Guides & Knowledge

Buying advice, practical knowledge and checklists for professional catering equipment.

Buying Advice

Cooling Technology Guide - The Ultimate Guide for Caterers

The right cooling technology is the foundation of every commercial kitchen. Without reliable refrigeration, there are no fresh ingredients, no food...

03/12/2025

Pizza Oven Buying Guide - Electric, Gas or Wood?

The pizza oven is the heart of every pizzeria and determines quality, taste, and output. Whether electric, gas or traditional wood-fired – each ove...

03/12/2025

Commercial Dishwashers Guide - Hood vs. Undercounter Dishwashers

The right commercial dishwasher is crucial for hygiene, efficiency, and smooth processes in your catering kitchen. Whether hood dishwasher, underco...

03/12/2025

Setting up a Commercial Kitchen - The Complete Guide for Founders

Setting up a professional commercial kitchen is one of the most important investments for any restaurateur. Whether restaurant, café, hotel or larg...

03/12/2025

Catering Equipment: New vs. Used - When Does What Pay Off?

Buy new catering equipment or used inventory? This decision significantly affects budget, reliability, and long-term costs. We show you when new go...

03/12/2025

Buy a Saladette: What Really Matters

Anyone who tops pizzas, constructs burgers, or prepares salads needs chilled ingredients within easy reach. A saladette solves exactly this problem...

06/07/2026

Beverage Refrigerator for the Catering Industry: Buying Guide

Warm cola doesn't sell – and a beverage refrigerator that uses too much electricity in continuous operation eats into your margin. The right bevera...

06/07/2026

Combi Steamers: Benefits, Functions & Applications

The combi steamer has revolutionised the professional kitchen. It combines a steamer, convection oven, and the combination of both in one appliance...

08/07/2026

Buy a Meat Dry-Aging Cabinet: The Comprehensive Dry-Aging Guide

A meat dry-aging cabinet (Dry Ager) refines meat through controlled dry aging to particularly tender, flavorful dry-aged beef – a genuine unique se...

08/07/2026

Buy Frying Oil Filter: Save Oil & Reduce Costs with VITO

Frying oil is expensive – and the biggest cost factor in frying. With a frying oil filter from VITO, you can extend the service life of your oil ma...

08/07/2026

Stainless Steel Refrigerators & Freezers for the Catering Industry

Stainless steel refrigerators and freezers are the backbone of every professional kitchen: hygienic, durable, and HACCP-compliant. This guide expla...

08/07/2026

Buy a Deep Fryer: Electric or Gas? The Comprehensive Guide

The deep fryer is an essential in almost every professional kitchen – from fries as a side dish to crispy battered fish. The most important fundame...

10/07/2026

Contact Grill & Griddle Plate for the Catering Industry: The Guide

Contact grills and griddle plates are the workhorses for paninis, steaks, burgers, vegetables and more – fast, even and space-saving. This guide ex...

10/07/2026

Buy Ice Cube Makers: The Guide for the Gastronomy Sector

Whether bar, restaurant or café – a ice cube maker delivers hygienic and reliable ice for drinks, cocktails and cooling food. This guide explains t...

10/07/2026

Induction Technology in Gastronomy: The Guide

Induction technology is the standard in modern professional kitchens: fast, energy-efficient and safe. This guide explains how induction works, wha...

10/07/2026

Keeping Warm & Food Service: Holding Cabinets, Counters & More

Whether buffet, service or catering – keeping warm and food service requires dishes to remain appetising and food-safe hot. This guide provides an ...

10/07/2026

Blast Chillers & Shock Freezers for the Catering Industry: The Guide

A blast chiller (shock freezer) lowers the core temperature of cooked food in the shortest possible time – and is thus much more than a fast refrig...

10/07/2026

Water Treatment: Softening & Water Filters for Dishwasher and Coffee Machine

Water treatment is often underestimated in the catering industry – yet the water quality determines the lifespan of your equipment and the quality ...

10/07/2026

Extraction & Ventilation in the Commercial Kitchen: The Guide

A powerful extraction hood is not optional but mandatory in the commercial kitchen: it removes steam, grease, odors and heat, protects the health o...

10/07/2026

AISI 304 vs. 430: Stainless Steel Types for Professional Kitchens

"Stainless steel" is not just stainless steel: Whether a device is made from AISI 304 or AISI 430 determines rust resistance, magnetism, maintenanc...

15/07/2026

Minibar for Hotel & Office: Absorption or Compressor? The Noise Guide

In hotel rooms and offices, one thing determines the right minibar: the noise level. A buzzing fridge next to the bed costs guests their sleep – an...

18/07/2026

Buying Refrigerated Counters: Sizes, Doors or Drawers? The Guide

The refrigerated counter is the all-rounder of the professional kitchen: cooled storage space below, work surface above – all on the same footprint...

18/07/2026

Stainless Steel Work Tables: The Buying Guide for the Professional Kitchen

The stainless steel work table is the backbone of every professional kitchen: hygienic, robust, and HACCP-compliant. This guide explains the differ...

