Below, we answer the questions you should be asking yourself when considering what appliances you need for your church kitchen, and explain how Steelplan Kitchens can help.
Churches come in all shapes and sizes – and we understand they need appliances to suit their specific needs, whether that’s large community events or a quick post-service coffee.
But how can you ensure you pick the right appliances for your new kitchen? It’s all about figuring out how often those appliances will be used, how many people you are catering for, the budget you have and the events you know you will be hosting in the future. As an expert in designing and installing kitchens for churches and community centres, Steelplan is happy to help!
Before anything else, you should be asking yourself the following questions:
Am I always ending up with dirty dishes everywhere?
If you constantly find yourself running out of clean cups during large events, perhaps it’s time to consider a commercial dishwasher with a 2-4 minute cycle and an almost instant recovery time (depending on the power supply). With a 300-plate capacity, these units will help your volunteers quickly turn around dishes and mugs when they need them most. However, if your congregation is smaller, a domestic dishwasher will be fine for the job.
Is tea taking too long to boil?
An instant water boiler gives your volunteers the ability to pour 60 cups of boiling water instantly, allowing you to satiate the manic scramble of tea and coffee after a busy service. However, if you aren’t regularly catering for that number, consider a tea urn as a companion to your regular kettle.
What kind of oven do I need?
Often feel like you are feeding the 5,000? Rapid-cook ovens using impinged air and microwave technology can cook food significantly faster than domestic ones. If pies, pastries and bread are your bag, consider commercial convection ovens, which evenly distribute heat throughout to reduce overall cooking times by around 25%.
Gas or electric?
Consider how your kitchen will operate. If your volunteers need a quick flame and more control over your heat, gas could be preferable to electricity, but electric cookers can come with lower installation costs and fewer safety hoops to jump through. Or you may want to consider a cooker with a modern induction hob that heats only the pan or pot sitting on top of it, providing a clean, safe and efficient experience. Either way, Steelplan Kitchens can help you find the right fit.
What kind of fridge do I need?
As one of the largest appliances in your kitchen, space and demand should be top considerations when thinking about your fridge/freezer. If you are planning a smaller space, you might want to opt for refrigerated cabinets or refrigerated counters that can double up as a space for prepping ingredients.
Another thing to consider is how you often you are acquiring food – are you procuring large amounts in the morning before a service, at different times during the week or once a month? A freezer may not be necessary if you tend to buy in fresh or focus on non-refrigerated goods.
Remember that refrigerators must run 24-hours a day seven days a week, making them a major energy consumer. Larger commercial fridges offer more than 1,000L of capacity, making them perfect for storing lots of food for events, but think about a domestic refrigerator if you’re a tea and biscuits-focused brigade.
Do I need a commercial extractor fan?
When your cooking activities ramp up, you may well need an extractor fan to prevent a build-up of hot, greasy air in your kitchen. There’s a whole variety of fan types, from acoustic to centrifugal to roof-mounted– but don’t worry! Steelplan Kitchens can advise you on the best option to keep your kitchen fresh and to comply with mandatory legislation should you require a gas cooker.
Finding the right appliance for your church kitchen
From our years of experience selling, installing and maintaining kitchens for churches, Steelplan Kitchens is fantastically placed to give you the advice you need when it comes to appliances. And, if we believe you’ll find a better appliance elsewhere, we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
Are you ready to take the next step towards fitting a semi-commercial kitchen for your church or community café? Our semi-commercial offers durable, reliable countertops while maintaining a cosy, domestic feel. Speak to one of our kitchen design specialists today on 0844 809 9186 to find out more.
