Which professional dishwasher to choose?

Choose the best professional dishwasher for your business

You are steeped in the importance of an industrial dishwasher? We completely understand that, because this appliance cleans large quantities of dishes in a short time, respecting all hygienic standards. Choosing which professional dishwasher perfectly suits the needs and requirements of your business, however, is less obvious.

In this blog, we go over the different devices. Based on their operation and capabilities, you will make an educated choice between a front-loading dishwasher, a pass-through dishwasher, a glass washer, a pan washer or a combination.

After reading, do you still have questions? D’Heldt has specialized in industrial food machinery, including professional dishwashers, for more than 60 years. Feel free to contact us and take advantage of our expertise and tailored advice.

Choosing an industrial dishwasher: the different types

Front loaders, pass-through dishwashers, glasswashers and utensil washers all fall under the heading of professional dishwashers. What are the differences and what advantages and disadvantages do they have? We like to sum it up for you.

Front loader

Those choosing their first professional dishwasher may end up with this type. Front loaders look like your dishwasher at home, but clean more dishes in a shorter time. You place your used glasses, dishes and plates in baskets, which you manually place in the machine and then lift out afterwards. Their compact size and limited capacity make front loaders especially popular in smaller catering establishments.

Slide-through dishwasher

Do you serve 30 or more covers per shift in your establishment? Then the purchase of a pass-through dishwasher is worth considering. You combine this machine with a feed table with pre-rinse shower and a drain table, where the dishes dry. Large kitchens, for example in companies with many employees or hospitals, use one for prewash and one for main wash.

Glass washer

For hospitality businesses that serve a lot of drinks, or where sparkling glassware is a priority, a glass washer is a wise investment. In a matter of minutes, this device delivers dozens of glasses that shine like new. To protect sensitive glassware, glass rinsing machines operate at a lower temperature than larger appliances.

Tool Washer

A tool washer is also called a pan washer. Those names say it all: these devices were designed and built specifically for cleaning pots, pans and kitchen utensils. They work the same way as a front loader, but are large enough to clean all kitchen utensils.

What to look out for when choosing a professional dishwasher?

This is how you know which catering dishwasher is perfect for you

To know which professional dishwasher to choose, consider the following factors:

• Capacity depends on the number of seats in your establishment, the number of guests you serve per shift and the number of baskets you need to wash daily.
• The dishes you serve and the dishes that go with them are a further indication of which type of dishwasher is best suited. Cafes that primarily serve drinks may have enough with a glass washer, restaurants with a little more.
• How much space do you have available? A pass-through dishwasher takes up more space, a front-loading machine and a glass washer are best placed on a base or table so you don’t have to keep bending over. Try to limit the distance that must be covered with the dishes, which increases efficiency and reduces the risk of accidents.

Professional dishwashers also have several options. With this interpretation, you decide for yourself whether they are necessary or not.

• A soap dispenser automatically adds the right amounts of dishwasher detergent and rinse aid, making your machine work more sustainably.
• An osmosis unit purifies tap water of salt, lime and minerals, so you no longer have to polish your dishes and your appliance lasts longer.
• A double-walled dishwasher is better insulated, so it emits less noise and less heat to its surroundings.
• A water softener reduces limescale, so your machine performs more efficiently and reduces the chance of clogs in the wash arms and pipes. A dishwasher without a water softener is best run empty at least weekly with a descaler.
• A drain pump is needed to pump away wastewater when the drain line in your kitchen is higher than the dishwasher’s water outlet.