Guide to Cloud Kitchens and their Equipment
Cloud kitchens have been the newest culinary concept that helps restaurant owners quickly grow and scale their food business through delivery. In simple words, we can say that these are commercial kitchens optimized for food delivery. Cloud kitchens are also known as dark kitchens, virtual restaurants, ghost kitchens, and more. Instead of a physical location, the presence is digital, allowing you to reach more customers than you ever could with just a physical location.
Once you set up with the commercial kitchen equipment you need to operate, you will start your restaurant brand online across top delivery apps. After that, you will wait for the incoming orders and prepare food in your delivery-only kitchen space.
With the model of third-party services through mobile ordering, you are cutting the cost of operating a restaurant and then the cost of the staff and others. However, the benefits of opening a ghost kitchen are that you get to lower your cost, the expansion will be easier, more profits, quick delivery, and more. These establishments built have been tremendously benefitting during the coronavirus crisis.
Dubai-based cloud kitchen/ghost kitchen called KITOPI has raised $415 million during the funding round led by SOFTBANK. This helps them to expand their business in the middle east and in South Asia as the demand for online food delivery is increasing due to the pandemic. Now they have more than 60 cloud kitchens across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Also, the delivery companies in UAE, mainly TALABAT and DELIVEROO have been in such establishments for the past years. In fact, Deliveroo will be launching the world’s largest cloud kitchen space in the UAE. At Cloud Kitchens, each one comes equipped with the exclusive software needed to track orders and decrease delivery time, meaning more happy customers leaving astonishing reviews.
Equipment needed for cloud kitchen
Exhaust Hood: The exhaust hood serves an important purpose, by venting smoke and odors out of your kitchen. They are a major purchase for all the commercial foodservice facilities.
Counters: While creating your food preparation area in the cloud kitchen, prefer counters that are made from stainless steel. They are strong, resistant to corrosion and bacteria growth. They are simple to maintain and can withstand the harsh cleaning products that are usually used in commercial kitchens.
Cooking Lines/Range: The cooking range is the most essential/basic equipment of a cloud kitchen. You can pick either electric or gas ranges, depending on your choices and kitchen setup. You need to analyze the type of cooking line in terms of model and size that fits their kitchen appropriately. Industrial gas ranges are usually the recommended solution as they give accurate temperature regulation. However, electric ranges are also a great choice if the electricity is more affordable or more abundant than gas in your town.
Commercial Reach–in Refrigerators and freezers: They are one of the most essential pieces of equipment for cloud kitchens. They keep foods at the temperatures you want them and prolong the life of fresh foods and can also store products that are prepared and ready-made, like burgers, fish fillets, and even soup.
Ovens: If your cloud kitchen caters to bakery products or focuses on pizza delivery services or others, ovens are a must-have for your kitchen. Combi ovens are also worth when investing in cloud kitchens. It uses three methods of cooking in one appliance – convection, steam, and a combination of convection and steam. At buyhoreca.com, we have a selection of both gas and electric ovens which may seem a wise decision for your cloud kitchens.
Mixers and Slicers: Commercial Mixers and slicers are essential equipment in any cloud kitchen establishment. Mixers are used to make food preparation tasks, like mixing batters, whipping eggs, kneading dough, and making icing, much easier. Different types of commercial mixers are Planetary mixers, Dough Mixers, and Vertical Cutter Mixers. Whereas electric meat slicers can easily cut through processed meats to fill your customers’ orders in cloud kitchen establishments. Beyond strength and ease of use, they are incredibly easy to manage and maintain.
Commercial Fryer: It is one of the kitchen appliances used for heating a large quantity of cooking oil for deep frying a large amount of food and one of the essential tools used in cloud kitchen establishments. It works on either gas or electricity. It comes in different forms and varies according to size, orientation, style, and performance metrics.
Sinks: Commercial sinks are vital for cloud kitchen establishments to meet proper sanitation codes. You can install one, two, three, or four compartment sinks along with a dishwashing unit in your kitchen.
Commercial Worktables and Stations: It is important to outfit your cloud kitchen with proper commercial work tables and stations. It will help in your food prep tasks and can reduce cross-contamination and increase efficiency.
