Professional Dishwashers: Types and How to Choose the Right One
Any food service establishment cannot do without professional dishwashers, which are essential for both facilitating and speeding up kitchen and service management, as well as ensuring better hygiene.
Before purchasing one of the many models on the market, it’s important to ask some key questions and determine how it will be used to choose the most suitable one for your needs.
There are various types and models of professional dishwashers that differ in size, power, and capacity. Other factors to consider include the water composition (which may be more or less hard), the most suitable detergent, cleaning the filtration system, and periodic maintenance.
This guide will provide you with useful tips for purchasing the professional dishwasher that best suits your needs.
Types of Professional Dishwashers: Which One to Choose for Your Business
The first aspect to consider, to avoid wasting money on a product that doesn’t meet your needs, is to assess capacity and wash speed, taking into account the frequency of use and maximum load. It’s crucial to choose the model that best suits your needs and avoid the mistake of purchasing a cheap option. Initially, it might seem like a good deal, but what would you do if it broke down, for example, in the middle of a busy service?
Professional dishwashers are designed to operate continuously for many hours throughout the day without the risk of breakdowns or malfunctions. Some models are suitable for washing large and heavy pots and pans, while others are better suited for smaller and lighter items.
Let us list the main types and for what kind of activities they are recommended.
Professional Glasswashers for Washing Small Items:
These models are smaller and are used for washing small items like glasses, cups, saucers, and serving plates. They can be installed under the counter or in the preparation area, as they usually don’t exceed 70 cm in height. A complete wash cycle takes around 90 seconds, with a power range between 2.5 kW and 3.5 kW. They can be equipped with either three-phase or single-phase electrical connections.
These machines are suitable for bars, ice cream shops, and sandwich shops.
Hood-Type Dishwashers, More Spacious with Vertical Opening:
Unlike the previous ones, these dishwashers have a power range between 4.5 and 13.0 kW and feature a different type of opening. This model is designed with a hood that lifts with a handle. With the vertical opening system, hood-type dishwashers are taller than the previous types and can be accessorized with entry and exit tables to facilitate the loading of racks. The cycle duration is about 2–3 minutes. They are particularly recommended for restaurants, cafeterias, and pizzerias.
Utensil Washers for Washing Large Pots and Pans
This category includes professional dishwashers for large items. They return to the front-opening design, like the first two models, but with higher power. It is not recommended to wash regular dishes, such as glasses, plates, and cutlery, due to the high power of the wash pump, which could cause bouncing and breakage.
These models are excellent for washing large pots and pans, with a power exceeding 10 kW and a wash cycle of about 2 minutes.
Rack Conveyor and Belt Dishwashers
Rack conveyor dishwashers are horizontally extended and feature a rack conveyor system that moves through pre-wash, wash, and rinse zones within the machine. At the exit of the machine, a ventilation system allows the dishes to dry using hot air blown over the rack by a powerful fan. Rack conveyor dishwashers can also be equipped with heat recovery systems, which save energy by capturing heat from the rinse water steam. Belt dishwashers differ from rack conveyor ones in that the dishes are placed in the machine using a conveyor belt.
Choosing the Detergent: Which Ones Can Be Used?
As with domestic dishwashers, there are specific detergents and rinse aids for professional dishwashers, and it’s important not to make the mistake of buying the most advertised or cheapest options, as they may be unsuitable and inefficient. Particular attention should be paid to dosing, as well as the quality of the detergent. The rinse aid is essential because it helps with drying.
If the water is too hard, it is advisable to install a water softener to prevent excess limescale from causing damage and malfunctions. A water purification system using reverse osmosis helps achieve sparkling cutlery and glasses without the need to wipe them down with a cloth after washing.
In the Cook-In catalog, you’ll find all the best models of professional dishwashers for every use. We are available to help you find the model that best suits your needs. Contact us for a consultation.
