Love for food. That is something everyone has in common. No matter where you go, you would see many people hopping from one restaurant to another only to taste a new dish. Of course, to keep themselves safe, restaurant owners impose COVID-19 safe management measures. And to further secure the safety of everyone, the government often looks out if the restaurants are doing their job well.
But before such things would happen, a kitchen manager has many things to take care of before launching the grand opening of a restaurant. Other than buying kitchen supplies in Singapore, they would also need to train and access employees. Doing so ensures that the kitchen equipment would stay in good condition and last for a long time. Also, the food they would make is not only delicious but also safe to serve.
That is why if you are planning to open a new restaurant this year, you have to know at least the duties of a kitchen manager. Let this article show what those responsibilities are so you would know what to do.
How to Know You Are Buying the Right Kitchen Equipment?
Before you supervise the food preparation, cooking, maintaining inventory, and complying with safety regulations, you should buy the right kitchen supplies in Singapore first. If you do otherwise, it would only cause you losses, such as not delivering quality food on time, and customers would be upset about your customer service.
To rest assured that would not happen and customers would have a pleasant dining experience, you as a kitchen manager should get the right kitchen appliances. Here are some tips on how you should do it.
Start by Planning the Menu.
One of the most common mistakes that kitchen managers make is wasting their time and money buying unnecessary appliances that they do not need.
To not let this happen to you, you should create a shopping list first by planning what menu you want to offer to your customers. Take note that your menu has a significant influence on what kitchen supplies your restaurant would have. That is why you should take your time to come up with a restaurant kitchen and bakery equipment list in Singapore.
Create a Budget Plan.
It is no surprise that buying new kitchen supplies is quite expensive. The key for you not to go overboard with what you can afford is to have a budget plan and stick to it. Of course, these appliances should be of high quality to serve better quality and delicious food.
To make that happen, you should do your research while creating a budget plan. Learn how to compare prices, so you would know if the appliances you want to buy are indeed worth it.
Measure the Kitchen Area.
This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but many kitchen managers overlook this matter. As such, the kitchen supplies they bought do not fit in their kitchen area. That is why for your case, you should measure your kitchen area first before getting kitchen equipment.
But make sure the measurement system you are using matches what the supplier uses, so there will be no miscommunication about the sizes.
Opt for Energy Efficient Appliance.
Besides the kitchen supplies’ dimension, you should also consider whether it is energy efficient or not. As you already know, the electricity rate here is not that cheap. Every watt counts. That is why when shopping for kitchen supplies, opt for energy-efficient. Doing so would help you save more energy and money in the long run.
To know if it is an energy-efficient appliance, they should have a logo of the National Energy Agency (NEA). Having this means that equipment only consumes less electricity.
Once you have considered all of these, you know for sure that you are buying the right kitchen supplies in Singapore. That is why you should take your time performing each tip so you would not miss anything.
How to Guarantee You Are Buying Durable Kitchen Equipment?
When it comes to electronic gadgets like smartphones, we often check and test them before buying them. We do such a thing to make sure it works and to know whether it is still in good condition. The process is the same when getting kitchen supplies, especially for a newly established restaurant.
While you know that kitchen equipment will give you a return on your investment, you have to guarantee that it will last as stated in the description. Otherwise, you would not be able to get the most out of the money you spent on it.
To give you a hand with that, here are some ways you can do to make sure that you are buying durable kitchen equipment.
Shop from a Reliable Supplier.
Since you will need quality kitchen supplies, you should get them from a reliable supplier. To do that, you should do proper in-depth research. Keep in mind that a reliable supplier can offer a broad range of kitchen equipment that a commercial and residential kitchen needs. From a combi oven to an ice maker in Singapore, they should be able to supply that for you.
Make sure that your chosen supplier has these three qualities below.
- Offer inclusive services such as installation, repair, and maintenance.
- Handle and resolve issues right away.
- Been supplying kitchen supplies for years, at least ten or more years of experience.
Get the Latest Model.
The latest model of the soft-serve machine in Singapore is usually the best one you can get. But this also goes for any kitchen appliance that your restaurant needs. With having the latest models, your restaurant would be future-proof! That means you can manage your growing business more, and your plans to expand in the future is no longer impossible to do.
Ask the Supplier Questions.
To make sure you are getting the most out of your purchase, ask the supplier itself. Most often than not, if you let them talk, they would only highlight the good qualities of the item they offer.
