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How to Equip a Commercial Kitchen from Scratch [2025 Guide]

Kitchen Equipment Buying Guide

When opening a new restaurant or upgrading your current kitchen, knowing what equipment to prioritize can make or break your workflow. Whether you're launching a café, bistro, food truck, or ghost kitchen, the right commercial kitchen equipment ensures efficiency, food safety, and customer satisfaction.

At Advanced Culinary, we help foodservice professionals nationwide build kitchens that work—supplying premium equipment with free shipping, liftgate delivery, and call-ahead service on every order.

🧰 Essential Equipment Checklist for New Restaurant Kitchens

Here’s what every commercial kitchen needs to get started:

✅ 1. Cooking Equipment

Ranges – A must for boiling, sautéing, or simmering. Choose gas or electric models depending on utility access and cooking style.

Griddles – Perfect for breakfast menus, burgers, or grilled sandwiches.

Charbroilers – Ideal for searing and grilling, giving food that open-flame finish.

Fryers – Choose between countertop fryers for small batches or floor fryers for high-volume service.

Hot Plates & Stock Pot Ranges – Add flexibility with portable burners and boiling stations for soups and sauces.

✅ 2. Refrigeration Equipment

Reach-In Refrigerators & Freezers – These are your cold storage workhorses. Choose top-mount for hot kitchens or bottom-mount for easier access.

Undercounter Refrigerators – Great for prep lines or small spaces.

Chef Bases – Combine refrigeration with cooktop support to save space and increase efficiency.

✅ 3. Food Prep & Assembly

Mega Top, Sandwich & Pizza Prep Tables – Keep ingredients chilled and ready to go with dedicated prep stations.

Convection Ovens – Bake, roast, and reheat with even heat distribution and high efficiency.

✅ 4. Display & Merchandising

Merchandiser Refrigerators & Freezers – Showcase bottled drinks, desserts, or grab-and-go meals.

Back Bar Refrigeration & Bottle Coolers – Ideal for restaurants with bar service or front-of-house beverage stations.

🛠️ Build a Kitchen That Works Smarter

At Advanced Culinary, we offer a complete selection of restaurant equipment built for durability, performance, and energy efficiency. Plus, every order includes:

Free shipping to commercial addresses

Liftgate service at no extra cost

Call-ahead delivery to make receiving equipment hassle-free

Explore our full lineup of commercial refrigeration, cooking appliances, and prep equipment today—and build your kitchen with confidence.

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How to Choose the Right Commercial Refrigerator for Your Kitchen

How to Choose the Right Commercial Refrigerator for Your Kitchen

Whether you're opening a new restaurant, upgrading your equipment, or outfitting a food truck, choosing the right commercial refrigerator is one of the most important decisions for your kitchen. With so many models, sizes, and features available, it’s essential to find the right unit to fit your space, workflow, and menu. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know when shopping for a commercial refrigerator—from the types available to the features that matter most. 🧱 Types of Commercial Refrigerators Different kitchens have different needs. Here's a quick overview of the most common types of commercial refrigerators: Reach-In Refrigerators The standard in most restaurant kitchens, these upright units are ideal for back-of-house food storage. Available in one, two, or three-door configurations, they offer excellent capacity and accessibility. Best For: High-volume restaurants, prep lines, bulk ingredient storage. Undercounter Refrigerators Compact and space-saving, undercounter units are great for kitchens with limited floor space or for storing frequently used items near the prep line. Best For: Small kitchens, food trucks, sandwich stations. Refrigerated Prep Tables Combining cold storage and workspace, these units feature a refrigerated base with a prep surface and ingredient pans on top — making them ideal for sandwich or salad stations. Best For: Prep-heavy kitchens, delis, pizzerias, and food trucks that require quick access to ingredients while assembling dishes. Merchandiser Refrigerators Designed with glass doors for product visibility, merchandisers are ideal for front-of-house display in delis, cafes, or convenience stores. Best For: Displaying drinks, desserts, and grab-and-go items. 📏 Key Considerations Before You Buy 1. Size & Capacity Measure your available space and choose a unit that fits comfortably with room for ventilation. Consider how much storage you need based on your menu and inventory flow. 2. Door Configuration 1-Door: Great for tight spaces or low-volume kitchens. 2-Door: A balanced choice for most kitchens. 3-Door: High capacity, ideal for busy restaurants. 3. Compressor Location Top-mounted: Stays cleaner in dusty or greasy environments. Bottom-mounted: Easier to access and often more efficient in cooler kitchens. 4. Temperature Range Most commercial refrigerators operate between 33°F–41°F. Make sure your unit can consistently maintain safe food storage temperatures. 5. Energy Efficiency Look for Energy Star or NSF-certified models to reduce utility costs and ensure regulatory compliance. 6. Construction & Durability Stainless steel interiors and exteriors offer the best durability and are easiest to clean—especially in high-volume environments. 💡 Advanced Culinary Recommendations At Advanced Culinary, we carry a wide selection of commercial refrigerators from top brands — all with free shipping, liftgate delivery, and call-ahead service included. Customer Favorites: 1-Door Reach-In Refrigerators – Great for bakeries, cafés, and starter kitchens. 2-Door Worktop Refrigerators – Perfect for prep-intensive operations. Glass Door Merchandisers – Ideal for beverage display and retail refrigeration. Not sure what you need? Our team is here to help you select the perfect unit for your kitchen’s workflow and footprint.

