Commercial kitchen equipment is way more expensive and complicated than domestic kitchen appliances. These commercial-grade kitchen tools also have fewer customization choices than their domestic counterparts.

So, why do successful restaurant and catering business owners dissuade those who are new to the restaurant business from buying domestic kitchen tools, which are much more affordable?

To understand this, you must learn the difference between commercial and domestic kitchen tools.

1. Accuracy, Consistency, and Strict Hygiene Standards

    Whether it’s a dishwasher, food processor, refrigerator, or ice maker, the commercial kitchen equipment will always provide more consistent and accurate service than the domestic kitchen tools.

    Your customers expect you to serve equally delicious food every time they place an order. 

    For example, they expect you to serve cold drinks with ice within 10 minutes. They will expect your burger patties to have the same meat consistency.

    Domestic kitchen tools just can’t produce such pinpoint accurate results consistently.

    The commercial kitchen tools, however, can.

    Commercial-grade kitchen tools also have higher hygiene standards than domestic ones.

    For example, a commercial dishwasher’s average wash temperature hovers between 64-74 °C, while its rinse temperature is at least 80°C.

    In comparison, a domestic dishwasher’s wash temperature doesn’t exceed 60°C.

    Clearly, the commercial kitchen equipment has higher hygiene standards than the domestic kitchen equipment.

    2. Power and Performance

      The commercial kitchen appliances are designed to handle heavy workloads that domestic kitchen tools just can’t match.

      Whether it’s a dishwasher, slicer, oven, griddle, or food processor, any active restaurant would use these tools for at least 12 hours a day.

      To manage this heavy workload, commercial kitchen appliances use high-powered motors, stabilizers, and other tools. You can check out Chumart’s commercial kitchen equipment to see how each of them is designed to maintain peak performance.

      On the contrary, domestic kitchen tools only have regular motors and standard tools that are just enough to handle a small amount of food.

      They can’t handle the heavy load of continuous cooking and can’t store massive amounts of food effectively.

      They just weren’t made to do it.

      3. Customization Capabilities

        Domestic kitchen tools usually have many more customization options than commercial ones. 

        After all, domestic kitchen tools are mostly purchased by the homeowners. They will want their kitchen tools to fit into their home’s aesthetics. 

        As a result, domestic kitchen tool manufacturers offer multiple color variations, styles, and other customization options.

        However, commercial kitchen appliances are made to be more practical and functional. Although a few of them may have technical customization options, you will hardly find any aesthetic personalization options when buying them.

        Plus, only the kitchen staff of your restaurant will work around them anyway. So, you don’t really need any aesthetic customization options.

        4. Cost of the Equipment

          Most commercial kitchen tools are much larger and more expensive than the domestic ones.

          Why?

          Because they are made with higher-quality materials, mechanical parts, and are much more powerful, durable, and capable of withstanding heavier workloads than domestic kitchen appliances.

          So, for obvious reasons, they take much more time, precision, and money to manufacture, which inflates their purchase cost by a reasonable margin.

          However, performance and abilities of commercial kitchen appliances make every single penny you spend on them worth it.

          Final Thoughts!

          In short, commercial kitchen appliances are:

          • More powerful, accurate, and consistent than the domestic kitchen tools
          • Less focused on aesthetic customization
          • More expensive than the domestic ones
          • Capable of handling many times more workload than the domestic kitchen tools

          So, if you’re planning to open a restaurant, buying commercial kitchen tools will be much more cost-effective in the long term.