Operational equipment such as Kitchen Display System (KDS) and POS software is necessary for a cloud kitchen to automate and streamline the process. Installing a display system in the kitchen enables the staff to view all the delivery orders in a flash. KDS is integrated with the POS system and directly accepts orders from multiple mediums.
Kitchen Knife Safety Tips!
Cutlery is vital for the activity of every commercial kitchen, and so it is necessary to realize how to hold a knife and use it effectively. A good chef knife is strong, durable, light in weight, and requires occasional sharpening, ergonomic, much sharper than the usual steel and, simple to clean.
Hand knife injuries often happen when the knife slips while cutting or trimming. In most cases the blade gets into contact with the worker’s other hand, causing a cut to the hand and/or fingers. Injuries can also occur to other parts of the body, including the knife hand itself.
What action do I need to perceive to reduce hand knife injuries?
Keep reading for some valuable and helpful knife safety tips.
Pick the Right Knife for the Task:
Selecting the right knife for the task is one of the most major knife safety tips that foodservice experts should learn. There will be several knives used for a range of different tasks. However, executing this choice can be overwhelming because of the extensive variety of styles, shapes, and sizes of commercial cutlery.
The length of the blade needed to do the task: Always select the blade that is proportional to the food you’re cutting. If you have to use a small paring knife to slice vegetables, instead don’t use a cleaver to do this task.
Choose the right blade handle: The characteristics of the blade holder including the construction material and durability.
Pick the Right Blade Edge: Before starting the task, you have to be specific about it and decide which blade edge will suit them. For example, Serrated Edge Paring Knife is perfect to peel, trim, and slice through fruits and vegetables, whereas Granton blades are suited for wet foods like cheese and salmon.
Flexible Blade: Some specific tasks require a flexible blade. So, for such an instance, select those blades that are more flexible than a firm one.
Having noted all this, specify the knife/knives to be used for each task and eliminate any others currently in use, including employees’ knives brought in from outside.
Always Use Sharp Knives:
Dull blades cause more accidents because they are harder to work with and require more pressure. Sharp knives do not slip as easily and cut easier. Always use a sharpening stone or knife sharpener to keep the original precision of the blade. Also, if your knife requires just a touch-up between thorough sharpening, try using a sharpening steel.
Keep Your Kitchen Knives Clean:
Wash knives immediately after use. Do not leave knives in a sink of soapy water where they cannot be seen. Keep the sharp edge of the knife away from you when washing. A clean knife is also more comfortable to handle. Food residue can get your knife slippery, so be sure to keep it clean for the most reliable grip.
Also, make sure your knives are dishwasher safe. Some knives may not be dishwasher safe to retain their precise edge. Some types of knives may have handle or blade shapes that are likely to collect food residues, so inspecting your knives before and after washing can help stop food from developing up.
Provide Safe Storage for Knives/Blades:
It is important to prevent circumstances where knives are left lying on work surfaces or where individuals carry them in their hands from one place of work to another. A designated knife storage space must be given to your kitchen that keeps organized and encourages a safe knife routine. Even, simply setting your knife in a drawer is not safe for your workers or your knife. Also, allocate suitable belts or sheaths to employees who need to move around carrying knives.
Consider the Working Environment / Stay Focused!
Concentrate on what you are doing when using a knife. Do not engage in the conversation when using knives, pay attention to the task underway. Good lighting, support for the item being cut, and housekeeping are important factors in ensuring knife safety. If you’re distracted, halt what you’re doing and deal with the distraction before turning to cut. Each person using a knife should have enough working space to move freely and allow them to operate safely without endangering themselves or others.
These tips will avoid the injuries caused while using your knives in the kitchen.
To view our cutlery collections, visit https://buyhoreca.com/product-category/smallware/food-preparation/kitchen-cutlery
Your Guide on Different Glassware and Stemware
Alike those in the catering and hospitality industries, glassware trends are regularly changing, brands are continuously coming up with alterations in design that soothe the operator’s drink service than ever before. Glassware is a significant element of any well-laid tablespace with an understanding of which designs to buy in which materials for which occasions is a laudable pursuit. The bottom line is to always buy your elegant glassware from a reputable brand that guarantees the greatest quality. Some styles are to be enjoyed in a specific type of glassware that is intended to highlight the unique flavors, color, carbonation, aroma, and foam collar. Nowadays, restaurants are much concerned with choosing the kind of glassware and offering the customers while they enjoy their perks of Zomato gold and other platinum cards. Even while choosing glassware for your home, the right one adds sophisticated style whether you’re throwing a backyard barbecue, a black-tie cocktail party, or a weeknight dinner with your friends and family.
