How to Use a Commercial Crepe Maker

While France is known for their delicious crepes, they have become increasingly popular in the United States. Many restaurants have created menus dedicated to this tasty food. Crepes are a great way to expand your restaurant menu as they're not just for dessert anymore. In order to make these thin, scrumptious delicacies, we'll walk you through using an Equipex Discus Crepe Maker, one of our great products. We also want to share some delicious recipes we've found on the web that will get you started and will be sure to impress.
The Equipex Discus Crepe Maker is designed for professional, commercial crepe-making. The Equipex Discus Crepe Maker is simple to use thanks to its basic design. It appears like a flat single electric burner, which is essentially is; however it's much more than that. Once you've got your Discus Crepe Maker set up where you wish to use it, you'll first start by spraying the Discus with a non-stick baking spray. Next, preheat the Discus for approximately 10 to 20 minutes by selecting the appropriate temperature. To do this you'll rotate the thermostat knob clockwise. Most recipes recommend the Discus cook at 450°F but it can be controlled up to 570°F. Once it's fully preheated you'll want to slowly pour your crepe batter onto the black surface of the Discus. Use the Equipex Discus Batter Spreader that comes with the machine to evenly spread and shape your crepe in a perfectly round circle.
When you have a smooth circular crepe formed flip it after 30 seconds to 1 minute, this is the optimal amount of temperature to heat your batter to a light and airy consistency. The batter will typically have small air holes when it’s ready to be flipped. At this point it's about halfway through the baking process and should be flipped to continue baking evenly. After flipping, quickly add all of your delicious ingredients. Leave this to cook for an additional 30 seconds, fold in half and your crepe is now cooked. Finish your crepe off with toppings to create an amazing presentation. If you're lost on ideas for fillings, we recommend simple, classic ingredients like raspberries and cream. Strawberry and Nutella crepes are another simple but delicious recipe that is really making a name for itself on dessert menus. If you’re looking for a savory crepe that could perform as an entree though, try a creamy mushroom crepe filling, perfect for lunch or dinner menu. Pair this with a decadent salad and you've got a great meal. There are endless crepe recipes that you can explore and recreate with the Equipex Discus Crepe Maker.
After you have finished making your crepes it’s critical that you clean the Equipex Discus Crepe Maker. Regularly cleaning your Discus Crepe maker keeps it hygienic and in proper working condition. To clean your crepe maker first let it cool. Wiping it with water too early could cause it to scorch or burn. Use a damp cloth with mild soap to clean the stainless steel housing plate. You can use a sponge like Scotch Brite’s Power Scrub Sponge to remove any carbon deposits from the crepe plate, just make sure you use only the non-abrasive side on the burner itself. Water should not enter the ventilation hole around the unit as this can cause damage to the Equipex Discus Crepe Maker. If you make many crepes throughout the day you'll also want to be sure you perform a thorough cleaning on the crepe maker at the end of each day.
Introducing crepes to your restaurant’s menu is a great way to bring in new customers, especially with a dessert that is very on-trend at the moment. The Equipex Discus Crepe Maker is commercial quality meaning it's meant to be long lasting and a worth-while investment.. It’s perfect for a commercial kitchen. We encourage you to embrace this tantalizing French delicacy. To view the products mentioned in today’s blog or our wide assortment that will further help your restaurant succeed, visit our website at PublicKitchenSupply.com

