What equipment should be in a food truck

Posted by Damian Roberti on

What equipment should be in a food truck

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The Checklist for the Equipment Necessary for Food Trucks



After you have purchased a food truck or have signed a lease for a food truck, the following step is to decide what kind of kitchen equipment you want to place in your brand-new food truck. In contrast to other types of mobile food companies, such as food carts, the kitchens of food trucks are spacious enough to accommodate a variety of appliances and supplies. Because there is more room, you are free to get more imaginative with the arrangement of your equipment and the goods on your menu.

It might be challenging to know exactly how to start a food truck and obtain the appropriate equipment, regardless of whether your food truck already has some of the necessary items or you are starting your food truck from the ground up. Investing in high-quality food truck hardware is absolutely necessary for the success of your company, and stocking your food truck with everything necessary for running a successful business is a precondition for achieving that success. To assist you in getting your food truck ready for business, we have compiled a complete list of the necessary equipment, which can be found below.


Find all the goods and equipment you need for your food truck here.

What equipment should be in a food truck



Simply click the button down below to obtain a printable version of the food truck equipment checklist that we provide.

You may get a printable version of the Food Truck Buyers Guide here.
1. Cooking Supplies



You should plan to spend the majority of your money on cooking equipment when you are purchasing supplies for your food truck because this will take up the majority of your cash. There are ways to save money, such as purchasing second-hand or outlet-discounted cooking equipment rather than buying everything brand new. Choose a range of countertop units in addition to full-size versions in order to make the most of the space available in the kitchen of your food truck. Dedicate more space to the appliances that get the most use, and look into alternatives that can be kept on the countertop for the appliances that get used less frequently or for preparing lesser amounts of food.

The following is a list of essential pieces of cooking equipment for food trucks:

 

What equipment should be in a food truck


Griddle or Flat Top Grill: Griddles and grills are excellent options for preparing a variety of foods, including pancakes, burgers, eggs, and veggies. Griddles and grills come in a variety of sizes.
Cooking anything from your proteins to your sauces in a range's pan fry, saute, boil, or simmer function is all possible.
Charbroiler: Charbroilers allow you to get grill marks and give poultry, steaks, and veggies that trademark "grilled" flavor. Charbroilers are quite versatile.
Reheating side dishes or even steaming veggies can be accomplished in a microwave.
Toaster: A toaster allows you to achieve the ideal texture on bread, whether you're using it to make sandwiches or other breakfast foods like waffles, English muffins, or bagels.
To brown the tops of items like open-face sandwich and macaroni and cheese, you can use a saladmander or a cheese melter. Salamanders are available at most kitchen supply stores. In addition, cheese can be melted quickly and easily on casseroles.
A fryer is a crucial piece of equipment for many food trucks since it enables the chef to prepare popular menu items such as onion rings, chicken tenders, and french fries.
Exhaust Hood for Food Trucks It is necessary to have an exhaust hood for your food truck in order to remove potentially hazardous grease vapors that are produced by your other equipment.
2.Equipment Used for Heating and Holding
What equipment should be in a food truck
It is absolutely necessary to have equipment for warming and holding your food in order to maintain it at a temperature that is safe. Warmers for food trucks make it possible to prevent getting sick from consuming contaminated food and failing to pass health inspections. Holding equipment ensures that the food on your menu is served to your clients at an appropriate temperature.

 

 

What equipment should be in a food truck


These fundamentals are what we recommend for keeping your meal warm and secure:

A Food Warmer for Your Countertop Having a food warmer for your countertop is a flexible addition to your kitchenware because it can maintain safe temperatures for a variety of dishes, including casseroles, veggies, and pasta.
When your french fries come out of the frying, place them in a fry dump station to keep them warm.
Warmer for Soups or Soup Kettles Warmer for soups or soup kettles are used to keep soups at a safe serving temperature until they are ready to be served.
3.Food Prep Equipment

These are going to be some of the supplies that get used up the fastest in your food truck. Because the term "food prep equipment" refers to everything that is used to get food ready for cooking or presenting, the specific items that you require will change based on what you have planned for the menu.

The following is a list of food preparation supplies that you can begin with:

Silver Steel Work Table: An additional stainless steel work table may be desirable for food preparation purposes, depending on the configuration of the counters in your food truck.
Cutting Boards Cutting, slicing, and dicing all need the use of cutting boards, which are an essential component of every kitchen.
Investing in knives of high quality will, in the long run, save you money on the cost of replacement blades, and having a rack or roll to keep them securely is great for kitchens with limited space.
Skillets and frying pans can be used for a variety of cooking methods, including sautéing, steaming, and pan frying.
Sauce Pans: Sauce pans are useful for reducing sauces and broths, as well as simmering and boiling them.
Turners are another multipurpose tool that may be used for a wide variety of tasks, from flipping burgers to chopping vegetables.
Thermometers: If you want to make sure that none of your customers become sick, you need to use thermometers to check that all of your food is cooked all the way through.

 

 

 

What equipment should be in a food truck
Blender or Food Processors: If you have a blender or food processor, you may use them to prepare soups, smoothies, salsa, and sauces among other things.
A French Fry Cutter: If your food truck offers french fries as an option for customers to order, investing in a French fry cutter will be time well spent.
4. Equipment Used in Food Trucks

Due to the fact that your food truck will cater to customers who are on the go, you will need to stock up on a variety of disposable serving items. Make sure that your vehicle has a sufficient amount of storage space for these goods, since running out of them could force you to close your window for the day and lose a potential customer.