Taking these factors into accounts, we have listed types of glasses that you should look out for this winter season while serving your guests.
Wine Glasses: Designed to enhance aromas and flavours, wine glasses each have a particular role depending on which wine they’re destined for. A wine glass consists of four parts – the base, the stem, the bowl, and the rim. The base is what provides the glass its stability. The stem elongates the glass while giving the customer something to hold on to without raising the temperature of the wine within. Also, it prevents fingerprints from getting on the bowl of the glass. When talking about the designs, wine glasses got different types like burgundy glasses, Bordeaux glasses, White/Red wine glasses, etc.
To get the most out of your wine collection, browse through our collection to choose the ideal wine glass for your needs.
Champagne Glasses: Drinking a glass of Champagne normally signals a celebratory moment. If you drink a lot of champagne and sparkling wine, we recommend choosing clear and thin crystal sparkling champagne glasses, without decorations or colours, because they must allow assessing the general appearance, the quality of its bubbles, its transparency, and colour shades. Two of the most iconic champagne glasses used are Champagne Flute glass and Champagne Coupe Glasses. Champagne Flute glass has a narrow bowl and tall sides that allow bubbles to develop and last longer that look appealing and maximizes its sparkle. Also, it has a tall stem that prevents hand temperature from affecting the temperature of the champagne as it’s one that should be consumed ice cold. Whereas Champagne Coupe glass has a design that features the widest and shallowest of bowls which owe its shaping to the need for a glass that would house a syrupy dessert in the early 20th century.
Cocktail Glasses: Enhance the cocktail presentation with the right cocktail glasses that can make your drinks better and improve the experience for your guests. Some glasses are designed to hold more ice, and some glass shapes improve the aromatics of the drink. There are different cocktail glasses out there, and it is quite difficult to know what you should get. When stocking a home bar, it can be overwhelming trying to find your way through all the different types of cocktail glasses and knowing which ones are worth buying for your first big purchase. Well, the most ironically used cocktail glasses are margarita and martini glasses. Martini glasses feature a “v” shaped bowl design that requires the drink to be sipped, making it perfect for drinks with little or no mixers. Whereas the Margarita glass features a large, round bowl with a broad rim that gives plenty of room for garnishes. The wide bowl supports the drinker to enjoy the aromatics of the drink with every sip, while also seizing a taste of the salt or sugar-coated rim. A tall stem gives the glass easy to hold, even on larger capacity sizes.
Highball Tumbler: This tall straight glass holds about 8 to 12 ounces and is meant to be filled with ice. It is best used for cocktails served on the rocks, the glass shape keeps the drink cold and protects carbonation. To house party guests, consider a streamlined set for twelve. Or, for more private get-togethers, opt for individual glasses and serve drinks for two instead. Also, use it in your family restaurant, cafe, or sports bar. The versatile straight-sided design gives a sleek presentation while strengthening the beverage that is being served. This glass is excellent for rigorous, high-traffic environments too. Its ability to lend itself well to everything from cocktails to water to juice makes it a strength of a glassware collection.
Double Old-Fashioned Tumbler: Whether served neat or on the rocks, your finest liquors or even juices are sure to stand out in this double old-fashioned tumbler. It is a staple of any bar or glassware collection that will be an everyday or entertaining piece.
Shot Glasses: These are perfect for serving shots of whiskey or other famous spirits. It is also excellent for portioning out shots to pour into mixed drinks, so you can maximize your stock and never over pour. Shot glasses are not only exemplary for your specialty mixed cocktails, but it is also perfect for sweet treats like dessert shooters and espresso shots. It is designed to convey the flavour profile and characteristics of each drink and ideal for both outdoor and indoor settings.