The Importance of Meal Uniformity

In the kitchen, meal uniformity is key. Meal uniformity ensures when food is prepared, each plate is the same size and taste each time. Meal uniformity is extremely important for two main reasons: food cost and customer satisfaction. Understanding the importance of meal uniformity and how to achieve consistent, identical meals is a key in restaurant success. It can honestly make or break a restaurant.
Meal uniformity effects food costs. Restaurant owners must determine an exact amount of food for each dish. Failure to have meticulous, precise measurements may result in incorrect recipes and inflated food costs. When chefs are over-generous in their servings it results in wasted food, taking money away from the restaurant. In a recent study, “76% of chefs thought that they served "regular" portions, the actual portions of steak and pasta they reported serving were 2 to 4 times larger than serving sizes recommended by the U.S government.” It’s important that chefs aim for healthy, proportionate, consistent servings.
Another detriment of inconsistent portion size is unhappy customers. Customers will rarely notice if they are receiving an abundant amount of food but they will notice if it’s significantly less or if the food tastes significantly different. Recipes should be the same each and every time, this means both the portion size as well as the flavoring. Often chefs "wing-it" while they're cooking, causing significant changes to the way food tastes whenever a customer comes in. When you visit a restaurant, you expect a dish to taste the same. When customers return to a restaurant, especially for a specific meal, they expect their meal to be unchanged. Maintaining restaurant uniformity requires a well trained staff and simple kitchen tools that they can learn quickly.
Teach your kitchen staff to always use the correct utensils when making and serving food. Ingredients should be measured using a portion scale, like Edlund’s 10 lbs Digital Portion Scale to ensure the same amount is in each portion. This includes spices, meats, toppings and more, it all should be weighed. We suggest Edlund’s scale because it contains a removable stainless steel platform and large LCD read-out. This scale can measure up to 10 lbs of ingredients and is very easy to use. The Edlund Scale features a button to convert between ounces and grams, if that is a needed feature. A scale and measuring is something that is a must for meal uniformity. In a restaurant kitchen the words "pinch" or "dash" shouldn't be heard, but instead precise measurements.
For liquid ingredients measuring cups are the proper item in the kitchen. There are many different choices when it comes to measuring cups, here, we suggest Cambro’s 1 Quart Clear Measuring Cup. Cambro color coded this cup in blue and red. Molded-in graduations are printed in blue for metric measurements while the opposite side features red for standard American measurements. The cup is transparent making it very easy to see its contents and has a easy to pour lip making sure you pour the entire contents exactly where you need it. The Cambro 1 quart Measuring Cup is dishwasher safe and NSF approved. Using a measuring tool that does not pour well or easily can cause part of the ingredient to splash about or miss the intended dish, further preventing meal uniformity.
For consistent sauce servings, rely on a portioning system such as the Portion Pal system. This innovative Portion Pal system has a large assortment of products that help with sauce and condiment portion control. Sauce and condiments dramatically affect how a meal will taste. Use along a make line to ensure your employees are portioning out sauces equally so that one customer does not receive double portions without paying accordingly. Consider investing in the 24 oz. FIFO Portion Pal Kit. It includes four fixed portion control rings that allow you to determine the serving of each sauce. Choose between 1/4 oz., 1/3 oz., 1/2 oz., and 1 oz. The Portion Pal is extremely helpful for any kitchen that relies on sauces, dressings or condiments in their meals. This simple tool will ensure your meals, in terms of condiments, are consistent.
At Public Kitchen Supply we work hard to provide our customers with products and advice that will improve their restaurant. Meal uniformity is extremely important in the kitchen. It effects the money a restaurant spends and a customer’s experience. Monitor expenses and improve customer loyalty by practicing meal portion control and meal uniformity. For more products like the ones mentioned in today’s blog visit our website at PublicKitchenSupply.com.

Condrasky, M., et al. "Chefs' Opinions of Restaurant Portion Sizes." Obesity (Silver Spring) 15.8 (2007): 2086-94. Print.

