School kitchens are different from your standard commercial restaurant kitchen. Specific supplies are needed to serve multiple meals a day to large groups of students, all the while keeping their vulnerable immune systems and food sensitivities top of mind. While a school only operates in certain months of the year, the cafeteria needs to be well prepared for high-volume cooking and serving during these months.
What Supplies Do School Kitchens Need?
A school kitchen can be demanding on resources. As a result, it can be challenging to prepare for adequately and estimate supply use for a school year. This article is intended to give you a starting checklist for buying kitchen supplies for your school kitchen.
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
PackNwood 210SAMBQ274 Samurai Serving Tray
$259.00 /Case
School Cafeteria Checklist: Trays and Dinnerware
Everybody that eats in your cafeteria will need something to eat on! Therefore, you’ll need to invest in a quality material like melamine for cafeteria trays and plates for a virtually unbreakable option.
Why Melamine? Several types of hard plastics are useful in a cafeteria. Melamine is an excellent choice because it’s virtually unbreakable, dishwasher safe, and fast-drying. If you’re researching the best product choice for your cafeteria, check out this article on construction material of dinnerware in our resource center.
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
GET Enterprises DP-508 – SuperMel Melamine Plate
$3.89/Each
School Cafeteria Checklist: Food Storage Cafeteria Supplies
With limited budgets, it’s crucial to store ingredients and foods to prevent waste properly. Proper storage can eliminate food waste and increase food safety by reducing the risk of foodborne illness and bacteria growth. Storage containers, food pans, and airtight bins can provide excellent solutions for food storage.
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
Cambro 66CW110 Cambro Cold Food Pan – Camwear
$5.93/Each
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
Expressly Hubert 3-Tier Espresso Metal Condiment Holder with 9 Glass Inserts
$399.14/Each
School Cafeteria Checklist: Serving Cafeteria Supplies
Whether your cafeteria has a traditional line setup or features a self-serve salad bar, you’re going to need serving supplies for your school kitchen. Pick up plenty of tongs, spoodles, ladles, and serving utensils to be prepared to serve students all year.
Do you like this school cafeteria checklist? Check out the PDF version of our buying guide for school kitchens. View the full buying guide on school kitchen supplies for more information.
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
Allied Buying Corp CAST-2004-PF Steam Table Pan
$28.69/Each
What’s a Spoodle? A spoodle is a cafeteria favorite food portioner that’s a cross between a spoon and a ladle! This serving utensil is perfect for use with steam table pans and is available in color-coded handles for participation in food safety programs.
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
San Jamar CBG1824KC Restaurant Cutting Board
$331.00/Set
School Cafeteria Checklist: Allergen-Free Supplies
Food allergens are an important factor to consider in a school kitchen. Often, supplies will come in allergen-free varieties to help prevent cross-contact of food. Whenever you’re working in a commercial kitchen, operators should always bear in mind the Big Eight Most Common Allergens: milk, soy, eggs, wheat, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts. Precautions should always be taken to prevent these foods from encountering any ready-to-eat foods. Look for purple color coding in food storage, cutting boards, cutlery, serving utensils, and more for allergen-free supplies.
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
Cambro SFC2SCPP441 2QT and 4QT Camsquare Allergen-Free Seal Covers
$2.42/Each
School Cafeteria Checklist: Cleaning Supplies
NAFEM (National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers) recommends a list of supplies for a 200-seat cafeteria—you can find these items below. This list includes the best things to keep your kitchen well-maintained and clean. Below are some key cleaning supplies to look for:
School Cafeteria Equipment List Featured Item:
O-Cedar Commercial 6410 Angle Broom – Flagged Bristles
$8.99/Each
FAQs on Cafeteria Supplies
1. How do I set up a cafeteria?
Setting up a cafeteria involves planning, acquiring school cafeteria equipment, and following these steps:
- Plan the layout, menu, and staffing.
- Invest in kitchen equipment like ovens and refrigerators.
- Develop a student-friendly menu.
- Hire qualified staff.
- Ensure health and safety compliance.
- Partner with ingredient suppliers.
- Promote your cafeteria.
Check out this helpful PDF version of our buying guide for school kitchens for more information on setting up a cafeteria.
2. What does kitchen equipment include?
Kitchen equipment for schools includes stoves, ovens, refrigerators, freezers, mixers, grills, fryers, sinks, and utensils.
Shop our selection of large equipment and other school cafeteria supplies.
3. What are the classifications of kitchen equipment?
Kitchen equipment is categorized into cooking, food preparation, refrigeration, storage, serving, cleaning, and utensils.
Shop our selection of smallwares and other school cafeteria supplies.
4. What are the four categories of kitchen equipment?
Kitchen equipment categories are cooking, food preparation, refrigeration, and serving.
5. What is the most widely used piece of kitchen equipment?
The oven is the most widely used piece of kitchen equipment.
6. What are modern kitchen accessories?
Modern kitchen accessories include digital scales, smart appliances, innovative utensils, eco-friendly storage, and ergonomic gadgets.
7. What are popular kitchen utensils for schools?
Common school kitchen utensils are serving spoons, ladles, tongs, spatulas, knives, cutting boards, and storage containers.
Shop our selection of smallwares and other school cafeteria supplies.
School Kitchen Equipment List & Buying Guide | Printable
It takes a lot of planning and efficiency to run a school kitchen. There can be several supplies, equipment, and small wares that are needed but it can be difficult to understand what works best for your kitchen. Check out our full school cafeteria equipment list to get started.
Want to take this checklist on the go?
Check out the PDF version of our buying guide for school kitchens. View the full buying guide on school kitchen supplies for more information.
Top Supply Vendors for School Kitchens
Need a little help on where to start shopping? These vendors partner with Central Restaurant Products to provide industry-leading kitchen supplies and equipment.
- Carlisle – Carlisle specializes in trays, bussing equipment, food bars, and food storage.
- San Jamar – San Jamar is the right vendor if you’re looking for cutting boards, cookware supplies, and kitchen apparel.
- PanSaver – A perfect supplier for disposable pan covers and liners.
- Tablecraft – Tablecraft offers food and buffet service items like baskets, condiment bottles, food bar accessories, and even beverage dispensers.
- Vollrath – Vollrath is an industry leader in cookware, food prep supplies, and stainless steel food pans.
- Cambro – Cambro is a top vendor for durable trays, food carts, and food tables in a commercial setting.
Remember Food Safety
When serving a more vulnerable population like school children, it’s even more important to keep food safety in mind. Due to the vulnerability of immune systems, a school kitchen has the responsibility to maintain high food safety standards to prevent cross-contamination and cross-contact of allergens. Central offers a series of articles on food safety for commercial kitchens. Check out these articles to learn more about maintaining a safe kitchen environment.
Correct Cooking Temperatures & Thermometer Types
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