Beer Glasses: Beer lovers know that the shape of a beer glass affects the quality of the beer being served. Whether you are enjoying a pilsner, a Weizen, or an IPA, they all have a glass to enjoy them in. Colour, carbonation, and aromatics can all be improved by the shape and thickness of the glass. On the other hand, for busy bars or restaurants which have a smaller beer menu, using a multipurpose glass that is simple to clean and stock might be the more suitable choice.
Essential Items Every Restaurant Needs
How do I choose the right kitchen appliance for my Restaurant? The equipment housed in commercial kitchens is an indispensable element of a successful restaurant. What they need is a number of essentials to run effectively, efficiently, and economically. Every commercial kitchen with its sole menu will pick the equipment that will help it meet its food preparation and cooking needs. Some of these essentials might be obvious, but our team of experts at buyhoreca.com created a list of essential restaurant equipment that all of your bases are covered when outfitting your kitchen.
Cooking Equipment
Commercial ovens can be used for baking, roasting, braising, and much more. It comes in all shapes and sizes and as a result, it is essential equipment for a restaurant.
Deep fryers are another important piece of cooking equipment that is ideal for making french fries, chicken tenders. Also, there is a myriad of other foods that taste best when cooked in the deep fryer.
Gas Range that has the cooking capacity, convenience, and effectiveness. These stove plus oven combinations are versatile as they are useful, providing one to bake while utilizing the stovetop simultaneously.
Griddles are a mainstay in diners and can be used for a variety of various cooking methods.
Grills come in different options and are a great way to add that Smokey flavour to your food.
Toasters are the perfect small appliance for any restaurants that are open for breakfast and they are available in different functions and features.
Salamanders or Overhead Broilers can be used for several cooking needs, from crisping up the top of a dish to melting cheese and toasting sandwiches.
Coffee Brewer is a great addition to satisfy your customer’s caffeine cravings. All you have to do is decide which coffee maker is best for your restaurant!
Kitchen Smallware
Every kitchen needs a set of cooking utensils as one of the most important kitchen accessories. Also, make sure that you purchase the right quantity of these accessories, so your employees are not struggling for the same item. Check out our list of the essential small wares for your restaurant kitchen.
A sharp Chef Knife for a restaurant makes your slicing, dicing, mincing, chopping, and detailing an effortless pleasure. And always remember that it should feel comfortable in your hand.
Cutting Boards protect your counters from scratches and help keep food preparation hygienic. No matter which size board you are shopping for but purchase one which follows HACCP guidelines.
Cooking and Mixing Spoons are versatile tools that should be on every restaurant equipment list.
Cooking turners make flipping things in a sauté pan or fry pan much easier. It is one of the essential tools in a restaurant kitchen.
A Mixing bowl is a great tool to mix ingredients, marinate meat, and prepare delicious sauces. When you purchase them be sure to get multiple sizes for different purposes.
Food Pans are used to prepare dishes in the oven or use them to hold food in a food warmer until it’s ready to serve.
Whisks: From baking apple pies to make a hollandaise sauce for your eggs Benedict, a whisk will help guarantee that the final product comes out looking and tasting as it should.
Tongs have a lot of use where you can use them for food prep, plating, or serving purposes, depending on your needs.
Refrigeration and Storage Equipment
All commercial kitchens require a refrigeration & Storage system of some type. The most important factor to look for when picking storage equipment is capacity and shape. It has to be the ones that can handle the amount of food your restaurant will need, as well as equipment that will go into your kitchen’s layout.
The Refrigerator is an essential component of any kitchen as they help keep the temperatures of food regulated so they do not spoil, and it comes in different shapes and sizes.
Ice Machine is an essential component for beverage service at any restaurant. It ensures that clean, fresh, and ice is consistently made throughout the day, so you can keep foods chilled during transport or make refreshing drinks.
Beverage Dispensers is the perfect serve ware accessory for filling your guests’ cups. When buying a dispenser, think of how many soft drink choices you want to serve and which brand of soda you are going to choose.
Shelving: Storing pots, pans, dinnerware, dry ingredients, and more can be done by using this storage unit that transforms your crowded dish room into a well-organized area.
Bussing and Utility Carts is a reliable way to transport a wide array of items. You can use them in and out of the kitchen to move heavy equipment or ingredients.
