Mobility is the name of the game in an era where people want everything delivered or easily accessible. An entire industry has opened up to provide foodies everywhere with more access than ever to delicious street foods of all kinds.

Today, mobile kitchens are more versatile than every. Anything from step vans to box trucks can be customized to take your restaurant on the road. Keep reading for seven food truck features that can take your mobile restaurant business to the next level.

1. Order Window and Awning

On the side of your truck, you’ll want to have a sliding window for taking orders. In merchandising vehicle conversions, a window makes room for a cashier and register system, not to mention space for writing down orders.

An awning goes the extra step to provide comfort for your customers. It can be auto-powered or manual, but either will give shade on hot, sunny days or shelter on rainy ones.

2. Refrigeration Unit

When serving food you’ll need a way to keep meats, dairy, and other products cold. Refrigeration units can be as small as cooler or as larger as a double-wide refrigerator.

3. Prep Table

Like any stationary kitchen, there has to be a place to prep the food. Depending on what’s on the menu you may need more than one prep table. These tables are typically three- to six-feet long and have convenient storage containers for quick access to prepped items, like chopped veggies for pizza, sliced cheese for sandwiches, or toppings for garnishing salads.

4. Fryers and Cooktops

Probably the most essential part of a food truck is the ability to cook the food. Mobile kitchen conversions include an extensive line of fryers, hot plates, stoves, griddles, and grills. You will want to take a good look at what you are planning to cook in your kitchen to determine which and how many of these cooking appliances you will need. 

5. Wi-Fi for eCommerce Set-up

Tech is required to complete sales transactions. Some smaller businesses rely on a point of sale set-up. 

Other businesses have actual registers with swipe machines or even simple cash drawers. Many of these services require reliable Wi-Fi so rather than rely on public access, install your own secure internet service. This will give you more freedom to set up in places where other Wi-Fi might not be available.

6. Digital Menu Display and Order Display

Another reason to have Wi-Fi is to operate digital menu boards and order displays. 

This is a great tool when your menu changes often or in case you run out of a popular item. Order displays are a great way to be able to change up the dishes you have for sale.

Digital order displays can help keep kitchen staff on top of things by showing how long a customer has been waiting.

7. AC Unit

It can get pretty heated in a food truck when all the grills are firing. For the comfort and safety of yourself and your employees, having an AC unit is pretty much essential if you live somewhere that gets hot in the summertime. You don’t want sweat dripping into food or workers getting faint from overheating.

Let’s Get Moving

Did these food truck features get you thinking about your restaurant business? It may be time to take your food services on the road.

If you have an idea for a food truck business we have everything you need to get started. Click here to get a quote for your custom mobile kitchen!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post 7 Food Truck Features That Could Benefit Your Business appeared first on Custom Concessions.

There are tons of food truck appliances out there to choose from. Wondering which ones you’ll need? Not to worry! In this guide, we’ll go over how to kit out your truck for your new business.

Food Truck Appliances

Consider a range if you will need to boil, simmer, sauté, or pan-fry any food. A charbroiler is a handy appliance if you want to get those gorgeous grill marks on your protein and vegetables.

Some people buy a microwave so they can warm up side dishes fast or steam vegetables. Only get a griddle if you’re cooking burgers, eggs, or vegetables.

If you are going to sell sandwiches, consider buying a toaster. You can get the perfect texture on your bagels, bread, or English muffins.

One of the most popular items is a fryer. This is an essential appliance. You can cook items like onion rings, chicken tenders, and french fries to start, and then branch out and try more adventurous fried options as you get used to using it.

For any fryers, grills, and commercial ovens, you’ll need ventilation, like an exhaust hood with a fan. These get vented to the outdoors so you and your employees aren’t breathing in fumes. You’ll also want a sprinkler system for your stovetops in case of fire. 

Warming Equipment

If you want to keep your menu items warm for your customers, invest in holding equipment like a holding cabinet or countertop warmer. Holding cabinets will keep your food at a safe temperature, while countertop warmers are good for items like vegetables, pasta, or casseroles.

You could also look into getting a fry dump station. This will keep your fries warm after they’ve finished cooking in your fryer.

What About Food Prep Tools?

When setting up your food truck, you’ll need areas for storing and prep work. You won’t have a ton of space, so you’ll need to get creative. Think about what kind of food you will prepare.

You may need a separate area for preparing bulk food like pasta or soups. If you’re making individual portions, like fried food baskets, pizza or sandwiches, you’ll need more space.

Consider getting a stainless steel work table. You’ll use this a lot for when you’re prepping food.

Pick up cutting boards and knives. Don’t forget to get a food processor, thermometer, and a french fry cutter.

Refrigeration Equipment

You’ll most likely need have a fridge, and depending on what you plan to serve, you might also want a freezer or a drink cooler. These types of large appliances will be bolted in place to keep you and your employees safe.

Another good option is an under-counter refrigerator. These serve a dual purpose as food storage and another work surface.

If you sell a lot of salads or sandwiches, consider getting a prep table refrigerator. This way, you’ll have individual compartments dedicated to all the toppings, sauces, and condiments you need.

Contact Us Today

We hope you found this guide on appliances helpful. Consider what you will be cooking and selling at your truck—this will help you pick out what food truck appliances you’ll need. And don’t forget to install and understand some of the safety equipment you’ll need for your truck.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Food Truck Appliances 101: A Handy Checklist appeared first on Custom Concessions.