Do You Need A Commercial Microwave?

You may think that microwaves are only for home kitchens, but think again. Even if you make everything in your restaurant kitchen from scratch, a commercial microwave will come in handy for reheating, a quick vegetable steam or even just melting butter on a busy night when the stoves are all lined up.

Of course, like other pieces of commercial equipment, buying a commercial microwave is a decision that must be made with care based on your needs and budget. While not a huge investment when compared to other pieces of restaurant equipment, any time you are spending money for your professional kitchen, you want to make sure you are getting exactly what you are looking for the first time to save time and money.

If youve never used one, commercial microwaves are very similar to those that you have used in your home kitchen, and many of the same brands such as Sharp and Panasonic make these microwaves as well.

What To Know About Commercial Microwaves

Before you run out and buy a commercial microwave, you need to decide what you are going to use it for, as this will affect your choice when it comes down to what to purchase. Are you going to use it for actually cooking and steaming foods, or is it going to be something that hangs around in the background and is only used to defrost or reheat once in awhile?

If youre only going to be using it occasionally, then a mid range oven will probably suffice. If you have a small kitchen, or are putting it in a conveniences store or snack bar, this is enough for you.

If on the other hand, you are going to be using it extensively for cooking and steaming, then something such as the Vollrath 40830 Microwave Oven
may be a better choice.

A higher quality, larger microwave is going to be better for cooking and will likely last much longer. Its much more durable and will get the job done when you need it.

You should definitely not discount size when buying a commercial microwave. If you are going to be cooking frequently for your restaurant, youll definitely want to consider something that will hold a large platter or serving dish.

Before buying a commercial microwave, as with any piece of professional equipment, it is always a good idea to do your research and figure out exactly what you need before making your choice.