Solutions to Kitchen Back Pain

25% of adults in the United State have reported back pain lasting at least an entire day in the last three months. Standing or sitting for long periods of time is more likely to increase your chances of back pain and fatigue. In the kitchen it’s very easy to acquire back pain. Chefs and restaurant staff know that kitchens require long periods of standing, heavy lifting, and repetitive activity, all of which easily cause back pain. So what are they to do to prevent back pain or help combat it?
One of the most common reasons for back pain is poor foot support. Dr. Giurini compared feet to the foundation of a building; if your feet are poor mechanically, they can change the alignment of your back. When shoes with poor support are continually worn for hours on end they can lead to many problems, obviously back pain is one of these. Less supportive shoes are known to cause arch pain, ankle pain, and knee pain. Wearing supportive shoes, like MOZO Shoes, can dramatically reduce your back pain. MOZO shoes are designed specifically with a chef's day in mind. They're meant to keep a chef working all day long, preventing fatigue for as long as possible.
We recommend choosing the Mozo’s 125th Street Patent Leather Shoe. These shoes are made with a patent leather outer. The patent leather allows the shoe to mold to your foot, and allowing you to not worry about splashes or spills. Leather becomes softer and malleable over time promising lasting comfort. MOZO's 125th Patent Leather Shoe features a stainless steel toe. This is a fantastic quality meant to protect your toes when lifting heavy supplies. The shoe is completed with a breathable, polyester mesh lining. The mesh lining provides water resistance and reduces perspiration from long uses.
A simple way to prevent back pain is practicing good posture. It’s easy to slouch and push weight onto your knees, hips, and feet. When you practice good posture you are developing your core. Your core includes: back, pelvic, abs, side, and buttock. These muscles help you stand up straight, rotate, bend and twist. Dr. Moyad says, “Your core is like a crane that supports all of your movements.” You can strengthen your core by doing squats, lunges crunches, along with other exercises. These exercises can increase your body's ability withstand abuse such as standing and walking through an entire 8+ hour shift.
Exercise is a great long-term, preventive measure but what about immediate relief? Anti-fatigue mats are a quick, inexpensive way to relieve foot and back pain. Use a mat such as Andersen’s 3” x 5” Cushion Max Floor Mat that includes foam to allow your body to sink into a "cushion" rather than standing firm on a hard surface. A simple item such as this can make a large difference. Cashiers who stand at registers for long periods of time stand on mats such as these to keep their back and knees from incurring pain from the weight. Andersen’s Floor Mat will also grip onto hard kitchen tiles providing a comfortable barrier between your feet and the floor without allowing it to slip or slide out from under you. The Cushion Max Floor Mat is made out of nitrile and PVC closed cell foam promising comfort and longevity.
Severe back pain can be debilitating, especially when you're at work and running a busy restaurant kitchen. There's no time to stop and take a break, you must keep going. Proper footwear, flooring, and exercise can keep you moving. At Public Kitchen Supply we provide our customers with all the tools they need to be successful, including comfort. A health-conscious lifestyle allows you to feel and work your best. Invest in quality foot support for a happier, healthier life. Visit our website at PublicKitchenSupply.com to see the products mentioned in today’s blog and other items that will help you in the kitchen.

Stainless Steel: 18/10 vs 18/8 vs 18/0

In the world of stainless steel there are several different types: 18/10, 18/8 and 18/0 stainless steel. Each of these types are classified by the percent of chrome and nickel in the steel. 18/10 stainless steel has 18% chrome and 10% nickel, hence the 18/10 classification. Likewise, 18/8 stainless steel has 18% chrome and 8% nickel. While 18/0 stainless steel has 18% chrome and 0% nickel. Nickel effects stainless steel’s corrosion resistance and luster. In today’s blog Public Kitchen Supply will discuss the benefits of each type of stainless steel.
18/10 stainless steel contains the most nickel out of the three. Nickel tends to be more expensive so 18/10 stainless steel products are typically more pricey than 18/8 or 18/0 stainless steel items and also the highest quality. The biggest benefit of choosing 18/10 stainless steel is that it is long lasting and has a sturdy feel to it. Browne-Halco’s 2 Quart Stainless Steel Sauté Pan is an example of 18/10 stainless steel. The pan’s 18/10 construction allows it to be excellent at conducting heat. It features a riveted, stay-cool handle for extra strength and heat protection, the nickel adds to its extra strength component. While 18/10 stainless steel is ideal when working with pots and pans, it is not necessary for all kitchen items. Finding 18/10 flatware is also ideal for fine-dining establishments that want to portray class to their patrons.
If you are not using stainless steel to conduct heat 18/8 or 18/0 stainless steel works quite well. 18/8 stainless steel works well with items like crowd control poles and bun pan racks, things that need to be strong but not necessarily attractive. Its more for utility than the other two types of stainless steel. One advantage of 18/8 stainless steel is that it is less expensive than 18/10 stainless steel. Keep in mind the difference between 18/10 stainless steel and 18/8 stainless is only 2%. While 18/10 stainless steel will be slightly better at conducting heat you may want to save money by choosing an 18/8 stainless steel product. A perfect example of 18/8 stainless steel is an Induction Ready Wok from Adcraft. This wok has a quality top layer made of 18/8 stainless steel so that it is great for induction cooking while containing an aluminum core to keep the price down.
18/0 stainless steel is the least expensive stainless steel as it is pure chrome and no nickel. This type of stainless steel is perfect for products that do not require heat conduction or strength. 18/0 stainless steel is great for tools like everyday use flatware and other kitchen utensils such as this Update International Butter Spreader that is made out of 18/0 stainless steel. They are inexpensive and perfect for make lines or a home kitchen. Because 18/0 stainless steel contains zero nickel it is also dishwasher safe, perfect for cleaning quickly. 18/0 stainless steel is a great choice for people looking to save money but still wanting a quality product.
When it comes to choosing your stainless steel kitchen tools you have many different options. Each type of stainless steel has advantages and disadvantages, so everyone should know the difference between 18/10, 18/8, and 18/0. Before purchasing a product made from stainless steel consider its function, polish, and finish. At Public Kitchen Supply we work hard to provide equipment that will fit your commercial and residential kitchen needs. Visit our website at publickitchensupply.com to view our large selection of stainless steel products.

