Catering Equipment - The New V’s Second Hand Dilemma:

It's understandable if you're confused about what to do with your old, second hand catering equipment. You don't want to just throw it all in a box and give it away, but you also don't want to store all that stuff in your garage or basement.

The trouble is that there are so many different types of catering equipment out there, and not everyone has the space for a full set of every kind.

A good rule of thumb is this: if you're looking at renting a space for your caterer business (perhaps office space or an industrial kitchen) then get rid of all the extra appliances that won't be needed for those purposes.

On the other hand, if you just have one catering kitchen, then keep everything that you'll actually be using.

Here's a list of the different types of catering equipment that I've come across while doing my research:

Ice Machines: The two most common types of ice machines are the "refrigerated" (also called "modular") and the "freezer" type. This is an important distinction; refrigerators and freezers have different cooling needs when used for ice machines. (See below for more.)

These machines can be made from plastic or steel containers of various sizes, which are filled with water. When the water freezes, the ice starts to contract due to the cold surrounding everything. It makes sense, then, that these machines are always much larger than their refrigerators and freezers cousins.

Most ice machines have a built-in filtration system to keep out smaller insects, but they still need to be cleaned every few weeks. The large size of these machines allow for more water to be stored; thus more ice can be made in a shorter time period than with small units. Unfortunately, this also means a lot of storage space and electricity use.

Freezer Ice Machines: These are slightly different from refrigerated ones. They are more common, and are used by a few different ice vending companies. These machines work similarly to refrigerated ones, but they have a freezing unit inside the water chest.

These machines have just as many parts that require cleaning as the refrigerated units; they also use up a lot of electricity and take up space in your business or home. The main benefit is that you can easily convert this type of machine into an air conditioner if the temperature gets too hot on your hot summer days.

Refrigerated Ice Machines: These types of machines are often found in grocery stores, restaurants and caterers. They can be made from a variety of materials including plastic, stainless steel, and aluminum.

A refrigerated ice machine has an inlet water line and a drain line, both of which must be connected to the water inlet and drain connection on the machine. The best way to connect these lines is with brass fittings like you'd see on a kitchen sink faucet. Each one needs to have a washer and a nut for optimal water flow.

These machines also have an internal filter that should be replaced about once per month. Depending on where you live, you'll probably want to clean the condenser unit at least every 3 months or so.

Freezer Ice Machines: There are a few different kinds of freezer ice machines, but the most common ones are made of stainless steel. They have multiple inlet and drain lines that connect to the top and bottom of the unit.

As with refrigerators and freezers, these machines have internal filters and come with washers, nuts, washers and draining valves to make connecting cooling lines easy. Most units require maintenance only once every few months; however one brand I've seen claims that dishwashers can break down due to chemical build-up over prolonged periods of time (e.g., if used by a caterer too many times).

 Mixers (Food): These can be electric or manual, and are either hand-held or countertop devices. Manual mixers are usually just beaters with a handle on one side, and a spinning base on the other. Countertop mixers have flat bases that move back and forth to mix doughs and batters.

Both types of mixers can come in many different sizes, from that of a small blender to a large tub-sized models. All of these are generally made of stainless steel; the handle is often easy to remove for cleaning purposes.

Some mixers also have additional attachments available separately (e.g., whisks). The most common attachments are:

Spatula - A long spatula with the end of it shaped like a T tool used to lift and turn doughs.

- A long spatula with the end of it shaped like a T tool used to lift and turn doughs. Chopper - Used for chopping ingredients when making baked potatoes, etc.

- Used for chopping ingredients when making baked potatoes, etc. Dough Hook - For mixing bread doughs rapidly; also useful for running through food processors.

- For mixing bread doughs rapidly; also useful for running through food processors. Slicer and Shredder Attachments - Used to slice food into very precise portions.

- Used to slice food into very precise portions. Knives - Typically used for slicing veggies and meats.

- Typically used for slicing veggies and meats. Ice Scoop - For scooping out ice from the (usually large) ice chest for making drinks.

Ice Machines: These are just like refrigerated machines, except that they are equipped with a freezing unit instead of an evaporator unit like the others. The difference is in how cold the water is when it freezes; a freezing machine has a greater capacity than its refrigerated cousins, thus more ice can be made within the same time period.

However, a freezer will require much more frequent cleaning to keep its icy environment free of mold and bacteria buildup than its warmer cousins do.

Freezer Ice Machines: These are essentially the same as the above, with an added freezer element inside the unit instead of a warm water evaporator.

Refrigerated Ice Machines: Refrigerated machines have a larger water capacity than freezers do. This extra capacity allows them to make ice quickly, but this also means that they take up more space and use up more electricity to do it.

These machines take up much less space than those made of stainless steel. Instead, they are usually made of plastic with stainless steel strips running along the sides; they are often translucent with a mix of green and blue lights inside to indicate when they're operating well. These machines are equipped with internal water filters; these need to be replaced approximately once per month.

The inlet valves of this type of machine can be made from brass or plastic, depending on the model you choose. Some models come with brass fittings for their valves when purchased, but others will not.

These machines are also equipped with internal condensers that need to be cleaned every 3 months or so. Condensers typically must be scrubbed down and rinsed thoroughly. Some condenser cleaning instructions also recommend using a small wire brush to help remove built-up grimes and soap scum deposits that can form over time.

Conclusion:

Ice machines don't deserve the less-than-positive reputation they've received over the years. They're extremely versatile, and can help to save time in an office or business setting when used properly.  It just takes a bit of research to get familiar with how each type of machine works so that you can start using it to help your business grow!

There are many types of ice machines, from large kitchen products to smaller models that plug into your car's cigarette lighter. They all do basically the same thing -- make ice -- but each one is a little different.