A small commercial kitchen is typically challenging, even for experienced chefs and operators. Fortunately, modern technology can help alleviate the constraints of a smaller space and make otherwise unusable locations into profit producers. How? With ventless kitchen equipment. Ventless foodservice equipment has come a long way in recent years, and it's poised to help foodservice businesses, large and small, thrive under virtually any conditions.
A big part of the challenge of running a small kitchen is that commercial ovens, grills, griddles, and fryers can be, well, big. For operators that incorporate these types of units in their kitchens, there's been a traditional need to run them under what can be expensive and complex ductwork.
Ventless foodservice equipment is much more flexible and dynamic, thanks to the high-tech innovations in today's units. This allows cooking to take place just about anywhere, in any location, including the countertop. Even fryers can be set up on a back counter, making use of space for frying when it would otherwise be impossible. Even with a smaller footprint, the output quality is still the same. So, chefs still have all the flexibility of having a full-service kitchen without feeling too cramped.
Another significant challenge facing foodservice operators is the need for more high-quality workers. Since the pandemic, it's been harder and harder to find reliable staff willing to meet a commercial kitchen's demands.
Fortunately, ventless equipment can alleviate this issue by being more versatile and easier to operate. In many cases, a ventless unit comes with automatic features allowing a single employee to prepare and cook multiple dishes simultaneously.
Overall, ventless kitchen equipment can help streamline operations and ensure consistency across menu items. When workers just have to push a button to get results, operators can do more with less.
Moving to a ventless kitchen may initially seem daunting, but the advantages usually outweigh any upfront costs or challenges. There are some tangible benefits of going ventless that can make any change worthwhile.
Operators can fit more equipment in a commercial kitchen. This feature allows a business to add more menu items or cook more dishes simultaneously in otherwise unusable spaces.