Buying Guide for Fryers

Complete Buying Guide to Commercial Fryers

From crispy French fries and onion rings to chicken wings and donuts, deep fryers are the backbone of many restaurant menus. But not all fryers are created equal. Choosing the right model depends on your kitchen size, menu, and output needs. At Advanced Culinary, we carry a full range of commercial fryers with free shipping and expert support—so you can fry with confidence. 🍟 Types of Commercial Fryers 🔹 Countertop Fryers Best for food trucks, concession stands, or low-volume kitchens. These compact units are great for occasional frying or as a backup during peak times. 🔹 Floor Fryers Ideal for high-volume restaurants. With larger oil capacities and faster recovery times, they handle frequent, heavy-duty use. 🔥 Key Considerations When Buying a Fryer ✅ 1. Gas vs. Electric Gas fryers heat faster and are often preferred in high-demand kitchens. Electric fryers offer even heating and can be used in locations without gas lines. ✅ 2. Oil Capacity Measured in pounds or gallons, choose based on how many portions you serve per hour. ✅ 3. Recovery Time The faster the oil reheats after dropping in food, the better the consistency and speed of service. ✅ 4. Space & Layout Consider how much space you have under the hood and whether you’ll place the fryer on the line or in a separate prep area. 🔄 Related Equipment to Consider Chef Bases – Store prepped food below your fryer and place the fryer directly on top. Undercounter Freezers – Keep breaded items and frozen appetizers within arm’s reach. Stock Pot Ranges & Hot Plates – Great for boiling pasta or making sauces to pair with fried dishes. 🛒 Shop Commercial Fryers with Confidence Advanced Culinary offers countertop and floor fryers built for speed, safety, and consistency. Every fryer ships with: Free commercial delivery Liftgate drop-off Call-ahead coordination Explore our lineup of commercial deep fryers and elevate your menu with performance equipment backed by service you can trust.

Top mount vs bottom mount refrigeration

Top-Mount vs. Bottom-Mount Reach-In Refrigeration: Which Is Best for Your Commercial Kitchen?

When selecting reach-in refrigeration for your restaurant, café, or commercial kitchen, one key decision is choosing between top-mount and bottom-mount compressor units. This applies to both reach-in refrigerators and freezers, and your choice can impact everything from workflow and energy efficiency to long-term maintenance. At Advanced Culinary, we carry a wide range of top-mount and bottom-mount commercial refrigerators and freezers to suit any kitchen layout, ambient condition, or performance need. What’s the Difference? The difference lies in where the compressor—the component that powers the cooling system—is located. Top-mount refrigeration places the compressor above the storage cabinet Bottom-mount refrigeration places it underneath the cabinet This affects not only how the unit performs in different environments but also its ease of access and long-term reliability. ✅ Top-Mount Reach-In Refrigerators & Freezers In top-mount systems, the compressor is positioned above the refrigerated or frozen compartment. Ideal For: Hot kitchens or areas near cooking equipment Environments where flour, grease, or dust collect near the floor Long shifts with consistent heavy-duty use Advantages: Better performance in high-heat environments Less exposure to dust and debris, extending compressor life Heat from the compressor stays further from the food zone Considerations: Needs additional vertical clearance May require a ladder or step for service or filter cleaning ✅ Bottom-Mount Reach-In Refrigerators & Freezers In bottom-mount units, the compressor is located beneath the cabinet, closer to floor level. Ideal For: Kitchens with limited ceiling height Environments with stable, cooler ambient temperatures Staff frequently reaching for lower-shelf items Advantages: Easier access to interior storage and compressor for maintenance Slightly more ergonomic for frequent product access Often better energy efficiency in cooler kitchen spaces Considerations: Pulls in more debris and grease from the floor Less efficient in high-heat or high-grease environments How to Choose the Right Unit Both top-mount and bottom-mount reach-in refrigeration systems are excellent options when matched with the right environment: Top-Mount is ideal for hot kitchens, bakeries, or grill lines Bottom-Mount works great in cooler prep areas, tight spaces, or front-of-house setups Whether you need a single-door reach-in freezer for a tight prep kitchen or a high-capacity double-door refrigerator for daily line service, Advanced Culinary has both configurations available from trusted brands, ready to ship. Refrigeration That Works for You — Nationwide As a leading supplier of commercial restaurant equipment, Advanced Culinary serves foodservice professionals nationwide—from restaurants and bakeries to food trucks, hotels, and ghost kitchens. Every order includes: ✅ Free shipping on all equipment✅ Liftgate delivery at no extra charge✅ Call-ahead service to coordinate convenient delivery Our team is here to make purchasing refrigeration simple, with expert support and fast, reliable fulfillment. Explore Top-Mount and Bottom-Mount Reach-In Refrigerators & FreezersReady to upgrade or expand your cold storage? Browse our full line of reach-in refrigeration today and find the right fit for your space—with unbeatable convenience, free delivery, and Advanced Culinary’s trusted service behind every order.

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