18/07/2026

Chafing Dishes: Fuel Gel or Electric? The Catering Guide

Whether a wedding buffet, breakfast service or on-site catering: Chafing Dishes keep food ready to serve warm for hours. This guide explains the di...

18/07/2026

Gastro coffee machines: filter, portafilter or fully automatic?

Coffee is the top revenue generator with the highest margin in many businesses – if the technology fits the concept. This guide explains when a fil...

18/07/2026

Buying Display Refrigerators: Forced Air or Static? The Guide

A display refrigerator sells with it: What is attractively presented passes over the counter more often. This guide explains the difference between...

18/07/2026

Vegetable Slicers & Cutters: The Guide for the Preparation Kitchen

Chopping costs staff time – and that is more expensive than any machine. Vegetable slicers and cutters complete the preparation in minutes instead ...

18/07/2026

Dough Mixers: Spiral or Planetary Mixer? The Guide

Good dough is craftsmanship – but not a hand cramp. A dough mixer kneads in 10–15 minutes what muscles would need an hour for, delivering reproduci...

18/07/2026

Salamander in Catering: The Buying Guide

Gratinating cheese, browning toast, warming plates before plating: The Salamander is the specialist for intense top heat at the push of a button. T...

18/07/2026

Slicer Machines: Inclined or Vertical Slicer? The Guide

Paper-thin ham, uniform cheese slices, neatly portioned sausage: The slicer machine determines the appearance and weight of each slice. This guide ...

18/07/2026

Tilting Frying Pans: Electric or Gas? The Large Kitchen Guide

When hundreds of meals must be ready on time, hardly any way leads past the tilting frying pan: frying, braising, cooking and steaming in one devic...

18/07/2026

Household Appliances vs. Professional Equipment: Why Gastro Technology Is Built Differently

“The fridge from the electronics store costs just a third…” – and this is exactly where the most expensive misconception in gastro start-ups begins...

18/07/2026

Sharpening Knives in the Gastronomy Industry: Why Sharp Blades Save Kitchen Workflow

A blunt knife is the hidden bottleneck of every professional kitchen: it slows down the mise en place, ruins the cut appearance, and is the most co...

23/07/2026

Açaí machine or blender? What you really need for an Açaí café

An Açaí café is one of the most affordable entries into the gastronomy sector — because the most expensive trade is completely eliminated: you don’...

27/07/2026

Fully Automatic Coffee Machine for the Catering Industry: The Buying Guide

A fully automatic coffee machine for commercial use is not a large household appliance. Crucial are number of cups per day, milk system and water c...

05/08/2026

Transporting Food Safely: Choosing the Right Thermal Boxes

When transporting food, it determines whether the kitchen's performance reaches the guest – and whether the temperature requirements are met. This ...

05/08/2026

Heaters for Outdoor Catering: What Pays Off

Every week the terrace remains usable longer in autumn is additional revenue. This guide shows how much heating power you need per seat, why infrar...

05/08/2026

Buy a Doner Grill: Gas or Electric, Motor Top or Bottom?

Gas or electric, motor top or bottom, 30 or 70 kilo load: With a doner grill, only a few points decide whether operations run smoothly. This guide ...

05/08/2026

Buying a Soft Serve Machine: Gravity or Pump? The Guide

A soft serve machine is rarely an impulse decision: It costs as much as a small car, stands at the same counter for twenty years, and influences da...

12/08/2026

BAFA Funding for Shock Freezers: Secure Your Grant Until the End of 2026

Anyone purchasing a shock freezer by the end of 2026 can secure a government subsidy: Under the Refrigeration-Climate Directive, BAFA funds commerc...

28/08/2026

Buy a Combi Oven: Convection Oven or Combi Steamer? The Guide

Few terms cause as much confusion when purchasing equipment as “combi oven": To some, it means a convection oven costing a few hundred euros, to ot...

02/09/2026

Buy a Glasswasher: Basket Size, Drain Pump & Water — The Guide

Cloudy wine glasses, foam collapse in beer glasses, lipstick on the rim — at the bar the glass plays a key role in the overall impression of the op...

02/09/2026

Equipment by Business Type

Pizzeria Equipment: Gas, Wood & Outdoor Pizza Oven

From gas pizza oven to wood pizza oven and outdoor pizza oven – here you will find the complete equipment for your pizzeria. Discover stone oven pi...

03/12/2025

Snack Bar & Food Truck Equipment - Compact and Efficient

Snack bars and food trucks rely on compact, efficient appliances. Every centimetre counts when space is limited. Equipment must be robust, mobile, ...

03/12/2025

Hotel Gastro Equipment - Breakfast, Restaurant & Banquet

Hotels have special requirements: breakfast buffet, restaurant, banquet and often 24-hour availability. Kitchen equipment must be flexible, reliabl...

03/12/2025

Bakery Equipment: Dough Kneaders & More

Professional bakery equipment: dough kneaders, dough machines, ovens, proofer cabinets and more. Everything for bakeries and patisseries. Image: AI...

03/12/2025

Butchery Equipment - Refrigerated Counters, Meat Grinders & More

Butchery places special demands on hygiene and cooling. From meat processing to presentation at the point of sale – here you will find the essentia...

