A commercial microwave is typically used in food service operations where there is a high volume of food preparation required, such as in restaurants, cafes, and other food establishments. If you’re a restaurant or cafe owner, you’ve probably been asking yourself whether or not it is worthwhile to invest in commercial microwaves and if it is acceptable that you use home or residential appliances instead.
Commercial microwaves are usually more expensive than home microwaves but are generally more powerful and have more durable components than home microwaves. These microwaves are designed to handle larger quantities of food and have higher power output, faster cooking times, and more durable construction than typical household microwaves. Their advantages over home microwaves lie in:
Better durability
Domestic microwaves are designed to quickly heat up popular food soup, pizza, and popcorn. This means they’re built for light use, with no more than 10 minutes of usage per day. In contrast, in a commercial restaurant or food and beverage outlet, microwaves are used far more frequently. They are designed to withstand hours of usage per day, as some commercial kitchens may need to use them non-stop during business hours. Because commercial microwaves are designed for heavy usage, you won’t need to worry about them easily breaking down. Therefore, you need a microwave that is more durable and able to withstand frequent use.
Designed for commercial use
On the one hand, a commercial microwave is fully programmable to save your cooking time. Residential microwaves will normally offer some basic programming options for defrosting, cooking a pizza, popping popcorn, or heating a potato. They cover some of the basic household meals to meet the needs and wants of their consumers. In contrast, a major benefit of commercial microwaves is the fully programmable control panel that allows you to perfectly cook a large number of foods by simply pushing a button. This will ensure that your food is cooked quickly and consistently every time, regardless of the dish being served.
On the other hand, a commercial microwave is designed to hold more food. Most of us are familiar with the spinning plate inside every household microwave. Because commercial microwaves are built to hold higher quantities of food, the dishes are too large to rotate. Heat is also distributed much more evenly in commercial units, removing the need for turntables. What’s more, the flat ceramic base of commercial microwaves is easier to clean.
Higher wattages
Microwave watts are used to determine the amount of energy that is converted into heat inside a microwave. As the wattage increases, the varieties of foods that can be safely cooked increase. For example, lower wattages like 550 – 700 are good for cooking rice, and keeping coffee warm, but not good for cooking chicken or turkey.
Domestic microwaves have a wattage range from 550 to 1,500, while commercial microwave wattages range from 1,000 to 3,500 watts.
In addition, the microwaves’ wattage usually corresponds with the oven capacity. so does the oven capacity. There is no usually one-size-fits-all answer. The best commercial microwave oven for your business will depend on various factors, including the volume of food you need to prepare and the type of food you’ll be cooking.
Industry-suited service
For those who are running a commercial kitchen, the aftercare and maintenance of a microwave can be just as important as making the purchase. After all, equipment breakdowns can be very costly in a commercial environment, with spoiled food and a negatively impacted business.
Most commercial microwaves have a much longer manufacturer warranty than domestic microwaves.
Most domestic microwaves have a 1-year limited liability warranty. Also, there are some unique guidelines a customer must follow to file a warranty claim. If a customer decides to file a warranty claim, they may have to return to the store they purchased it from first, before making the claim.
Commercial microwaves have a manufacturer warranty of more than one year. Like Smeta, as a commercial microwave manufacturer, they offer as long as a 3-year of warranty.
What to look for when purchasing a commercial microwave oven?
When purchasing a commercial microwave oven, there are several things you should keep in mind to get the best possible product.
Firstly, size and capacity. Determine how much space you have available for the microwave and how much food you need to prepare at once. Commercial microwave ovens come in various sizes and capacities, so choose one that fits your needs.
Secondly, look for a microwave with a high power rating. The higher the wattage, the faster the cooking time. Commercial microwaves typically range from 1000 to 3000 watts.
Finally, consider the ease of use and programmability of the microwave. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific types of food or cooking methods.
In a nutshell, many commercial appliances are designed with additional capabilities or features, you’re free to contact us for more advice on how to equip your kitchen with more professional appliances.
