Choosing a Commercial Dishwasher — Factors to Consider

Warewashers play an important role in a commercial kitchen. Sanitization requirements make having an efficient commercial dishwasher a priority.

Budget is an obvious consideration when selecting a restaurant dishwasher machine, but there are also other factors you need to think about.

How to Choose a Dishwasher

When choosing a dishwasher for a restaurant, you need to consider such important factors like type, capacity, features, energy source, and maintenance.

Dishwasher Types

One of the first things you need to consider is what type you want. There are many models on the market:

Under-counter

An under-counter dishwasher is ideal for smaller kitchens and bars. It cleans about 20–30 dishes at a time.

Most of them look just like residential dishwashers, but they may have different displays and controls for more efficient work. Under-counter models are convenient and take up less space in the kitchen.

Conveyor

If you run a high-volume kitchen, a conveyor type may be a good option for you. They’re large and powerful enough to process up to 100 racks in an evening. Most of them are made of stainless steel and equipped with microprocessors and controls for easy settings.

You will also find Energy Star models for both high and low temp conveyor dishwashers, which will help save on your energy costs. Because these models are so powerful, they must be hard-wired by a trained electrician.

Door Type

A door type commercial kitchen dishwasher is a smaller version of a conveyor dishwasher as they have a compact design. This type can clean up to 1,000 dishes and flatware racks daily.

They’re easy to use. Load up a rack of dishes, close the door, and run the cleaning cycle. After just a few minutes, you can open up the door and use your freshly cleaned dishes.

But because these commercial dishwashers still pull a lot of electricity, they should be installed by an electrician.

Capacity

When choosing a warewasher, you must also consider the capacity. It is determined by how many racks the unit can wash per hour. You have to count up your daily capacity needs.

Door type and under-counter models can typically handle 21–60 racks per hour. Conveyor machines, on the other hand, can clean hundreds of dishes per day.

Energy Sources for Restaurant Dishwashers

Decide what type of energy source you will want for your establishment. If you have electric appliances, you might consider looking for an Energy Star rated unit to save money on energy costs. Most warewashers operate at electric power levels ranging from 115V to 460V.

If you have gas appliances in your kitchen, it may be more cost-effective to use a machine with a gas water heating system.

High Temp Dishwasher vs Low Temp

The FDA requires any surface that comes in contact with food to be heated to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The dishwasher machine temperature can reach 120–180 degrees Fahrenheit.

To determine which type is best for your restaurant, you must understand how each type works.

• A high-temperature model washes dishes at 150–160 degrees and then rinses at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of the intense heat, these dishwashers require a condensate hood, which will come at an additional cost and take up additional space.
• A low-temperature machine will wash and rinse between 120- and 140-degrees Fahrenheit. In this case, chemical sanitizing products are used to sanitize the dishes and flatware.

If the final rinse temperature of a commercial dishwasher is not hot enough, you may need to get a gas or electric booster heater.

Features

Modern industrial dishwasher machines come equipped with a variety of features. Some have computer interfaces that allow you to control the internal booster heater, timed cycle, start-up, and the machine shut down.

Many digital displays can be programmed to send alerts for dirty water, low temperatures, and lime build-up.

Maintenance Requirements

All commercial warewashers require maintenance and care. The more complicated the process, the greater the cost will be. It’s important to consider how often your machine’s maintenance will be.

Conveyor and door type models must be hard-wired by an electrician. Read the product description or contact the manufacturer to learn more about how to maintain your appliances properly.

Source: https://mcdonaldpaper.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-dishwasher-machine-for-your-restaurant