A commercial dishwasher, which is most times called a ware washing machine is an industrial dishwashing equipment with a larger capacity than your standard residential dishwasher that is capable of washing more dishes, glasses, pots, and pans with the use of chemical sanitizers and other methods.

What Is A Commercial Dishwasher?

Commercial dishwashing machines are very important equipment for any commercial kitchen as they are well-equipped to handle the high workload in the kitchen with optimal energy efficiency. Whether it is an undercounter commercial dishwasher or a commercial conveyor dishwasher, these machines can help reduce your work in the kitchen and increase productivity.

What Does A Commercial Dishwasher Do And Why Is It Important For Your Restaurant?

The commercial dishwasher washes with a surface temperature that is considered sanitary and helps to sanitize large quantities of dishes, glasses, mixing bowls, pots, and utensils in your kitchen.

If there is enough available space in your kitchen, then it would be ideal to utilize this machine to clean glasses and dishes. They can hold large racks per hour and sanitize your dishes properly to ensure it is safe to use for your customers.

What Is The Difference Between A Commercial And A Domestic Dishwasher?

A commercial dishwasher will wash dishes much faster than a domestic dishwasher. The commercial dishwasher is also equipped for more heavy-duty tasks.

Due to these added features, a commercial dishwasher will have a higher upfront cost than its domestic counterpart.

What Types of Commercial Dishwashers Are Out There?

These are the different types of commercial dishwashers available on the market. You can choose the best commercial dishwasher that is suitable for your kitchen.

Door-Type Dishwashers (Hood Dishwasher)

One of the most common types of commercial dishwashers is door-type dishwashers. These are high temp dishwashers that are made for heavy use and can wash dishes at a very fast rate.

They are a bit bulky but can be easily operated and carry out their task very efficiently. They come with one or two racks where you can load your dishes onto.

Conveyor Dishwashers

The conveyor dishwasher is a commercial dishwashing machine that could very well be the best choice for any commercial kitchen. These appliances come with a conveyor belt that sends the racks into the chamber where your glassware and dishware are washed, rinsed, and dried.

Due to its bulky nature, a conveyor dishwasher cannot be used in a small kitchen and are rather suitable for kitchens that want to wash a high volume of dishes.

Flight-Type Dishwashers

The flight-type dishwashing machines are high-performance appliances that are made for operating in large and busy kitchens. Because of their high-power output, they can wash and sanitize a high volume of cookware in a short time.

Pot And Pan Washers

These types of commercial dishwashers are made for washing larger items in your kitchen like large pots, baking sheets, pans, and other equipment. They can wash a variety of cookware and are more suitable for kitchens that need to wash more items that are bigger in size.

Glass Washers

There are restaurants that use a lot of glassware. So, the glass washer is a type of commercial dishwasher that is specially designed to handle and wash different types of fragile glasses. It utilizes high temperatures and low water pressure to flawlessly clean the glasses.

Portable Dishwashers

This is a type of commercial dishwashing machine that is suitable for businesses that need to be mobile such as catering shops. The portable dishwashers are small and compact and can be moved around with ease.

Utensil Washers

The utensil washers are commercial dishwashers that are particularly made for washing cookware and utensils that are utilized for the preparation of food throughout the day.

Under-Counter Dishwashers

Just like the name implies, an undercounter dishwasher is a small and compact dishwasher that can fit under the counter in your kitchen. Undercounter dishwashers are similar in size to household dishwashers as it washes a single rack per cycle but their full load capacity is significantly more, making them able to handle commercial kitchen needs.

Countertop Dishwasher

This type of commercial dishwasher is small and compact and can be mounted on top of your kitchen counters. It is a great choice for businesses that have limited space in their kitchens such as food courts, office kitchens, ice cream trucks, and small coffee shops.

Commercial Dishwasher Temperature

Commercial dishwashers can also be classified based on their temperature type. These are the two types of commercial dishwashers in the temperature category.

High-Temperature Dishwasher

A high temp dishwasher is a warewashing machine that makes use of hot water to wash and sanitize dishes. They won't negatively impact or damage your dishware and they dry your plates, trays, and other cookware at a fast rate.

Low-Temperature Dishwasher

A low temp dishwasher is a dishwashing machine that uses iodine, chlorine, or ammonium to clean dishes. These chemicals are to be used in the right way to ensure they are safe. They usually have a lower upfront cost.

High Temp vs Low Temp Dishwashers

The main difference between high temp dishwashers and low temp models is in the way they carry out their sanitizing operation. Low temp dishwashers make use of sanitizing chemicals to clean and wash dishes, while the high-temperature dishwashers generally use water that is up to 180 F during the last rinse cycle to kill off bacteria.

High-temperature dishwashers require a condensate hood to counteract the steam being produced by the hot water, while low temp dishwashers need the dishes to be pre-rinsed.

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using A Commercial Dishwasher?

These are the upsides and downsides of using commercial dishwashers.

Advantages

• Commercial dishwashers can sanitize dishes and remove stubborn stains as they operate at high temperatures.

• There are a lot of dishwashing cycles you can choose from, which means you can wash different types of dishes with their various levels of soiling.

• These machines come with in-built chemical dispensers to dispense sanitizer, rinse aid, and detergent.

• They have the capacity to wash large quantities of dishes at the same time and very effectively.

• Commercial dishwashing machines are very durable equipment that is built to withstand a high level of usage. They are constructed with durable materials like stainless steel.

