Commercial kitchen design and planning is a process where you plan a kitchen layout. It consists of kitchen space, appliances and types of equipment, chef and staff, and most importantly the food that needs to be prepared according to the set menu.
Food preparation is the core responsibility of a commercial kitchen. It requires extensive research on what equipment is required for what dish that is present on the menu. That is why it important to involve your chef while purchasing kitchen appliances and equipment and take his/her suggestions seriously as they are the people behind your restaurant’s success.
Since it’s understood how important kitchen appliances and equipment are, let’s focus on understanding what powers them?
The simple answer to that question is a source of energy called ‘fuel’.
Fuel is a type of material that is burned to produce heat or power. It can be found in a solid, liquid, gaseous, or natural form. Most importantly, for a commercial kitchen, fuel is considered an essential commodity. The way a catalyst is required for the success of a chemical reaction, in the same way, fuel is vital for cooking.
While designing a commercial kitchen requires an understanding of what sort of appliances and types of equipment are required. It is important to take into consideration the kind of fuel that needs to be used to power these appliances to produce the desired results in cooking.
Fuel comes in the following categories:
1) Solid Fuels
- Wood
- Charcoal
- Coal
2) Liquid Fuels
- LPG
- CNG
- Kerosene
- Petrol/Diesel
3) Gaseous Fuels
- Biogas
- Steam
4) Electricity
5) Natural Resources
- Solar Energy
- Wind Energy
Now that we have an idea of the categories of fuel. Now let’s zero down on the fuels that are commonly used in commercial kitchens. Let’s study these fuels, their advantages, and disadvantages:
1) Wood (Category: Solid Fuel)
The term ‘wood-fired oven pizza’ instantly takes you back to the memories of having the dish in a high-end Italian restaurant, reminiscing its smokey flavor and exotic taste. This happens due to the presence of wood while preparing the pizza. Wood is added as extra fuel to add a certain flavor, even when the oven where the pizza is prepared is fired by LPG.
Kitchen Equipment powered:
Wood-fire oven
a) Advantages:
- It is inexpensive
- Adds an interesting flavor to food
- Easily Available
b) Disadvantages:
- Non-renewable source of energy
- Takes up a lot of storage space
- Takes a long time to reach the ignition point
- Suited to a limited style of cooking
2) Coal (Category: Solid Fuel)
Tandoori chicken can make mouths water. Well, you can thank coal for adding that flavor to it. Coal is a popular fuel used by restaurants that specialize in preparing tandoori and grilled food.
Kitchen Equipment powered:
- Grills
- Tandoors
a) Advantages:
- Inexpensive
- Adds an interesting flavor to food
- Easily available
b) Disadvantages:
- Results in air pollution
- High labor cost to move fuel
3) LPG (Category: Liquid)
LPG, also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is a commonly used fuel to power gas burners in cooking ranges. It is liquefied under pressure and turns into gas once the pressure is released. It is almost smokeless and easy to handle.
Kitchen Equipment powered:
Cooking ranges
a) Advantages:
- Less polluting compared to other types of fuels
- Enables fast cooking
- Helps reduce labor cost
- Special utensils are not required
b) Disadvantages:
- Highly inflammable
- Frequent maintenance
- Installation costs go up
4) CNG (Category: Liquid Fuel)
Popular fuel by eco-friendly restaurants and hotels. CNG is considered to be energy-efficient compared to other forms of fuel.
Kitchen Equipment powered:
Ovens
Gas ranges
a) Advantages:
- Energy efficient
- Less polluting
5) Electricity
It is a common fuel used to power a wide range of appliances and pieces of equipment in a commercial kitchen. In India, equipment work on 220 volts, whereas USA equipment works on 110 volts. It is important to keep this in mind while importing kitchen appliances and equipment.
Kitchen Equipment powered:
- Grinders
- Blenders
- Ovens
Majority of kitchen appliances
a) Advantages:
- Easy to control
- Reduces labor costs
- Economical
- No storage space issues
- Supply can be maintained easily
b) Disadvantages:
- Installation and maintenance costs go up
- Special utensils are required
- Precautions need to be taken to avoid electrical shocks and mishaps
- Cannot be installed in basement kitchens or used below sea level.
6) Solar Energy (Category: Natural Resources)
Direct heat from the sun is used as fuel. Solar panels are installed to trap the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity. Used in many eco-friendly hotels and restaurants.
a) Advantages:
- Environment friendly
- Energy Efficient
- Sustainable
b) Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- Requires installation of solar panels
- Purchase of special utensils
For further understanding of the types of fuels used to power appliances and pieces of equipment in a commercial kitchen set-up, it’s always best to get in touch with the industry experts.
The commercial kitchen consultants at The HPG Consulting Group are truly the experts in the foodservice industry. They have rightfully earned that tag by assisting big hoteliers and restaurateurs with their commercial kitchen design projects. The clients consist of some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry such as:
1) Taj & Carlson
2) Hilton
3) Marriott
4) Hyatt
5) IHG
6) Punjab Grill
7) Mainland China
HPG Consultants have a thorough understanding of the foodservice and hospitality industry, which is combined with the latest developments of technology, making them formidable specialists. This gives them an extra edge when it comes to formulating a plan and strategy that is tailor-made to a client’s requirements.
These consultants have a collaborative approach when it comes to commercial kitchen design. Right from conceptualizing, kitchen layout planning, designing, and setting up of the final kitchen, the consultants are actively involved at every step of the way.
The HPG Consulting Group believes in delivering its client’s customized kitchen solutions. This Consultancy Group is particular in the terms of the quality of service they offer and is known to be result-oriented. Excellence and nothing short of it is delivered by The HPG Group.
Get in touch with a consultant at HPG Consulting today.