Equipment Selection & Kitchen Setup

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Start here (5 minutes)

If you only do 4 things:

  1. Plan from your menu (top 20 sellers)
  2. Size for peak hour volume (not average)
  3. Confirm utilities early (power/gas/water/drainage/hood)
  4. Buy reliability for mission-critical items (especially refrigeration)

The decision sequence (don’t skip steps)

  1. Menu + service model (dine-in / takeaway / delivery)
  2. Peak hour capacity (covers/hour, ticket-time targets)
  3. Space + workflow zones (receiving → storage → prep → cook → pass → dish)
  4. Utilities readiness (electrical load, gas BTU, water pressure, drainage, ventilation hood)
  5. Equipment list + budget (new vs used strategy)
  6. Procurement + installation + commissioning
  7. Preventive maintenance routine

Build your equipment list from your menu

Menu-to-equipment method (copy/paste)

For each of your top 20 sellers:

  • Cooking method:
  • Prep requirements:
  • Holding needs:
  • Special equipment required:

Then consolidate into equipment categories.

Size equipment for peak hour reality

  • Estimate your busiest hour covers.
  • Multiply by average hot items per cover.
  • Add 20–30% buffer so you don’t collapse during spikes.
Peak hour sizing worksheet (copy/paste)
  • Peak hour covers:
  • Avg hot items/cover:
  • Total hot items/hour:
  • Target ticket time (mins):
  • Capacity gap risks:

Kitchen workflow zones (compact but functional)

  1. Receiving + storage
  2. Prep
  3. Cook line
  4. Pass / expediting
  5. Dishwashing
📌

Singapore reality: compact kitchens pay you back when the workflow is clean. Optimise for short steps and clear stations.

What to buy new vs used (practical rule)

Buy new (usually)

  • Refrigeration (breakdowns = disaster)
  • Core cooking equipment you depend on daily
  • Complex equipment that needs local support

Consider used

  • Stainless tables + shelving + sinks
  • Simple holding racks
  • Non-critical small equipment

Utilities checklist (confirm before you buy)

  • Electrical: voltage + dedicated circuits + total load (with 20% buffer)
  • Gas: total BTU + pipe sizing + shutoff valves
  • Water: hot/cold supply + drainage + grease trap
  • Ventilation: hood coverage + make-up air + fire suppression
Utilities sign-off (copy/paste)
  • Electrical load approved by:
  • Gas capacity approved by:
  • Water/drainage approved by:
  • Hood/ventilation approved by:
  • Date:

Installation + go-live checklist

  • ☐ Equipment delivered and inspected (no damage)
  • ☐ Positioned per layout plan (clearances respected)
  • ☐ Connections done by licensed contractors
  • ☐ All equipment tested (full function)
  • ☐ Staff trained + SOPs written
  • ☐ Warranty registered + service contacts saved

Maintenance (the boring part that saves you)

Daily

  • Clean per manufacturer instructions
  • Temperature checks for refrigeration

Weekly

  • Deep clean key equipment
  • Check seals/gaskets

Monthly

  • Descale (steamers/coffee) as applicable
  • Inspect hinges/doors

Templates

Equipment list (copy/paste)
  • Equipment:
  • Purpose:
  • Qty:
  • Budget:
  • New/Used:
  • Supplier:
  • Notes:
Maintenance schedule (copy/paste)
  • Equipment:
  • Daily:
  • Weekly:
  • Monthly:
  • Quarterly:
  • Owner: