Buying Used Commercial Kitchen Equipment - Some Tips
Running a commercial kitchen or restaurant can be very expensive as you need to pay out for equipment, staff, supplies and health and insurance. Buying new equipment can be very expensive so you may be tempted to buy used commercial kitchen equipment instead in order to save some money. This can be a good decision you need to take some things into consideration before you do this. Commercial ranges can often be found that are in good condition and have been properly maintained and can cost around $800, compared to about $1500 if you buy them new. You should opt for gas ranges rather than electric ranges as they are often easy to repair as they do not have so many moving parts. Make sure before you buy a gas range uses the correct type of gas, natural gas or propane, that your restaurant is set up to use or you will have to pay for the range to be converted which can be expensive.
Commercial Kitchen Refrigerators
If you are looking for used commercial kitchen refrigerator or refrigerated tables for preparation, used can be a wise decision. Gas refrigerators should always be checked by a technician before you buy to ensure there are no leaks or other defects that may cause a hazard in your kitchen. As repairs are expensive the technician can also check that all moving parts are working properly and safely buying a refrigerator that is going to need costly repairs in the near future. the temperature of the refrigerator can be checked by turning it on and leaving for about 30 minutes. Use a thermometer to check that the temperature in the main part is less than 40°F and in the ice box 0°F. You should also check the gaskets on the doors to make sure they are saving properly. You can do this by taking a piece of paper and putting in the door, then closing it. Try to pull the paper out. You should feel some resistance if the airtight seals are working correctly. If the paper comes out very easily the gaskets are failing and would need to be replaced.
Commercial Kitchen Fryers
Care needs to be taken when buying used commercial kitchen gas fryers. These can be major causes of fires in commercial kitchens if the oil comes into contact with a gas flame. Very often fryers are left around unused and empty and the tank that will contain the oil begins to corrode. Even though you may not see rust on the tank there may be very tiny holes present that can cause oil to leak once the fryer is filled and this will inevitably cause of fire.
Unless you know the person selling the used gas fryer and assure that it has been maintained properly and not allowed to rust is not good idea to buy it. The hazards involved are just not worth it! Even if you look at the tank and cannot see rusting it does not mean it is not there and that the tank is sound, or that rusting will not continue to occur. For the small amount of money that you save it is really not worth the risk as new commercial gas fryers are only around $700.
Conclusion
In conclusion we can say that buying used commercial kitchen equipment is generally a good idea, apart from gas fryers, especially if you make sure it is checked by a qualified technician before you make a purchase and you set up a good maintenance schedule and stick to it.