A commercial kitchen is not like a traditional kitchen, and it consists of many things that you can’t even imagine. If you’ve ever been employed in a restaurant kitchen or own a restaurant, you know what we are talking about when we say there are many appliances in a restaurant kitchen.
In a commercial kitchen, you will find many appliances that you’ll never find or even need in a home kitchen. And if you are thinking about opening a restaurant or just want to learn more about restaurant kitchens, you are at the right place. Today we are going to talk about an essential part of every restaurant kitchen, a grease trap. There is a chance that you’ve never heard about it, or you’ve heard, but you are not sure why it is crucial.
We can tell you that it’s vital in a restaurant kitchen, and we will talk about why every restaurant, small or big, needs to have it.
If you are new in the restaurant business, we will try to help you understand what’s important to consider when buying an appliance like a grease trap.
But, let’s start with the basics.
What is a grease trap?
Source: greasetrapindianapolis.com
A grease trap is what its name says, a grease trap. It’s a machine that traps grease. And why does it exist? Every restaurant, especially fast-food joints, but even those that make healthy food, use oil.
Oils and fats make food taste incredible but can also cause many problems in combination with grease. If all of it goes away into the sewage, it sticks to pipes and can cause blockage. Also, a problem for the whole neighbor or the city, and it all started through your sink. But that’s not all; it can damage pipes and damage the equipment used for water treatment. And of course, it can cause a severe problem to the environment. Something that you think disappears magically doesn’t. And that’s why you need a grease trap.
It’s a receptacle that collects the wastewater that contains oils, fats, and grease. It basically traps them, allowing only water to pass by.
A good grease trap is critical to a restaurant business because grease and all of those nasty things can cause problems to the whole area and nature. And that’s because some laws and codes proclaim that you must have a grease trap in your restaurant.
When it comes to grease traps, you should consider buying the best quality one and the one that’s compatible with your kitchen. We will return to that point later on in the article.
Another essential detail that you possibly didn’t know is that you need to clean the grease trap regularly. It’s not something that you can buy, install, and forget about it for good. You need to take care of it to work appropriately because if it gets damaged or clogged, you will spend even more money. Regular cleanup is mandatory, and you shouldn’t skip it. And if you are looking for a good cleaning service, you can find it here at houstontxgrease.com.
Are there different types of grease traps?
Yes, there are. There isn’t one universal grease trap that all can use. They vary in size, mechanism, and of course, price.
So, if you are in demand for a new grease trap, replace your old one, or for your new restaurant business, you need to find the one that will best suit your sink and your other needs.
The size
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When it comes to size, you can find grease traps from 20-pound to 150-pound. And the size is essential because not everyone needs a grease trap of 150-pounds, while others need something more significant than a 20-pounds grease trap. And of course, you will know what to buy depending on your kitchen’s size and sink.
If you have a big kitchen and many customers throughout the day, you will need a giant grease trap. Also, if you have a lot of work and a lot of food prepared in your kitchen, and you have a small grease trap, it means that you will need to clean it more often. That also means that you will spend more money. And even pay civil penalties if you have a smaller grease trap than you need have. For this, you will need to find an exact code for your state or municipality. And of course, if you buy a grease trap that is bigger than you need it to be, you are just wasting your hard-earned money.
And finally, when it comes to the size, you will not need a big grease trap if you only prepare salads, but you will need it if you own a fast-food joint that constantly makes fries and similar foods.
The type of the grease trap
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Another essential part when finding the best grease trap for your restaurant is choosing the right type.
You can choose from automatic grease traps, hydromechanical ones, and gravity-type ones. They all have their pros and cons.
An automatic grease trap is excellent because it’s easy for maintenance, and even kitchen staff can do it. A trap like this is great because it saves you a lot of money regarding maintenance. One thing that people who are starting their business don’t like about it is the price. You need to pay a little more for it, but it saves you money in the future once you do it.
Gravity grease traps are great, and their work principle is below-ground, and they need to be changed only every 15 years. They also need to be pumped out when the grease fills one-quarter of the tank capacity. The downside of it is that the building needs the spaces for it.
Hydromechanical grease traps are often used if there is no space for a gravity grease trap, and they work wonders in commercial kitchens. Traps like this require cleaning more often than others.
We hope that after reading this, you know why restaurant kitchens need grease traps and why they are an essential part of everything.
