As I'm trying to pull together this list of necessary kitchen equipment, I realize that I may need a stove top for things like boiling water or making SMBC. I never had to think of this at home as I have a typical stove/oven range, but what about in the bake shop? I can't get by with just the convection oven.
Would it be okay to use a two burner hotplate (like the one I used to use in my college dorm room, lol) or do I need a range too?
What do you all use?
I actually just bought a 2 burner range a few months ago. It was kind of pricey as I needed it to be a stronger wattage then the one I could just buy at wal-mart but also keep in mind that it still needs to be NSF approved. I found mine thru a local commercial equipment supplier
I got a two burner induction range ( commercial) for about $850. I also have a six burner range that I bought new for $750. Commercial ranges are pretty cheap, so if you have the space, get one. A cooktop can be limiting, but it does tuck away and give you more space if you need it.
I don't know about where you are, but be sure to check with your local fire dept. codes. Here in WI any burner/range must have a hood. This includes a hot plate. I know-what?!?! But when we moved, we found out it would cost $10,000 to put in all the necessary "stuff" for our hood. We decided for what little I use the range, I would just use a hotplate. As long as the health & fire depts. don't catch you. You're required to have a hood even for a hotplate! They had changed the fire codes for this in the last couple of years. We couldn't get over it. But you don't want to be fined, or worse yet-shutdown.
I don't know about where you are, but be sure to check with your local fire dept. codes. Here in WI any burner/range must have a hood. This includes a hot plate. I know-what?!?! But when we moved, we found out it would cost $10,000 to put in all the necessary "stuff" for our hood. We decided for what little I use the range, I would just use a hotplate. As long as the health & fire depts. don't catch you. You're required to have a hood even for a hotplate! They had changed the fire codes for this in the last couple of years. We couldn't get over it. But you don't want to be fined, or worse yet-shutdown.
I don't have a stove-top. I never even considered it as I don't do cooking, and it would be a waste of countertop space in my bakery. I have a heavy-duty hot plate which I use in case I need to boil something, or for SMBC. I store it on a shelf and just take it down when needed.
We're doing a convection gas separate oven and a standard four-burner gas non-convec range oven, because I use the stove top all the time for IMBC, double boiler, homemade puddings, mousses, simple syrup, etc.
We don't have to have commercial grade appliances here in ID, no idea why but I'm not questioning it!, and our buildout will include whatever I need, so we're making the builder deal with any venting. Haven't heard what, exactly, that will entail. Yet.
Great thread. I had questions about cpmmercial grade hotplates and found the answers here!!
I would just use a hotplate. As long as the health & fire depts. don't catch you.
Another concern would be your insurance coverage. My kitchen designer told me the true story of one of her clients. She was hired to do a remodel for them. When the kitchen was originally put together, the shop owner bought a household microwave instead of a comm'l grade microwave. There was a fire, in which the microwave was not involved at all.
Please note: The microwave had NOTHING to do with the fire.
The insurance company found out there was a non-commercial, non NSF approved piece of equipment in the kitchen and denied the ENTIRE claim.
I'm just always leary of the "anything's ok until you get caught" advice. Please don't put your entire financial life in jeopardy by trying to skirt the legal requirements.
Most areas would require a hood, even for a hot plate. I dont know understand why, I guess because of venting, but hoods are OMG $$$$$$!!!
Just to give an idea, my hood system was $1000 per linear foot and I needed 8 feet of it. That did not include installation.
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