People have long enjoyed the benefits of using a domestic microwave for light-duty use at home, but for more heavy-duty use, or in a professional kitchen, a commercial microwave can bring great benefits.
Increased Efficiency
Perhaps the biggest difference between commercial and domestic appliances is that a commercial over is more powerful. It’s designed that way, because it needs to cope with faster speeds and more constant use. By cooking quicker, efficiency is improved and your catering business is able to serve more customers.
Other Technology in the Kitchen
Improved technology is leading to bigger and better advantages for catering businesses. Some examples are outlined by Forbes.
Over the years, there has been much debate over the pros and cons of using microwave ovens. Washington State University’s website outlines many of the advantages
Great Value
These days, the price gap between commercial and domestic microwaves is narrowing all the time, and prices are comparable when it comes to machines with similar wattage. Companies such as 247catering have a wide range available, demonstrating the options on offer in the current market.
Of course, value is about more than price alone, and commercial machines will tend to have an extended warranty to increase the value for money when you buy. A commercial model will be designed for consistency, even under heavy use, and the warranty covers your business in case of any breakdown or requirement for replacement parts.
Many commercial microwaves nowadays have custom programs and even manual dials to give the chef ultimate control over time and temperature simply and easily.
Tips For Using Your Microwave
• Use plastic utensils and containers; microwaves are not compatible with metal (including tin foil) and create a fire risk if metal is used. Check that plastic containers are also microwave-safe, too, as some could melt.
• Cover food loosely with cling film to allow steam to escape but prevent food from splashing around the oven. Pierce foods such as potatoes or sausages to allow steam to escape and prevent the food bursting.
• Ensure the food is spread evenly across the dish to avoid hot or cold spots and heat the food evenly. Pausing cooking to stir the food can also eliminate temperature variances.
Cooking for Numbers
Prior preparation is the key to running a successful restaurant business, and planning menus in advance, and preparing things as much as possible, will make a big difference. And having the ability to cook or defrost things in a microwave will make the difference between a successful business and one with a reputation for slow service. Many diners will turn up their noses at the thought of ‘microwave meals’ and think that reheating pre-prepared or even mass-produced meals somehow diminishes the quality, but many good restaurants will reheat some elements of the meal or partially cook meals in advance.
Without a microwave, catering for a large party and serving all meals at the right temperature would be a considerable challenge.
