Starting a new catering company can be an exciting yet daunting time. Whilst there is plenty of specialist and high tech equipment that comes with serving certain types of cuisine, there remains a core of must-have equipment that's needed in every commercial kitchen.

Scales

Weighing scales are the kind of must-have essential item that frequently gets overlooked when it comes to commercial kitchens. Even if you plan on serving food that requires just a little preparation, at some point you will still need scales. What kind of scales you buy will depend on what sort of cooking you are likely to do. If you might be baking cakes then precision digital scales are essential. If you are unlikely to need scales for much more than weighing out vegetables for a soup, then mechanical scales will be fine.

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Fly Killers

If you want to a) adhere to health and safety guidelines and b) have a kitchen that is free from flies, then a fly killer is essential for your commercial kitchen. Fly killers vary in price and size which means it's easy to find a small one if you only have a small kitchen and don't foresee a big problem with flies.

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Commercial Microwaves

One of these is nigh-on essential. Even though some premises can get by without an oven, the chances are they will need one of these. Commercial microwaves work slightly differently from domestic ones in that they are larger, more robust and often have up to double the power in wattage terms.

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Ovens and Hobs

Few commercial kitchens can cope without an oven or hob, but in most cases you will need both. Whether you choose a gas or electric oven will depend on the energy available in your premises, although most catering professionals prefer gas if possible. Your oven will most probably represent the most expensive purchase for your kitchen, but that's because it will do most of the hard work (apart from your staff of course!), so make sure you get one with a manufacturer's warranty and if possible get a retailer's service warranty too.

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Toasters

Toasters are another essential. Whilst you can get by without one, 'getting by' doesn't cut it in a commercial kitchen. Toasters are essential for most types of premises, and it's always best to get a four slice or more.

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Griddles, Fryers and Contact Grills

These items are not technically 'essential' for every commercial kitchen, but they are likely to be needed by most. Contact grills are used to offer hot melted sandwiches such as paninis or ciabattas, whilst griddles are essential for premises that serve a large number of fried breakfasts, burgers or sausages. A fryer is absolutely necessary if you intend on serving chips, which nearly all establishments do.

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When it comes to commercial kitchen equipment you can see that some items are simply essential. A good chef relies on good tools to create fabulous food, so do your research and ask your online retailer for expert advice.