Food Storage Containers can be used with any hot or cold product, making them versatile additions to your commercial kitchen supply. Also, the containers come with coloured lids or markings, so you can color-coded them for easy organization.
Janitorial Equipment
As we are aware of the COVID-19 Guidelines, every restaurant must take proper steps for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces to remove germs that make people sick. Daily cleaning and disinfection reduce germs. Cleanliness is essential in the foodservice industry. Here is a list of essential cleaning supplies every operation will need to maintain their restaurants clean and tidy.
Chemicals and Sanitizers are essential to keeping your commercial kitchen clean and safe for your employees and customers. Choose restaurant chemicals that are designed to work with specific types of equipment and meet the needs of your commercial kitchen.
Trash Cans / Recycling Bins is a priority to keep your staff and guests safe and happy. Picking the right trash cans or recycling bins for your establishment is imperative to maintain a high level of cleanliness.
Mops and Mop Buckets is an essential need to clean a large lobby, a busy kitchen, or a small break room. Mopping your floors at the end of the day helps clean up any spills and messes that swelled during service
Wet floor signs are a great addition to alert customers and employees to take caution while walking on the wet floor.
Scrubbers and sponges are effective cleaning solutions for your establishment. Buy scrubbers and sponges with different abrasiveness so you have heavy-duty benefits for stuck-on messes as well as soft sponges for cleaning sensitive items.
Thermometers handy for professional chefs
Thermometers handy for professional chefs
One can only like a thermometer if it is accurate. And when food is involved, temperature variations even to the slightest degree, makes a difference.
Culinary artists know their rules to get foods right — Stick the probe into the centre or the thickest part of the meat; on the thighs for turkey and poultry; stick the probe sideways for thin slices, like that of burgers.
But those were olden days. Simply point the infrared light at the surface for accurate temperature reading of all kinds of cooked or baked goods, without the risk of cross-contamination with the infrared food thermometer from buyhoreca.com.
Like to check temperatures the old-fashioned way? We, at buyhoreca, have plenty of options for you as well…
Use the Stainless steel 6″ probe of the Winco TMT-DG6 Digital Roasting Thermometer and accurate temperature readings. The probe pierces easily into all kinds of foods and can also be used for liquids. It has a 1-7/8″ screen display and can measure temperatures in Fahrenheit ranging from -58° to 572° or in Celsius from -50° to 300°. Use it in your busy kitchen to take the guesswork out of cooking and ensure that your food is cooked to perfection every time.
Remember to wash and sanitise the probe after each use with hot, soapy water, and wipe any grease residue. Don’t forget to turn off digital thermometers to preserve battery life, and make sure everything is dry to prevent rust.
Are you a senior chef, supervising around the kitchen? Keep the Winco TMT-WD1 Waterproof Digital Thermometer in your pocket to check if the foods are thoroughly prepared by those young lads. Designed with a 2-3/4 stainless steel probe, it is perfect for use with both solids and liquids and can measure temperatures ranging from -58″ to 392″ For -50°- 200° C. This thermometer is waterproof and comes in a small compact design so it can easily fit inside an apron pocket.
Use this handy device to ensure customers receive food that is cooked to perfection every time.
Professional baristas rely on accurate temperature gauge to ensure the frothiest drinks. Now with this frothing thermometer with a temperature range of 0-220 degrees Fahrenheit, and an easy to read 1-inch dial, you too can create the perfect froth in your home or at your bar or restaurant that will help you create better coffee drinks.
Also, we have a wide range or deep fryer or candy thermometers to suit any requirements.
Looking for a specific thermometer range? You name it, we have it!
Let us know your requirement at support@buyhoreca.com
Know your seafood ‘crackers’
Know your seafood ‘crackers’
Food etiquette lovers feel exotic while holding the aristocracy of seven or eleven-course dinners. Thankfully, fine dining properties serve the style, very much like that of a king or a queen during the medieval times.
Yet, most diners are anxious about not knowing how to use forks right, hold knives and how to begin dinner at a formal setting.
And if seafood is mentioned, some diners dread at making a mess of those delicious lobsters, crabs, and juicy shrimps. Most diners avoid the items just because they don’t want a messy table.
At Buyhoreca, we have solutions for eating seafood with ease. We provide silverware for easy seafood dining. Chefs can suggest these unique crackers and thank us later for the satisfied customers.
