed food processor without taking up additional space or adding cost for a second machine. 

Specialty Food Prep Equipment

Food cutters, also known as Buffalo choppers, are another fit-for-purpose, multi-functional piece of food prep equipment that can bring efficiency and cost savings to the independent restaurant kitchen. These machines make quick work of shredding chicken for enchiladas or chicken salad or for making pulled pork for sandwiches. They can also be used for making dips or spreads. To add versatility, some buffalo choppers can be fitted with a vegetable slicer or meat grinder to expand their processing capabilities.  

Automatic potato peelers are another option that can help independent restaurants maximize labor and reduce costs for manual peeling. These peelers use an abrasive material and water to peel potatoes in bulk, helping kitchen staff speed production and reduce waste when prepping potatoes for fries, mash or an au gratin dish. 

Reaping the Benefits

Having multi-functional and fit-for-purpose equipment can introduce efficiencies to the independent restaurant kitchen, while also saving space and money. With food prep equipment that speeds production, staff can focus on tasks like menu creation, inventory and other activities necessary to keep operations running smoothly, effectively and profitably.