From Extra Sinks to Service Robots, Restaurant Kitchens are Changing

The future of ‘helpful’ commercial kitchen equipment is exciting.

Commercial kitchen equipment and design have come a long way in the past 100 years. When a gadget was introduced in 1936 that could make five milkshakes at once, and McDonald’s launched a double-sided grill in the 1960s that cooked a hamburger twice as fast, kitchen pros were in awe of the service speed.

It’s true automation technology has helped immensely, but it is just one of the ways our commercial kitchens are changing. Luckily, your team at Canadian Restaurant Supply (CRS) understands this technology but also newer commercial kitchen trends that are driven by regulations and market forces. Refrigeration components, for example, now have to meet strict criteria that depend on the layout of the kitchen and where the insulation is. Exhaust systems must be more sophisticated to ensure grease-laden vapours are removed, reducing fire risk. Employee hygiene and safety are now a top consideration, so there are requirements for extra hand sinks as well as sinks to back up the possibility of a broken dishwasher. Indeed, commercial kitchens now require a number of approvals from the health authority, so the professionals at CRS can guide you through the paperwork.

Commercial kitchen trends are also pushed by the environmentally-conscious and popular today is the ‘electrification’ of the kitchen, where electric restaurant equipment is mandated over gas to avoid burning fossil fuels. It’s cleaner, and the science is cool - magnets are used in induction technology instead of heat - so it’s efficient, fast, and safe. ‘Smart’ cooking, meanwhile, has been used for years in Europe but now is a rapidly emerging trend in North America where combi-ovens, for example, cook using convection and steam. The food cooks much quicker than with simple dry air, and the equipment is easily programmable, so anyone can do the cooking, not just a Red Seal chef. This is ideal in the food service industry, where labour supply is a challenge.

We know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, so the CRS experts are busy exploring how AI could work for you and your restaurant. Already it’s clear that AI will ensure error-free design when it comes to the 5 or 6 drawing sets required for every layer of the kitchen build.

And commercial kitchen designers are certainly seeing keen interest in robotics as there are already robots that can efficiently make fries, bake pizza, and ‘work’ as a server. Your CRS leaders see a future where they will recommend the perfect robot for your restaurant after they’ve tested it thoroughly. Let’s face it, once an end-to-end dishwashing robot is created, and it will be the most popular piece of restaurant equipment out there!

Looking to build your dream commercial kitchen or improve on what you already have? Let the CRS team help you navigate the ever-changing world of kitchen design trends and educate you on all the possibilities at your fingertips. To seek advice on the design or on restaurant equipment supply and maintenance, contact the professionals at CRS today to turn your culinary vision into a delicious - and efficient - reality!

CRS is proud to offer respected product brands and Canada-wide delivery, so make your kitchen supply shopping experience as smooth as a cutting board and get in touch with the best commercial kitchen consultants today!