The unique Tablecraft 515 red enamel cast aluminum lobster/shellfish cracker is ideal for any lobster fest or seafood restaurant.
It features claw-shaped handles for a sturdy grip and decorative flair. This cracker is multi-functional with jagged teeth and a smooth clamp to crack open different sized and textured shellfish. Its pointed handles and sharp edges let customers savor every bit of seafood.
The chrome plated round handle lobster cracker is extremely durable and will be able to help guests take on lobster shells effortlessly.
It also has a mirror finish to add a touch of sophistication to any table display and its made for professional use. Cracks round handles can withstand the rigours that come with eating lobster and other crustaceans.
Supply your customers with chrome plated 6″ shellfish forks when serving shellfish to ensure they are able to get all the tasty meat.
Remember, at BuyHoreca, we have everything you need. Search for stylish fish forks and other seafood specials in our store. Feel free to browse the grand collection of options to suit your need at buyhoreca.com
Wire-ware for a Sleeker Dinner Table
Wire ware for a sleeker dinner table
Serving food in style has been buzzing ever since Instagram became popular. Food outlets are racing to master the art of food presentation of everything — from simple French fries to those sumptuous main courses and sweet desserts. Chefs are artists who visualize their final dish on display and process them during different stages of cooking. They sew meats, make fashionable cuts and use unique molds for poured dishes. Some schools of thought, like French nouvelle cuisine, emphasize minimalism while others create complicated compositions based on modern aesthetic principles.
We, at BuyHoreca, are surprised by the popularity and versatility of wired dishes. Our Artisan collection has a wide variety, the popular Tablecraft BK17508 oblong black wire basket is powder coated for a durable finish and sleek design, perfect for the buffet to the table top. This modern design metal wire basket provides trendy versatility for any serving purposes. You can also add a modern touch to your food presentation with the Tablecraft AC57 Vertigo 7″ appetizer cone.
Serve everything from fries, chicken fingers, chips and other “finger” foods with Tablecraft’s innovative appetizer cone at your restaurant, bar, or pizzeria. The appetizer cones are anyways, a trendy way to display side dishes.
From our Mediterranean collection, the Tablecraft BK27508 round black wire basket is powder coated for a durable finish. You can use this attractive basket to display a wide variety of bread, pastries, fruits, and snacks. You can also choose the 12″ x 18″ wire basket to display bagels, donuts, pastries, for guests and customers to see everything that is available to purchase. Wired tableware is not restricted to serving dishes at BuyHoreca. Our Gemelli™ Bottle Set embraces Oil & Vinegar glass bottles on a stainless steel wire rack. These are just some of it and you can browse our store to choose your needs.
Have a unique, sleek wire tableware? Let us know at info@buyhoreca.com
KLEARCOOK® : A Modern Culinary Tool
KLEARCOOK® : A Modern Culinary Tool
The art of wrapping food in leaves for cooking dates back to the very existence of cooking itself.
While names vary — ‘en papillote’ in French and ‘al cartoccio’ in Italian — the ‘locking in of moisture and aromas to retain the full flavours of the dish’ remain the same across global culinary kitchens.
Foils, parchment papers, plastic bags and many more have replaced the leaves in modern cooking. Locking in the spices or marinated foods, airtight and slow cooking them till it reaches perfection has become easier, thanks to modern day advancements in culinary technologies.
While many households are still sceptical about cooking with polymer, it seems to be a most convenient method for seasoned chefs around the globe. The transparent element of polymer wraps and bags are attractive and easy to use. Create “en papillote” in seconds. Advanced polymers used in cooking have tough heat-resistance accepting temperatures up to 220C/425F. Therefore, it can also be used in convection ovens, combi-ovens, water-baths (a la sous-vide), stove-tops, microwaves, and even deep fryers.
The polymer wrap also offers aesthetic appeal while serving the dish to the customers at table side. One of the highest qualities of polymer wraps and pouches comes from KLEARCOOK® with it’s proven state-of-art technology developed by chefs and food experts with over 100 years of combined culinary experience.
Which is your favourite style of wrap?
Tell us how you prepare your ‘en papillote’ dish.
