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The Best Commercial Dishwasher Buying Guide

Update on 13/06/2024
Commercial dishwasher spray arm

While your business is getting better, the piles of dishes are becoming a nuisance. During peak traffic periods, hiring staff to clean manually is likely not enough to meet the urgent demand, and you’ll have to purchase more dishes or hire more staff. At this point, many people start to look to commercial dishwasher. Cleanliness and speed are everyone’s main concerns, with the cleanliness of the dishes being a factor in the restaurant’s reputation and the speed of cleaning being a factor in business conditions. What kind of commercial dishwasher should I choose? Many people have this question in mind.

To address these concerns and doubts, in this article we will cover the types of commercial dishwashers, the best dishwasher styles and tips for selecting them, hoping that these will help all those who want to use dishwashers to make their business more sophisticated.

Table of Contents

What types of commercial dishwashers are available?

1.Hood Type Dishwasher

Hood type dishwasher rinses the dishes at high pressure by spraying the swivel arm, just lift the lid and put the rack with the dishes in, and you will get clean dishes after a few minutes. Its biggest feature is the extremely fast cleaning. Some models are designed to have see-through windows so you can always observe the state of the dishes while cleaning, and it is popular with many people for a number of benefits.

Features:

   •  It can clean 60 racks per hour, suitable for use in small to medium-sized restaurants with 100-300 people

   •  Labor-saving sliding structure, you can easily lift up the door to put in or take out the racks

   •  Takes up less space and is equipped with a dish cleaning table and a dirty dish table on both sides

   •  With the style that can run under the standard voltage of 220V, no need to connect additional wires

Glass Washer Machines

2.Conveyor Dishwasher

This commercial dishwasher is larger and can handle more dishes. Even the smallest Conveyor dishwasher can wash 5,000 7.8″ plates per hour. As with the hood type dishwasher, you will need to load the dishes into the rack and place them into the unit. This dishwasher can be additionally equipped with different large components, such as a spray or drying section on both sides, to make the dishes cleaner or to be dried afterwards.

Features:

   •  All types of dishes can be cleaned

   •  Different functional components can be customized according to requirements

   •  Operation at 380V

commercial flight type diswasher

3.Flight Type Dishwasher

This type of dishwasher and conveyor dishwasher, both have a large size, but their significant difference is that flat type dishwasher has a long conveyor belt through the entire machine, and eliminates the loading process into the rack, just insert the dishes diagonally / flat on the conveyor belt, after the start of the cleaning process, they will be washed, rinsed and dried through the various plates and are finally sent out clean.

Features:

   •  Large footprint

   •  Superb cleaning capacity, cleaning 4000-9000 sets of dishes per hour

   •  Suitable for company canteens, school canteens and large hotels

   •  No need to load the rack, fully automatic cleanin

Flight Type Dishwasher CM-DXEL630JHH

4.Ultrasonic Dishwasher

Unlike other dishwashers, the ultrasonic dishwasher does not use high pressure water, it works by using ultrasonic waves generated by high frequency vibration of the oscillator to impact and disintegrate the stains on the dishes, you only need to put water in the pool and put in the dishes. The different cleaning method makes it possible to truly clean without dead ends. It can clean not only all types of dishes, but also vegetables and fruits.

Features:

   •  Ultrasonic sterilization

   •  Easy to use process

   •  Among all the cleaning methods, ultrasonic cleaning is the most efficient and effective one

   •  Wide cleaning range

   •  Small footprint

5.Undercounter Dishwasher

This type of dish washing machine is very small, similar to a household dishwasher, usually placed on the counter to clean a small number of dishes or glasses, even if the plot is fast, but the number of cleaning per hour is very small. Suitable for small restaurants or bars, if your kitchen space is limited, you can choose undercounter dishwasher, but this also means giving up part of the cleaning capacity.

Features:

   •  Ideal for placing at the bar to clean glasses at any time

   •  Very space-saving body type

   •  Weak cleaning ability

commercial undercounter dishwasher

Which are the best commercial dishwashers in 2022?

1.Best Hood Type Dishwasher

This commercial dishwasher is widely popular for its unique energy-saving technology. It has dual pumps to ensure a strong water supply and increase cleaning speed, cleaning 60 racks per hour. The unit can run on standard 220V voltage without the need for a separate electrical cord, making it easy to use and able to withstand the demand for dishes in a restaurant with 100-200 people during peak traffic.

Features:

   •  Heat recovery device saves 30%-40% energy

   •  Built-in agent dispenser

   •  Easy up and down push and pull handle design

   •  60s/90s/120s wash cycle available

   •  Only 2.9L of water is needed to clean each basket

   •  Upper and lower spray spin arms for comprehensive cleaning

   •  One-piece stamped sink with no seams or welded joints

   •  See-through window design to observe the cleaning condition at any time

This dishwasher runs on 380V and offers 12KW of power. It is 30% larger and more voluminous than the previous dishwasher, which allows for more dishes to be placed inside, making it the perfect choice for small to medium sized restaurants with 200-300 people.

