Maintaining Food Service Equipment

Running a restaurant is a demanding job with a long list of responsibilities. One of the many tasks you must oversee is maintaining food service equipment. Proper maintenance helps protect the quality of food, ensure customer and employee safety, and meet food safety standards.  When you focus on the bigger picture of managing a business, it can be easy to overlook some of the minor equipment parts that require maintenance.

Here are 3 common types of food service equipment that require routine maintenance to help your business run smoothly.

Food and Beverage Pumps – If you have sauces, dressings or other types of food dispensed through condiment pumps, these require upkeep. It is essential to keep all parts of the pump clean and monitor calibration. Also, supervisors should ensure all pieces of the pumps are properly put together after cleaning.  

Caster Wheels – Food service casters play an important role in keeping back-of-house equipment stable.  Many of the heavy items that store, cook, and cool food items rest on caster wheels. For example, pizza ovens, refrigerators and freezers, shelves and fryers often use caster wheels. These must be replaced periodically to make sure equipment can continue to hold a large amount of weight and handle moving if necessary.

Soda Fountain Parts- Remembering to clean the outside of the soda fountain and rinse out the drain is often the first step in keeping this station sanitary. But, you also need to take the time to clean out the nozzles at the end of the day, and periodically check the syrup boxes and CO2 levels.

Overlooking minor tasks related to equipment maintenance can put people and products at risk. By routinely scheduling cleaning tasks, you can help provide the best restaurant experience for your business and clientele.