10 Prime Equipment You Must Have in Your Cloud Kitchen

You know cloud kitchens are one of the most profitable restaurant types. If you are looking for running a food service business with low investment, cloud kitchen can be the best option for you.

Here the discussion is all about cloud kitchen equipment. But what is a cloud kitchen concept? It's also known as a ghost kitchen or dark kitchen or virtual kitchen.

The global market size of the cloud kitchen is predicted to reach 71.4 billion USD by 2027. Source

Without spending too much, an entrepreneur can start a cloud kitchen business. It's a totally online-based food service so you need a cooking space, a chef, and an online food delivery system.

The kitchen equipment, which is essential in a restaurant, in a cloud kitchen, you’ll require the same tools. The kitchen appliances of a restaurant may vary depending on various factors including the type, size, and the way of serving.

As you’re gonna start a ghost kitchen, you must need the essential type of equipment. Let’s see what you must consider while buying cloud kitchen appliances. 

Before jumping into the main part please check the world-class cloud kitchen management software 

What Should You Consider Before Buying Cloud Kitchen Equipment?

Cloud kitchen business model is followed by thousands of business owners. The main reason is this is a modern food service idea from which the cloud kitchen owners and the customers both will be benefited.

The ghost kitchen is a time-worthy business solution for entrepreneurs. Because people nowadays feel more comfortable placing an order online and they need convenient services.

The virtual kitchen or dark kitchen saves time and costs for business professionals. The kitchen essentials are required to run your cloud kitchen. When you purchase cloud kitchen equipment, you must consider some factors.

Budget

The question is raised: how much is your budget? It’s the first factor that you should take into consideration. Buying kitchen appliances can be expensive. But if you decide what your exact requirements are and how much it costs, it will be best to go to buy that type of equipment.

As you consider your options, keep in mind that some goods may have large upfront prices, but they will produce efficiencies that will save you time and money in the long run.

Some commercial restaurant equipment is a must-have, while others are just great to have. Ideally, your spending decisions greatly rely on your available budget. 

Culinary Style

Suppose you have a cloud kitchen where you are serving specific types of food. You know, different dishes necessitate different methods of preparation and cooking. 

For instance, a pizza oven may be required for an Italian restaurant. On the other hand, a Mediterranean restaurant will most likely require a large-capacity food processor and spice grinder.

So choosing cloud kitchen equipment greatly relies on the style and type of your served food.

Expected Demand

The equipment you need in your cloud kitchen significantly depends on how many customers you have to serve. It can be said that based on the number of your customers, you should buy the equipment.

The projected demand of your customers is also a considerable factor. Suppose, you have a loyal base of customers and you get hundreds of online orders at night. In this case, the type of equipment and the number of kitchen utensils rely on.

Local Regulations

Do you know that your local area or the serving area may have some limitations to use some kitchen equipment?

Yes, it's the fact. So you must have knowledge about your local regulations for using kitchen tools or equipment. Otherwise, you may face an unexpected situation.

New or Used

Yes, it's an important factor whether you are gonna buy the kitchen equipment new or used. The new cloud kitchen equipment is expensive compared to the used one.

But if you are ready to maintain and clean the equipment that you are using regularly, it can be the best option to save your additional costs.

However, the above-mentioned factors can guide you to buy the appropriate kitchen equipment based on your exact requirements. So consider the points before buying the appliances for your cloud kitchen.

Essential Equipment for Your Cloud Kitchen You Need to Buy

The right type of equipment can ensure the efficiency of your cloud kitchen. The restaurant expert says if you have a complete package of kitchen equipment, your productivity will increase 30% more as you don’t need to feel the lack of any tool when it’s required.

So check out the below cloud kitchen equipment and make sure that you are going to take the desired utensils for your cloud kitchen.

Ovens

In your list of restaurant equipment, a suitable oven for your cloud kitchen should be prioritized. It is in charge of a wide range of tasks, including everything from boiling soup to baking pastries. 

Ovens are a must-have for any cloud kitchen that caters to bakery products or concentrates on pizza delivery services. They should be well-maintained and carefully picked.

Naturally, a commercial oven differs from a home oven in that it is built to handle larger capacities, provide higher power outputs, and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

These can cost anything from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on your needs.

The types of ovens include

• standard ovens, 
• convection ovens, 
• combi ovens, 
• conveyor ovens, 
• cook-and-hold ovens, 
• deck ovens, 
• rotisserie ovens and 
• steam ovens.

