Equipment Needed for a Food Truck

So you’ve started your food truck business and are ready to deck it out—but where do you begin? Before you can get to cooking, you’re going to have to decide what type of equipment and supplies you’ll need. Since you’ll be a rolling commercial kitchen, you’ll want to think about what types of equipment are needed to properly prepare your menu items. To help you organize your thoughts, we’ve compiled a list of some vital pieces of equipment, tools and supplies you may need to furnish your food truck.

Cooking & Holding Equipment

• Ovens & Ranges—An over and range combination unit is perfect for maximizing space and providing flexibility with cooking. These units allow you to bake and saute all at once.


• Fryers—Available as floor or countertop models, a fryer will allow you to make a wide variety of food.


• Exhaust System—Essential in any commercial kitchen, whether it’s on wheels or not. Having a solid exhaust and hood ventilation system will keep your space clear of smoke and safe to use.


• Microwaves—Commercial microwaves offer optimal flexibility with cooking, steaming and reheating.


• Toasters—Whether it’s for buns, toast or anything else you might serve up, a toaster is an excellent addition to your food truck.


• Griddles—Perfect for cooking eggs, bacon, burgers, flapjacks or all of the above.


• Food Warmers—Warmers provide a safe and easy way to keep freshly-cooked foods at their optimal temperature, allowing it to be served whenever.

Refrigeration Equipment

• Refrigerators—Store all produce, meat, dairy and other perishables in an undercounter or compact refrigerator to save space and save your food.


• Freezers—Opt for an undercounter unit for your freezer as well for easy-to-access cold storage.


• Refrigerated Prep Tables—If you make sandwiches, pizzas or salads, a refrigerated prep table is a must. Not only do these units keep your ingredients cool and fresh, they also allow you to keep all ingredients within reach.

Food Prep Equipment

• Work Tables—Work tables and work surfaces are vital for any commercial kitchen, but especially for food trucks. Due to their smaller size, having solid stainless steel work tables will provide a strong base for your operations.


• French Fry Cutters—French fry cutters provide a convenient way to cut potatoes into fries for more efficient production. Opt for a space-saving countertop version for your food truck.


• Blender/Food Processors—Blend and process foods all in one for soups, sauces or shakes.


• Mixers—Mixers are vital for any commercial kitchen for preparing dough, whipping cream for desserts or mixing ingredients for baked goods. Make sure you pick a mixer that serves the needs of your kitchen’s output while not taking up too much space.


• Mixing Bowls—It’s always a good idea to have mixing bowls on hand in your food truck. You can even pick ones that stack for maximum space saving.

Cookware & Tools

• Cooking Pots—Have a variety of cooking pots on hand to serve all your cooking needs. Consider stocking up on stock pots, dutch ovens, braizers, sauce pots or anything in between.


• Cooking Pans—Similar to cooking pots, having a variety of different frying pans or skillets will help you maximize your cooking output. Some options include sauce pans, saute pans, woks and roasting pans


• Cooking Utensils—From spatulas to turners to ladles and beyond, make sure you keep your cooking utensils within reach.


• Cutting Boards—Be sure to have separate designated cutting boards for meat and produce to prevent cross-contamination. Additionally, keep a few extra on hand in case you need to prep foods in between cleanings.


• Knives & Rack—Have a variety of kitchen knives on hand and ready to go for quick food prep.


• Thermometers—A vital tool for all kitchens, thermometers allow you to check the internal temperature of food to ensure they’re safe for consumption. Learn how to properly use one in our video guide.


• Disposable Gloves—On top of proper handwashing, disposable gloves help diminish the chance of cross-contamination. Make sure you have enough on hand for you and your staff to use throughout a shift.

Cleaning & Janitorial Equipment

• Compartment Sink—A compartment sink is an excellent tool for any commercial kitchen. These units allow you to hand wash and sanitize dishes and cookware in one spot.


• Handwashing Station—Keep your food truck sanitary by having a designated handwashing sink available for you and your staff to use. This helps prevent any cross-contamination from your staff to dishes or to food.


• Cleaning Chemicals—Having a variety of various cleaning chemicals will keep your food truck’s kitchen spotless and sanitary. Make sure you have OEM-approved cleaners for your equipment along with food-safe ones. And don’t forget essentials like dish detergent, degreasers, floor cleaners and sanitizers.


• Cleaning Supplies—Have cleaning cloths, gloves, spray bottles, scrubbers, mops and brooms on hand 24/7 so you can easily clean your work surfaces and equipment.

Servingware

• Disposable Utensils—Fork over your culinary creations with disposable utensils to make cleanup simple for you and your customers.


• Napkins—Just like disposable utensils, offer up napkins to customers that are disposable.


• Disposable Servingware—From paper serving boats to plates to food wrappers, offer up your dishes in servingware you don’t have to worry about washing.


• To-Go Containers—For take-home customers, have to-go containers like clamshell and soup containers on deck to package up food for spill-free transport.


• Cups—Depending on the kinds of beverages you serve, have the right cup ready for serving. Grab some coffee and soda cups with lids for both hot and cold drinks.