The Diversity of Luxor Specialty Carts

Luxor has an extensive line of specialty carts. Carts are typically thought as a simple rolling vehicle, used for transporting objects. While Luxor develops traditional carts they also have many others. Luxor is an innovative, evolutionary company. Luxor is constantly developing new products while conforming to old product needs and market trends. When you shop Luxor Specialty Carts you will find products that work well in restaurant kitchens, offices and classrooms. In today’s blog Public Kitchen Supply will be discussing the diversity of Luxor Specialty Carts.
Carts are a necessary tool in restaurant kitchens. Luxor Specialty Carts supply carts that are great for outdoor food service, al la carte menu items and bussing tables. Luxor understands that food service requires objects and food to be moved swiftly while practicing food safety. Luxor cleverly created food carts that are light weight yet have high weight carrying capacities. Luxor’s 3-Shelf Bus Tub Stainless Steel Cart is an excellent example of this. This cart measures 33.5” x 21” x 37”, offering a compact design. Despite the cart’s slim, convenient shape it has a carrying capacity of 200 lbs. The 3-Shelf Bust S Tub Stainless Steel Cart is wide enough to hold two bussing tubs. Each shelf features a retaining lip, keeping bus tubs secure during transportation. The Luxor’s 3-Shelf Bus Tub Stainless Steel Cart can double as a dessert cart. Its sleek stainless steel composition gives it a professional, stylish design. Luxor knows that restaurant kitchens demand stylish yet durable products. Find the food cart you want, shop Luxor Specialty Carts.
Luxor provides carts that work well in office settings too. Luxor’s Black Cabinet and Keyboard Presentation Cart is an example of an office cart. This cart is great for presentations and meetings. It provides a convenient place for a laptop, keyboard, handouts and additional presentation tools. The cart is made with holes that cables can easily pass through. The Black Cabinet and Keyboard Presentation Cart is adjustable in height. The cart’s adjustable height allows the user to find a height that fits them best. Luxor understands that carts in an office setting need to be discrete and blend into the office. They shouldn’t distract from an employee’s presentation. Presentation Carts are simple office tools that act as a speaking point for presenters.
Many people may be surprised to find that Luxor supplies chalk boards and dry erase boards. These boards are great for schools and universities. Because Luxor specializes in carts they took this traditional classroom tool and made it portable. Luxor chalk boards and dry erase boards are attached to wheels making them easy to move, transporting a presentation from one room to another. Choose from boards like Luxor’s 36” Reversible White Board with frame or the Reversible Chalk Board with stand. Both of these products can act as chalkboard and white board exemplifying versatility. Chalk boards and white boards can be overlooked in an office, but they work well in offices and kitchens too. Purchase a board for employee restaurant training or office meetings.
Public Kitchen Supply is proud to provide Luxor products. Since 1986, Luxor has proven its adaptability and smart designs. Luxor carts have a Limited Lifetime Warranty against factory defect and workmanship. When you purchase a Luxor Specialty Cart you can trust that you are receiving an excellent, well-made product. At Public Kitchen Supply we work to provide manufactures that supply a wide range of products and designs. To find a Luxor cart that works well for your business shop our Utility Cart selection at PublicKitchenSupply.com.