• With the use of high-temp air, the dishwashers are able to dry the dishes quickly, which means that they can be ready for use even faster.

Disadvantages

• It is not all the dishes you can place into the machine or else it could be overloaded.

• The cost of purchasing one of these commercial dishwashers is quite high.

How To Use A Commercial Dishwasher?

If you are confused about how to use a commercial dishwasher, then you can take the following steps to make sure that the process is smooth.

• You should first start out by using a pre-rinse sink faucet to scrape off excess large food particles and debris.

• Proceed to start loading the dishes onto the rack but be sure that you do not overload them or block the spray arms.

• Next, put an adequate amount of detergent into the machine as specified by the manufacturer's instructions.

• Shut the door of the machine and choose the required wash cycle based on the kind of dishes you want to wash and their dirt level.

• Wait for the wash, rinse, and dry cycles to be completed as it can take some time depending on how loaded it is.

• When it is done, open the dishwasher's door and unload the dishes with caution.

• Keep the dishes in a clean and dry area until you want to use them.

Cleaning And Maintaining A Commercial Dishwasher

These are the steps to follow to clean and descale your commercial dishwasher and ensure it lasts long;

• Before running the dishes through the wash cycle, make sure you scrape off as much food debris as you can.

• Make sure you clean it thoroughly daily.

• Check the sanitizer, rinse aid, and detergent levels every day.

• Always check the water temperature to be sure it is sufficient.

• Leave the dishwasher door open overnight to allow it to air dry.

• Perform regular inspections.

What Are The Important Factors When Choosing A Commercial Dishwasher?

This commercial dishwasher buying guide will help you in picking the right commercial dishwashing machines for your business. So before making your choice, ensure you consider these factors:

• Size and capacity: Based on your kitchen needs, you can go for a large dishwasher or a smaller model.

• Water and energy efficiency: Energy and water consumption can vary in different commercial dishwashers. Keep that in mind when making your choice.

• Sanitizing options: Choose your dishwasher based on the way you want to clean your dishes. You could go for a high temp or low temp model.

• Durability: The durability of commercial dishwashers matters as they will mostly be used for heavy-duty operations.

• Noise level: Background noises have been found to have an impact on the overall health of workers. So, ensure you go for a commercial dishwasher with a low noise output.

• Maintenance and service: Commercial dishwashers that are easy and not too expensive to maintain should be your focus.

• Warranty: Verify the warranties given to you by the vendor before buying the machine.

• Cost: Based on your budget you can decide which dishwasher to go with, whether it's an undercounter dishwasher or a conveyor dishwasher.

• Speed (Cycle Time): You need a dishwasher that is very fast and efficient in cleaning and sanitizing as it helps with productivity.

How Long Do Commercial Dishwashers Last?

Your commercial under-counter dishwasher or glass washer would last for around 10 to 15 years. You can make it last longer by ensuring you perform the right maintenance. You can also get a trained electrician or professional to come to inspect your machine occasionally.

Where To Buy A Dishwasher?

Whether it is coffee shops, fancy small restaurants, or other commercial kitchens, there are a lot of commercial dishwashing machines you can get.

If you need to get the the right machine, you can head over to the Kitchenall website and browse our selection of commercial dishwashers for sale. We have some of the best commercial dishwashers; undercounter, glasswashers, and other types to choose from.

Conclusion

Most conveyor dishwashers and undercounter commercial dishwashers are great tools that can be used in your commercial kitchen to handle the task of washing dishes, glasses, large pots, and other dishware with high efficiency.

So, you can go ahead to pick the right dishwasher for your business and clean dishes in high volume.

FAQs

1. Do Commercial Dishwashers Reuse Water?

Commercial dishwashers are able to reuse water in the ways they can. Fill-and-dump commercial dishwashers are able to typically process the rinse water from the previous cycle to become the new wash water for the next wash cycle.

2. Do Commercial Dishwashers Use A Lot Of Water?

A commercial dishwasher will use more water than a residential dishwasher. These commercial glass washers are known to use over two-thirds of the total water used in most restaurants.

3. Do Commercial Dishwashers Need a Hot Water Supply?

Your commercial conveyor dishwasher will need hot water to properly wash dishes and sanitize them. By utilizing high temp dishwashers, you can more easily clean dirty dishes as these models come with a booster heater to heat up the water if required.

4. Do Dishwashers Use Both Hot And Cold Water?

Your dishwasher can use either hot or cold water depending on what it needs. High-temperature dishwashers and low-temperature dishwashers are both types of commercial dishwashers that have different ways of washing dishes. A low temp commercial dishwasher will utilize cold water and other sanitizing chemicals to clean your dirty dishes, while the high temp dishwashers carry out high-temperature washing with hot water.

5. Do Dishwashers Use A lot Of Electricity?

Commercial dishwashing has a high rate of electricity consumption. As these dishwashers clean dishes, they have to maintain high water temperatures, which is why they consume a significant amount of energy. If you want to consume less energy, then you should ensure you group the flatware racks together and then turn off the dishwasher as soon as you are done.

6. Can I Use A Domestic Dishwasher In A Commercial Kitchen?

Not all dishwashers can be used in commercial kitchens and as such you cannot use residential dishwashers for commercial purposes. Commercial dishwashers are specifically designed to handle a lot of work for a long time but their residential counterparts cannot maintain those high temperatures and heavy-duty work.