Cooking Stoves or Ranges

Stoves, often known as ranges, can function as an oven and a stovetop. Chefs may broil, bake, and roast meals inside the range while frying, boiling, sauteing, and searing on top.

Do you know there are two types of cooking ranges including

• Electric stove
• Gas stove

Analyze whether you want to install a gas-based range or an electric range before buying any industrial cooking top stove range. Both types of ranges have advantages and disadvantages.

Electric items feature a smooth, stylish, and easy-to-clean design, whilst gas types make it easier to regulate the heat and temperature settings.

Electric Stoves

These are more energy-efficient and easier to clean than gas ranges. Cooks, on the other hand, find it far more difficult to make food, and some cooking styles are almost impossible to achieve with this technology.

Gas Stoves

Gas ranges offer improved temperature control, allowing a cook to quickly get a pan to the temperature they desire. These ranges are naturally more difficult to clean and pose a greater risk of a gas leak or fire.

Refrigerators and Freezers

You know refrigerators and freezers are the most essential equipment in any kitchen. In your cloud kitchen, the food ingredients remain fresh in the refrigerators.

Consider buying new refrigerators and freezers that come with a warranty and require little maintenance. Conduct thorough market research on the various industrial brands or manufacturers that produce refrigeration units for commercial kitchens before making a purchase.

You should consider some factors while buying a refrigerator.

• The size and capacity your require
• Type of fridges like top freezers or bottom freezers, side by side or french door fridges, etc.
• Key features of the refrigerators
• The price range.

In a cloud kitchen, the refrigerator is like an inventory as it stores the food, fruits, vegetables, and ingredients. 

Sinks

Sinks are the essential kitchen equipment. Sinks are critical for maintaining kitchen cleanliness and fulfilling food safety objectives. In your commercial kitchen, you can add a single, double, or triple-sink wash station as well as a dishwashing unit.

Counters

Stainless steel counters should be used while creating the food preparation area. Stainless steel counters are strong, corrosion-resistant, and bacteria-resistant. They're simple to keep clean and can stand up to the harsh cleaning solutions commonly used in commercial kitchens.

Slicers and Mixers

Mixers and slicers help speed up the slicing and mixing of components when cooking, reducing the amount of time it takes to prepare a dish.

Mixers are a must-have for any cloud kitchen that caters to the bakery or pizzeria market. Using a mixer to combine large batches of dough, sauces, and other ingredients saves a lot of time compared to doing it by hand.

Hand Mixer

In addition to a larger mixer, you may require one or more of these. These are ideal for blending, integrating, and emulsifying.

Floor Mixer

Perfect for pizzerias and bakeries that need dough, batters, or sauces on a regular basis. These are capable of mixing big volumes of dough at once.

Countertop Mixer

If your cloud kitchen requires only a modest amount of raw materials, these mixers can be purchased.

Spiral Mixer

Spiral mixers are ideal for dense doughs, such as pizza dough. They can hold up to 600 pounds of dough and spin at extremely high rates, resulting in more equal and thinner mixing.

Planetary Mixer

If you simply need to make light batters, planetary mixers are the way to go. Their spinning speed is slower than a spiral mixer's, but it's ideal for light ingredients like whipped cream or mashed potatoes.

Heavy-duty Mixer

When huge volumes of raw materials must be treated continuously, heavy-duty mixers are an excellent alternative.

Slicers are used to swiftly and efficiently cut raw materials. Various slicers allow for the slicing of various raw materials such as meat, fruits, vegetables, and so on. 

They are an important aspect of cloud kitchen restaurant equipment since they help to keep the consistency and uniformity standards set by various brands.

Cooking Utensils

You must need some small tools which are essential while preparing and cooking the food.

• Chef’s knives
• Pot and pan lids
• Tasting spoons
• Pots and pans (all sizes)
• Measuring spoons
• Tongs
• Spatulas
• Steamtable
• Towels
• Mixing bowls
• Ladles
• Rags
• Baking sheets and roasting pans
• Whisks
• Plastic inserts for coolers

You will require some materials in your cloud kitchen.

• Epoxy
• Anti-microbial
• Coated
• Chrome wire 
• Polymer
• Stainless steel

Storage Containers

You'll need a lot of food storage containers if you want to avoid wasting food. Also, keep in mind that various foods may necessitate different containers.

• Doug boxes
• Kitchen canisters
• Ingredient bins
• Veggie crispers
• Food storage containers

Commercial Fryer

The power supply of a fryer unit is a crucial decision element for some commercial kitchens when buying a fryer machine. 