Features:

   •  Extra large 600*600mm custom rack to accommodate more dishes

   •  3 * 800# stainless steel heating tubes for fast heating up

   •  Heat recovery design saves more than 30% energy

   •  Water pump waterproof rating: IP6

   •  Round window to observe the cleaning situation at any time

   •  Extended upper and lower spraying rotating arm 360 ° full coverage

   •  55-65℃ main washing temperature, 80-90℃ rinsing temperature effectively dissolves grease

This commercial dishwasher has a larger capacity than any other, accommodating two standard racks and cleaning twice as many dishes per hour as a regular uncovered dishwasher (60-100 racks of dishes). 4 pumps ensure a high pressure water supply. The powerful cleaning capacity allows it to best serve medium-sized restaurants with 200-400 people.

Features:

   •  4 FIR centrifugal cleaning pumps ensure high water pressure

   •  Two standard racks can be accommodated at a time

   •  Three timed cycles of 60s/90s/120s are available

   •  Built-in detergent dispensing pump, no need to add manually

   •  Cleaning 1800-3000 dishes per hour

   •  Circular window design increases visibility

   •  Labor-saving lid opening operation

   •  One-punch sink is less likely to leak or rust

2.Best Conveyor Dishwasher

This conveyor dishwasher is absolutely perfect for large restaurants, hotels and canteens with 500-1,000 people. It has two spray zones and a drying zone to ensure that the dishes are dried immediately after washing and can be put into use immediately, saving time costs and bringing an efficient dish cycle to restaurants.

Size: 2000*730*1850 mm (W x D x H)

Features:

   •  Each rack uses only 2.9L of water

   •  Cleans 220 racks of dishes per hour

   •  External chemical dispenser

   •  Thick stainless steel housing is strong and durable

   •  Tableware can be removed and used immediately after high temperature drying

   •  95°C rinsing to achieve disinfection

3.Best Flight Type Dishwasher

The biggest convenience this dish washing machine offers is the ability to clean used dishes directly by inserting them diagonally on the conveyor belt, without having to load them into the rack first. In addition, the double tank, double spray and double drying components give it a superb cleaning capacity of 3,000-5,000 plates per hour, making it suitable for large hotels or school cafeterias with 2,000-3,000 diners.

Size: 6300*850*1760 mm (W x D x H)

Features:

   •  High-pressure fan nozzle with outstanding cleaning ability

   •  3.1KW high pressure waterproof water pump

   •  Double body water tank heats up 50% faster

   •  Longer spraying swivel arm to achieve 360° comprehensive cleaning

   •  Food grade conveyor belt to accommodate all kinds of tableware

   •  Automatic stopping of bowl jamming ensures that equipment and tableware are not damaged

   •  80-90°C rinsing temperature for effective disinfection

Instead of inserting dishes at a specific angle into the conveyor belt, this commercial flat type dishwasher allows you to simply place them flat on the belt and the non-slip conveyor belt will hold them securely through the various wash and dry plates and finally send them out in a clean and dry state, ready for you to put them to new use in no time.

Size: 3400*800*1950 mm (W x D x H)

Features:

   •  Can wash 1200-2500 dinner plates per hour

   •  Three cleaning cycles of 60s/90s/120s can be selected

   •  One-piece stamping sink without seams, not easy to get water or rust

   •  Heat recovery device saves more than 35% of energy

   •  The operation panel is clear and easy to operate

   •  Food-grade conveyor belt ensures hygiene and safety

   •  Protection device stops the operation of the equipment immediately when abnormal conditions are encountered

4.Best Ultrasonic Dishwasher

This industrial-grade dishwasher can bring you a surprising experience in cleaning dishes and other kinds of items. It generates high-frequency ultrasonic waves through up to 48 oscillators to disintegrate stains. The ultrasonic waves have a wider cleaning range than high-pressure water flow, and it can cover every corner of the items to achieve dead-end cleaning, and it can also clean all types of pots and pans and tools.

Sink size: 1680*470*320 mm (W x D x H)

Features:

   •  Anti-dry burn device for safety protection

   •  Thickened soundproof cotton reduces equipment noise

   •  One-piece stamped stainless steel sink has no seams or welds, making it less likely to leak

   •  Easy to lift filter basket for easy cleaning

   •  One-piece drainage prevents clogging

   •  Independent timing temperature control, easy to operate

This commercial dishwasher consists of a wash sink + fresh water sink, with an increased capacity and dual sink design designed to improve efficiency. The cleaned dishes are put into the fresh water sink and rinsed again for a cleaner finish.

Sink size: 1280*470*320/ 550*470*320 mm (W x D x H)

Features:

– Stainless steel construction is strong and durable for long-term use in the kitchen

   •  No need to use the pump, more energy efficient

   •  Earth leakage protection switch ensures safe use

   •  Combination of overflow and drain design keeps the water in the tank from overflowing

   •  Drainage port is placed underneath, so the equipment can be placed against the wall

   •  Double-layer sound insulation cotton effectively reduces noise

   •  304 stainless steel heating tube for fast heating

5.Best Undercounter Dishwasher

This dishwasher is small enough to fit under the countertop to save space, and it runs on a standard 220V voltage without the need for a separate cord. It washes 50 baskets of dishes per hour and consumes only 2.3L of water per rack, making it the perfect choice for cleaning your dishes, coffee cups and glasses.