For example, the ice maker in Singapore is so in demand among restaurants since it produces clean and fresh ice, But how much water does it need to make it work? Would it consume a lot of energy?
Those factors are what suppliers rarely discuss with their customers. That is why you should take the first step and ask them about these. Doing so would give you an idea of whether the item they offer is worth purchasing.
Read Reviews.
You are not the only restaurant managers who had invested in kitchen supplies before. Many people might have transacted with your preferred supplier, so find out what they say and have experienced. Their views and opinions are priceless because they will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the kitchen equipment supplier.
But if the said supplier does not have reviews posted on their website, you may go to community platforms like Quora and Reddit. There you would find honest information about the kitchen supplies you are planning to buy.
Get to Know About Warranties.
When you shop for kitchen supplies, try not to get too distracted by the flashy features the appliance has. You have to focus on whether it includes a warranty. If there is, that is great. But you should read the terms and conditions stated there. That will save you later on whenever that item needs repair or maintenance.
Above anything else, have a good relationship with your supplier. In the long run, they will help you get the best deal available when you need to get new kitchen supplies in Singapore.
How to Maintain Kitchen Equipment?
No matter how durable a kitchen appliance may seem, they are subject to wear and tear. That is why as a kitchen manager, you should know how to take good care of your kitchen supplies so all of them will last for years. If you have no idea how to do it, then following these tips will surely help you in the long run.
After a busy and long day serving customers, it is a bit tempting to leave the cleaning process after using the kitchen supplies. But doing so would only cause you sanitation problems like building up bacteria and mould.
When that happens, there is a chance those would spread the entire restaurant, making your customers vulnerable to the food they eat. For sure, you would not want that to happen since that could put your business at risk.
That is why you should learn how to discipline yourself. Clean the kitchen supplies after using so you would not encounter any sanitation problems.
But when cleaning kitchen appliances, be mindful of the cleaning products you would use. Otherwise, that might be the cause why you need to get a new one again. To not let that happen, ask the supplier what cleaning products you should use to clean the machine.
Check Each Appliance Regularly.
Besides cleaning the kitchen supplies, you should also inspect them if they have any potential issues. As such, you can repair minor problems and prevent possible downtime during business hours. That saves you not inconveniencing your customers and needing to get a new appliance again.
Therefore, check your kitchen supplies at least once a week. Doing that so often ensures your appliances are always in good condition.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instruction.
This tip may sound so obvious to do. But there are kitchen managers that prefer to follow their ways than what the manual says. As a result, they end up damaging the kitchen supplies rather than fixing them.
To not let that happen to you, always follow the instructions given by the manufacturer. Sure, the internet may give you some advice about what you need to do, but you cannot say if they are indeed the truth. That is why you should do what the manual says if you have a fruitful result.
Seek Professional Help.
If you think you cannot follow what the manual says, consider seeking help from a professional technician. Since they have been repairing various machines, they know more about how to fix things. They can even explain what went wrong with the equipment and what things you should avoid from happening again. Those are the benefits you would gain if you rely on them instead of fixing the kitchen supplies yourself.
Watch Out for Warning Signals.
Most kitchen supplies have different gauges, dials, warning buzzers, and alarms. Those are safety features they have, so whoever using the appliances would know what to do with them. As such, the kitchen supplies would remain in good condition and could avoid spending costly breakdown repairs. Here are some warning signs you should watch out for:
- Dials in a combi oven do not reach the desired temperature.
- The water in the dishwasher does not get hot enough.
- The ice maker takes time to make ice.
Train Employees
To make sure nothing will go wrong with the kitchen supplies, you should train your staff well. Since they are mostly the ones using them, they should know at least a few tricks to fix them when they notice the warning signs mentioned above.
Doing all of these might seem too much to do, but you will thank yourself in the future if you do so. Not only you would be able to save money buying new kitchen supplies, but you will experience less downtime.
In Conclusion
As a restaurant manager, many responsibilities would be lying on your shoulders to have an efficient and smooth functioning restaurant. That is why make sure you follow all the duties mentioned above to make that come true.
In any case, you are looking where you could buy kitchen supplies in Singapore, go to Simplex. They are always available and ready to supply kitchen supplies at any time, anywhere. Here, go to their website today and find out what equipment you can get from them!
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