Typically, this cooking equipment is powered by either gas or electricity. Gas fryers are often less expensive to operate and use less energy over time, but they can be costly to install.

On the other hand, electric fryers quickly heat up. They're portable and the setup process is easy. Fryers exist in a variety of shapes and sizes, and their performance varies depending on their size, orientation, style, and other factors. 

As a result, compare different models and grasp the differences before making a purchase for a more thorough examination.

Exhaust Hoods

Exhaust hoods are essential for keeping the kitchen temperature and humidity consistent during cooking. To ensure the effective working of the staff without any discomfort, it is critical to maintaining a healthy breathing environment.

Grease Hoods

If there is a lot of heat, smoke, or grease coming out as a by-product of cooking, these hoods are a must. 

Grease exhaust hoods should be installed in cloud kitchens where frying, grilling, or broiling are common operations. They are equipped with a make-up air mechanism that ensures proper ventilation in the kitchen and "makes up" for any contaminated air present.

Condensate Hoods

Condensate hoods are ideal for cloud kitchens that specialize in baking and steaming because the only exhaust is heat and moisture. To help chefs and those working around, surplus heat, mist, or stink should be removed on a frequent basis.

Cutting Surfaces

Even though stainless steel food preparation surfaces are resilient, heavy prep work such as slicing, cutting, chopping, etc. should not be done directly on them. 

Cutting boards would provide a firm prep surface while also protecting the counters from cuts and slices. When it comes to cutting boards, you have the option of using a plastic or wooden one. 

Both materials are simple to care for and can be sterilized without causing damage to the surface.

Shelves

Shelves and racks for the kitchen come in a variety of sizes and materials. You can select the most suitable option based on your dark kitchen's storage requirements. 

Consider adding mobile shelving units that allow you to move your shelves more easily, allowing you to properly clean and sanitize the floors, walls, and other important surfaces.

Safety Equipment

It’s essential to have some safety equipment in your cloud kitchen.

• First aid kits
• Wet floor signs
• Security cameras
• A fire suppression system
• Fire extinguishers
• Rubber floor mats
• Aprons, hairnets, gloves, goggles, and oven mitts

There is more equipment which is used in a kitchen for preparing food and cooking. The above-mentioned cloud kitchen equipment is inevitable. You can choose the equipment according to your budget and needs.

Cloud Kitchen Tool that Ensures Profitability and Sustainability

Cloud kitchen business operations need to handle with great care. If you can’t cut your additional costs when operating your business, at the end of the day, you won’t reach your target goal.

Then which tool can be the best solution for you?

The cloud kitchen software is a modern and advanced solution in this case. You know, the cloud kitchen business requires handling the customer's orders, preparing food, and delivering the food to the desired customers.

Okay, why is the cloud kitchen system inevitable at present?

Manage your online orders, customers, suppliers, sales, accounts, staff, inventory, and other operations through the cloud kitchen accurately in a minimal time.

Customers when placing an order from your website or mobile application, you’ll get the orders in your cloud POS. You can accept or reject the orders from your POS system.

Then you can send the orders to your chef. The chef will prepare the ordered food. Afterward, you can deliver the food to your customer’s doorstep.

Besides, you can manage your suppliers by communicating with them from time to time and tracking your inventory status.

However, this modern tool makes the cloud kitchen operation comfortable and you can forecast your business sales and profit through the reporting and analytics system of the cloud kitchen system.

How Much Does Cloud Kitchen Equipment Cost?

The cost of your cloud kitchen appliances may vary depending on several factors. If you need to serve more customers, you will require more equipment. Besides, the larger size of the kitchen tools increases your expenses.

The cloud kitchen equipment may cost almost $40,000 to $200,000 depending on retailers, energy efficiency, features, etc.

However, the cloud kitchen tools are also available in used form. You can buy the used equipment at a lower expense.

Wrap Up

Cloud kitchen equipment is essential if you have a cloud kitchen business. The cost of the cloud kitchen may vary. Besides, the kitchen equipment which is required in a cloud kitchen is explored in this article.

One thing you must remember before choosing the kitchen appliances for your ghost kitchen is the type of foodservice.

Read Also

• What Is A Cloud Kitchen? Time-Worthy Cost-Effective Concept
• Cloud Kitchen Business Model: Everything You Need to Know!
• Basic Strategies To Follow: How To Find Cook For Restaurant
• 10 Exclusive Tips to Design Restaurant Food Combo Offers