What Caterers Need To Buy

A caterer needs a lot of equipment to properly do their job and all that equipment can really add up. There are ways to get the equipment you need, though, without the high price tag. Here's a quick sample of just a few of the things caterers need to have on hand to do their jobs.

Caterers make meals for dozens or hundreds of people. This sort of scale, coupled with health and safety regulations, requires specialized equipment. Caterers use professional-grade stoves, refrigeration units, and dishwashers to create and serve a lot of good food quickly and safely. They also need a way to keep cooked food safely. To do this, they need insulated containers, heat lamps, and chafing dishes to keep food at safe temperatures. Find out more ideas about second hand catering equipment.


You'll also need the right equipment in the kitchen. Professional chefs use gas stoves and high flames and that means your pots and pans need to be heavy enough to handle the temperatures. Quality spoons, sieves, tongs, and other utensils are also required that can handle the intense work they'll be getting. You might also need small appliances like food mills, food processors, and blenders.

Even more than all of these things, a professional cook needs a good quality knife. With that, many other appliances become unnecessary. Being able to use a knife well is really one of the defining characteristics of a professional chef.

Cooking the food is just the first half of catering though, so you'll need to have all the necessary equipment to serve, as well. A good caterer will need place settings for every person at the event. Depending on the type of catering you intend to do, you'll need either a basic place setting or, for upscale events, full formal place settings, which can require a dozen or more pieces per setting. This can involve five wine glasses, nearly a dozen pieces of silverware, and plates for each type of course. When it comes to linens, you'll need everything from aprons to tablecloths to napkins. Serving utensils are also required, including trays, pitchers, urns, decanters, and serving spoons. Follow this catering equipment blog, for more info about catering equipment.

It isn't surprising that purchasing all of the equipment you need to be a caterer is very expensive. If you are just starting out in the business, you have a few options that will save you some money. One is to rent equipment from a supply company and commercial kitchen space. In the long run, though, purchasing your own equipment is the better investment. When you get to that point, buying refurbished equipment is a good way to save money.