Size: 570*620*796 mm (W x D x H)

Features:

   •  Can be placed independently or embedded in the cabinet

   •  Italian FIR brand high-pressure water pump, stable operation and corrosion resistance

   •  Various types and sizes of racks are available

   •  Lower door design for easy access to the rack

   •  Intelligent panel display is clear and easy to operate

   •  Built-in detergent automatic dispenser

   •  90℃ rinsing temperature sufficient for disinfection and sterilization

What should we look for when choosing the commercial dishwasher?

commercial hood type dishwasher basket

1. Temperature

There are two classifications of dishwashers: high temperature and low temperature. The way to distinguish this is to confirm whether the washing water temperature is higher or lower than 160°F. A dishwasher with a value higher than this is a high temperature dishwasher, and the opposite is a low temperature dishwasher. All of the above dishwasher types have the distinction between high and low temperature, and each of these two temperatures has its own advantages and disadvantages. You can consider them all after detailed understanding.

Most commercial dishwasher on the market choose high-temperature cleaning, because the high-temperature water flow can play a rapid dissolution of oil and grease and the role of the initial sterilization, while the residual temperature of the dishes after the end of the cleaning can also be faster to make the surface water beads evaporate. Its disadvantage is that heating will consume more energy.

Low-temperature dishwashers use chemicals to help dissolve grease and sanitize, and because they do not use heat, they consume much less energy, but the disadvantage is that the chemicals may cause slight residue or corrosion on the surface of the dishes.

In terms of cost, a high-temperature dishwasher requires a matching heating unit and additional energy costs, while a low-temperature dishwasher requires more costs for chemicals, making it more expensive overall.

2. Size

If you have a limited kitchen area or only need to handle a small amount of dishes per day, then an undercounter dishwasher is the right choice, while if you are serving more than 100 people, you need to consider a larger dishwasher. In order of ranking by washing volume, from lowest to highest are undercounter dishwasher, hood type dishwasher, conveyor dishwasher, and flat type dishwasher.

It is important to note that you first need to choose based on the highest daily traffic data to ensure that the dishwasher can withstand the impact of peak traffic periods. If your business growth trend is significant, you will need to choose a larger capacity dishwasher from the current one, otherwise, as time grows, a dishwasher with insufficient capacity will soon be unable to adapt to the needs of the kitchen.

3. Noise

Commercial dishwashers are large pieces of kitchen equipment, and the sound of high pressure pumps running and water pounding can affect the overall environment (even if they seem to be an insignificant part of the commercial kitchen environment). Working in a noisy environment can affect the mood and even the health of employees, and this advice is not limited to dishwashers, but is also appropriate to be considered when shopping for all commercial kitchen equipment.

If you want to maintain a good kitchen environment, you need to check whether the equipment uses a low-noise engine/pump or is soundproofed as a whole. For commercial dishwasher, which need to be sealed during operation, simply adding soundproofing foam to the panels can block out most of the noise. Ultrasonic dishwashers are recognized as the least noisy because they do not require the use of high-pressure pumps.

4. Speed

The speed of the dishwasher is directly related to the business situation (it is very difficult to prepare enough dishes to be washed uniformly after the business ends), even if the capacity of the dishwasher is not large, as long as it can wash fast enough, it can bear the impact of the whole peak traffic. The ideal cleaning speed is only 45s, and most dishwashers are able to adjust the cleaning cycle, the slowest cleaning time is not more than 3 minutes.

And there are times when you don’t have to be so strict about speed: when customers are taking longer to eat. Fast food has much more demand for dishes at peak times than fine western food.

5. Energy Costs

Choose a dish washing machine with an Energy Star label or heat recovery device, they can save more energy. In addition, even though dishwashers generally use less water than manual cleaning, you still have to be concerned about how much water they use to clean a rack, which commonly ranges from 1.7L-4L, and choosing a water-efficient design can also help save money.

Similarly, if you need to choose between a high-temperature dishwasher and a low-temperature dishwasher, it’s a choice between energy costs and chemical costs. High-temperature dishwashers use more energy to heat, and low-temperature dishwashers cost more to purchase chemicals.

Conclusion

Dishwashers vary greatly in their focus and cleaning capacity, and the easiest way to decide is to refer to this article based on the number of restaurant diners and the type of dishes to be cleaned. In addition, the type of racks is often overlooked, and choosing different racks for different dishes can increase the cleaning effect. For example, glass racks for goblets and cup racks for mugs, or larger racks for pots and pans, can be more effective.

Choosing the right commercial dishwasher is not an easy task, there are many aspects to consider and I hope this article will help you and your business.

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