You can get a head start on your collection by purchasing these serving supplies:

In the event that you require spoons, ladles, or tongs, you should always be sure to have clean serving equipment available.

 

 

What equipment should be in a food truck


You have the option of installing a pump condiment diffuser inside your truck for increased portion control, or you can put one outside for customers to help themselves.
Squeeze Bottles If you want to add a finishing touch to your menu items or allow your guests to add the condiments themselves, you should use squeeze bottles.
Sugar Shakers, Spice Shakers, and Cheese Shakers:
You can dust your selections with the adequate toppings by using sugar shakers, spice shakers, or cheese shakers.
Paper Food Trays If you're looking for a tried-and-true method to serve the entrées and sides that your food truck prepares, consider using paper food trays.
Disposable dinnerware, whether it be made of paper, foam, or plastic, is the way to go if you plan on serving platters or huge servings.
Cups made of paper or plastic: If you want to serve beverages other than those that come in bottles or cans, you can use cups made of paper or plastic.
Customers are more likely to enjoy their meals when they are provided with plastic utensils, which are an essential item for any food truck.
Take-out Containers Customers who are constantly on the move appreciate the convenience that take-out containers bring to transporting their food.

 

 

What equipment should be in a food truck


Customers are able to take exactly the amount of condiments they need to complement the cuisine they order when they use portion cups.
Paper Napkins with a Dispenser: To encourage your guests to assist themselves to napkins, place a dropper outside of your food truck.
Guest Checks and/or Order Forms Keeping yourself organized during the order preparation process can be aided by using guest checks and order forms.
Disposable Gloves: If you want to handle food in a sanitary manner, you should use disposable gloves.
Whether you need to wrap prepared servings or preserve materials for later use, food wrap made of plastic or aluminum will come in helpful for both of these tasks.

To Return to the Top 5: Refrigeration Tools

It is absolutely necessary to have refrigeration equipment on board your food truck in order to maintain the freshness of the ingredients. You could want to have one refrigerator for your primary food items, another for your beverages, and a third, smaller refrigerator for your condiments and other supplemental products like sauces and toppings. You will be able to perfectly match the unit(s) you choose for your food truck's inventory thanks to the fact that refrigeration equipment is available in a wide range of designs and configurations.

Consider any of the following specialist refrigeration equipment that is available to you:

Workbench or Undercounter Refrigerator: If space is at a premium in your kitchen, consider a refrigerator with a worktop that also functions as a surface for food preparation.
A Refrigerator That Is Designed for Preparing Sandwiches and Salads A refrigerator that is designed for preparing sandwiches and salads often has a refrigerated cabinet on the bottom, a top that has space for pans of toppings, and a strip of preparation area for putting everything together.
Pizza Preparation Fridge: Pizza prep refrigerators are comparable to sandwich preparations models, but they offer a wider workspace so that you can easily assemble your pizzas. Pizza preparation refrigerators are also known as pizza prep fridges.
A Refrigerator with a Glass Door for a Countertop: If you want to successfully merchandise bottled or canned beverages in your food truck, consider purchasing a refrigerator with a glass door for a countertop.
Under-the-Counter Freezers An under-the-counter freezer is the ideal choice for a food truck freezer since it enables you to store frozen foods such as ice cream without consuming an excessive amount of room.

 

 

 

What equipment should be in a food truck


6. Cleaning Equipment and Supplies

Any company that desires to keep its premises clean at all times must have access to janitorial supplies and equipment. Every day, your food truck as well as the machinery inside of it will require cleaning and maintenance with the help of these materials. Be sure to restock on all of the necessary janitorial equipment so that you can continue to uphold a sanitary atmosphere and be in compliance with all applicable health standards.

Get the following housekeeping supplies for your food truck and equip it with them:

If you have the space, installing a sink with three separate basins is the most efficient way to clean, rinse, and disinfect your cutlery, plates, and other small appliances.
Hand Sink Having a hand sink specifically designated for employees to use encourages them to maintain high levels of personal hygiene, which in turn keeps your food safe.
Anti-Fatigue or Wet Area Floor Mats: These mats will help to cushion the area that you stand on every day and keep you from slipping. They are available in a variety of colors and styles.
Sanitizing Chemicals There are sanitizing chemicals available that are designed to be used on dishware in addition to surfaces.
Scrubbers and Sponges: In order to maintain a clean set of dishware and kitchen utensils, you will require scrubbers and sponges.
Utilize a sizable bin and an adequate supply of liners to keep the area where waste is disposed of clean.
A Broom and Dustpan: If you want to maintain the cleanliness of the floor of your food truck, all you need is a broom and a dustpan.

 

What equipment should be in a food truck

One of the first things you should do if you want to launch a food truck business is to familiarize yourself with the many kinds of equipment that will be required. Make space for your cooking utensils and appliances a top priority, but don't forget to leave plenty of place for your disposables and your food preparation materials either. Make sure that your food truck has all it needs by consulting this guide and making the necessary purchases.

What equipment should be in a food truck