Choosing the Right Sink for Your Restaurant

January 21, 2019

There are many, many pieces of kitchen equipment that are vital but often taken for granted. The kitchen sink is one of them.

This workhorse of the back of the house handles a lot of jobs. Sinks give you running water as well as a place to wash either food or dishes. Generally, you need more than one in your restaurant – for instance, you might have a triple-sink wash station and a prep sink.

If it’s time to buy a new sink or replace an old one, you may wonder what your options are. This guide will help you find the right unit for you!

 

What is the Sink Going to Be Used For?

The first consideration when you look at your options is knowing how this particular sink will be used. If you’re setting up a new restaurant, you’ll need several types, but in most cases, you’re replacing or upgrading only one unit.

Different sinks in your kitchen include:

  • Triple-sink wash station
  • Prep sink
  • Hand washing sink
  • Soaking sink
  • Floor-mounted mop sink
  • Commercial bar sink

As you can see, there is a wide variety within this humble piece of kitchen equipment. Make sure you know what you need before you look at options.

 

Look at Both New and Used

High-quality sinks are available both brand new and used. Of course, you don’t want to choose a sink that’s in poor condition, has leaking issues, or is otherwise unsuitable. But there are a variety of excellent high-quality used units available.

If you are starting fresh or replacing a broken unit, you may not have the money for a brand new model right now. Don’t be shy about getting an excellently used sink.

 

Consider Water-Saving Models

In a commercial kitchen, it’s expected that you will use a lot of water. That doesn’t mean that you have to choose wasteful kitchen equipment, though!

Faucets are a perfect example of the reality that “more is not always better.” Low-flow faucets can save you thousands on utility costs without reducing the quality of work you produce. Your staff can still work quickly and effectively.

A lower-flow faucet also helps reduce risk in your kitchen. You won’t have as much splashing, which cuts down on wet floors and reduces the chance of cross-contamination.

 

Obey the Laws & Code Requirements

You already know that there are a lot of rules that must be followed if your kitchen is going to pass inspections. These rules apply to your sinks as well.

For instance, you may have to have a three-compartment sink even if you use an industrial dishwasher. This can be used to wash, rinse, and sanitize dishes and equipment in case your dishwasher ever stops working. It’s a useful backup to have!

You are also required to have a working handwashing sink at all times. Don’t let your staff use a food or dish sink to wash their hands!

Finally, make sure there’s enough space in your dishwashing area to keep dirty dishes separate and distinct from clean ones. If you skimp on space for this vital kitchen equipment, you could end up with code violations.

 

Get the Kitchen Equipment You Need Today

Are you in need of a new or used sink? Whether you’re renovating, replacing an old unit, or working with a new space, we’re here to help.

We’ve been helping Little Rock restaurants get the deals they need on kitchen equipment for many years, and we’d love to serve you too. Contact us for more information today!

Kitchen Equipment in Little Rock

Kitchen Equipment in Little Rock

Tipton Equipment Restaurant Supply has a selection of kitchen equipment in Little Rock that will help enhance the menu of any restaurant, deli, or supermarket. Our span of kitchen equipment will help you keep up with growing consumer demand for fresh, high-quality...

read more
Commercial Ice Cream Freezer: Keeping it Clean

Commercial Ice Cream Freezer: Keeping it Clean

To many, cleaning an ice cream freezer merely means pulling out all the food and allowing the appliance to defrost. Defrosting is a vital step, but it is not the only thing that needs to happen to maintain a clean freezer. To ensure optimal performance and keep your...

read more
Getting Your Commercial Kitchen Up and Running

Getting Your Commercial Kitchen Up and Running

Getting your commercial kitchen up and running. Serving Ware   If there's nothing to serve the food on, there's no restaurant. You'll need tons of cutlery, plate ware, bowls, ramekins, cups, and glasses. Consider the number of tables you can fit in your restaurant and...

read more
Safety Tips for Your Commercial Kitchen

Safety Tips for Your Commercial Kitchen

Safety tips for your commercial kitchen to keep it running smoothly and keep disease out. A well-run commercial kitchen means maintaining the utmost cleanliness and safe conditions for your food preparation. If you were to contaminate an area with Salmonella or other...

read more
Cooking Equipment You Need Today!

Cooking Equipment You Need Today!

If you've ever attempted to purchase cooking equipment for a new kitchen or tried to improve the quality of tools in your current kitchen you've found that stocking up on high-quality kitchen essentials is much more complicated than it should be. Nowadays everywhere...

read more
Cooking Equipment Disasters You Can Avoid

Cooking Equipment Disasters You Can Avoid

Cooking equipment disasters you can avoid through proper safety procedure and careful proceeding. Kitchens are the heart of the home, but they’re also home to a lot of cooking equipment that can pose safety hazards. Cooking fires top the list of things that can go...

read more
Why You Should Maintain Restaurant Supplies Religiously

Why You Should Maintain Restaurant Supplies Religiously

Excellent quality and well-functioning restaurant supplies are the backbones of a restaurant’s success. While you may be able to operate a restaurant without regular equipment maintenance in the short run, the long-term effects will add up. Decreasing equipment...

read more
What Restaurant Supplies Does Your Café Need?

What Restaurant Supplies Does Your Café Need?

What restaurant supplies does your café need? Our Pro's Do It All: Provide, Install & Maintain From soda fountains to most any frozen beverage machine, we offer a fantastic variety of beverage equipment and restaurant supplies. Tipton Equipment is one of the few...

read more
Three Benefits of Using Used Kitchen Equipment

Three Benefits of Using Used Kitchen Equipment

Three benefits of using used kitchen equipment are more straightforward than you would think. SavingsUsed kitchen equipment will save you thousands in, starting a restaurant. High restaurant failure rate leads to restaurant kitchen equipment only being in service for...

read more
How to Run a Successful Event & Party Room

How to Run a Successful Event & Party Room

Do you have a large space in your restaurant set aside for special events and parties? Does it get reserved as often as you wished?If you’re like most restaurant owners or managers, the answers are yes and no. You probably have a space – almost everyone is expected to...

read more
Philadelphia Outlaws Cashless: What it Means to You

Philadelphia Outlaws Cashless: What it Means to You

In early March, Philadelphia became the first city in the U.S. to forbid restaurants from refusing cash payments. As of July 1, all Philadelphia restaurants will have to accept cash payments and cannot charge cash-paying customers more than non-cash ones. Several...

read more
Types of Insurance Your Restaurant Needs

Types of Insurance Your Restaurant Needs

No one gets into the restaurant business thinking about insurance and paperwork, but it’s still an important part of doing business. Insurance helps protect you from natural disaster, theft, employee injuries, and liability. Many times you can get insurance discounts...

read more
Control COGS in Your Restaurant

Control COGS in Your Restaurant

Restaurants are known for having razor-thin margins, but you can improve your profits if you have a good handle on your costs. That doesn’t mean you have to skimp on restaurant supplies, but it does mean you can be strategic about what you spend. Do you know your cost...

read more