03/12/2025

Outfitting Commercial Kitchens & Canteens | Instant Water Heaters & More

Professional equipment for canteens and commercial kitchens: instant water heater kitchen, combi steamers, tilting frying pans and more for communa...

03/12/2025

Opening a Café: The Complete Equipment List

Opening your own café is a dream for many – and an investment decision that requires careful planning. The technical equipment is the largest cost ...

06/07/2026

Practical Knowledge

HACCP Concept: The 7 Principles Explained Simply

The HACCP concept (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) is a systematic preventive concept for ensuring food safety. Here we explain the meanin...

03/12/2025

GN Container Dimensions & Sizes: All Gastronorm Dimensions at a Glance

GN containers (Gastronorm containers) are the standardized container system for professional catering according to DIN EN 631. They fit into refrig...

03/12/2025

Energy Efficiency in the Commercial Kitchen - Saving Electricity

Energy costs are one of the largest expenses in the catering industry. With efficient equipment and smart usage behaviour, you can save up to 30% e...

03/12/2025

Cleaning & Polishing Stainless Steel: Expert Tips for Commercial Kitchens

Proper care of stainless steel is essential in food processing establishments. Learn how to clean stainless steel, polish stainless steel and addre...

03/12/2025

Catering Technology Glossary - Technical Terms from A to Z

The world of catering technology is full of technical terms. Our glossary explains the most important terms around refrigeration technology, cookin...

03/12/2025

Use Frying Oil Longer: Oil Care Saves Real Money

Frying oil is one of the biggest ongoing cost items in snack bars, food trucks and restaurant kitchens – and one of the most underestimated. Changi...

06/07/2026

Understanding the EU Energy Label for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment

Since March 2021, commercial refrigeration equipment has featured a new EU energy label with a scale from A to G – the familiar plus-classes like A...

06/07/2026

Commercial Dishwasher Cleaning & Maintenance: How to Do It Properly

The commercial dishwasher is the workhorse of your kitchen: hundreds of wash cycles per day, along with grease, starch, protein, and often hard wat...

06/07/2026

How to Properly Clean Your Combi Steamer: Extend Its Lifespan by Years

The combi steamer is often the most expensive and frequently used appliance in many kitchens – and at the same time, the most heavily stressed. Fat...

06/07/2026

Cleaning & Maintaining Refrigeration Equipment: Longer Service Life

Commercial refrigerators and freezers operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – and are most often forgotten when it comes to maintenance. However,...

06/07/2026

Descale Coffee Machines & Hot Appliances: Step by Step

Whether filter coffee machine, portafilter, hot water dispenser or kettle: Nearly every hot appliance in the catering industry faces the same enemy...

06/07/2026

PPWR: What the New EU Packaging Regulation Means for Caterers

Since 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging Regulation PPWR has come into effect — and unlike the Packaging Act, this time there is no national implemen...

13/08/2026

Comparisons & Checklists

KBS vs. Bartscher - Brand Comparison in Catering Technology

KBS and Bartscher are among the best-known brands in catering technology. Both offer a wide range at attractive prices. But where are the differenc...

03/12/2025

Refrigerator vs. Refrigerated Counter - Which is Better?

Refrigerator or refrigerated counter? Both cool food, but serve different functions in the commercial kitchen. We explain when which appliance is t...

03/12/2025

Combi Steamer vs. Convection Oven - Differences Explained

Combi steamers and convection ovens are often confused, but they are different devices. The combi steamer is the advanced version of the convection...

03/12/2025

Planning a Commercial Kitchen: Checklist & Cleaning Schedule Template (PDF)

Plan your commercial kitchen with our kitchen planning checklist. Free templates: cleaning schedule kitchen gastronomy template, kitchen hygiene ch...

03/12/2025

Maintenance Intervals for Catering Equipment - Care Plan

Regular maintenance significantly extends the lifespan of your catering equipment and prevents costly breakdowns. Here you will find the most impor...

03/12/2025

Subsidies for Restaurateurs 2024 - Energy Efficiency & More

There are numerous subsidy programmes for restaurateurs that subsidise investments in modern technology, energy efficiency and digitalisation. We s...

03/12/2025

Rational vs. UNOX: Which Combi Steamer Suits Your Operation?

Rational and UNOX are among the world’s leading combi steamer manufacturers. Both produce top-class devices that advance every professional kitchen...

08/07/2026

Opening a Restaurant: The Complete Checklist — From the Property to the First Guest

Opening a restaurant is a marathon with many stages — and the most important decision is made right at the start: the property. This checklist guid...

25/07/2026

Opening a Snack Bar: Checklist — Location, Permits, Equipment

A snack bar thrives on two things: foot traffic and speed. This checklist shows what matters when choosing a location, dealing with authorities, an...

25/07/2026

Opening a Bistro: Checklist — from the Property to the First Customer

A bistro combines café atmosphere with a small kitchen: breakfast, lunch menu, coffee and cake. This checklist guides you from choosing the propert...

25/07/2026

Opening a Kiosk: Checklist — Location, Range, Equipment

The kiosk is a local supplier, meeting point and late-night shop all in one. The concept lives and dies by the location — and with the right additi...

25/07/2026

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