Choosing the Right Equipment for your Food Truck

Determining the best equipment for your food truck can be difficult, due in large part to space constraints. To help make the process easier, we've put together some pointers (we've also put together categories that include the most popular options for food truck storage, refrigeration, cooking equipment, sinks, work tables, and catering equipment)!

Keep in mind that if you are using gas equipment, you will need to purchase models that are compatible with liquid propane instead of natural gas.

The Basics

While food truck concepts can vary wildly, there is some equipment that can be considered a basic requirement no matter what you are serving.

Sinks

Sanitation requirements for any mobile kitchen will include a hand washing station, which means a hand sink is a necessity. We recommend a hand sink with side splashes, which will help prevent contaminants from hitting nearby equipment, something that is especially important when you are working in such a confined space.

Another type of sink you should include is a three-compartment utility sink. Even if you are a part of a commissary kitchen or plan to do most of your dishes elsewhere, chances are that you will need to wash something during your shift. A 3-bowl sink provides a separate space for each part of the dishwashing process (washing, rinsing, and sanitizing), a necessity for satisfying many food safety codes.

And if you frequently work where a water supply is unavailable, we recommend a portable bottled water pump dispenser. It can hook into just about any equipment that requires a water source - all you need it 1.2 amps of power!

Refrigeration

Storing your food at the optimal temperature doesn't necessarily mean you have to give up valuable counterspace. Rapids offers a number of different undercounter and worktop units that are designed with this problem in mind.

Our Volition undercounter units (available as both a freezer and a refrigerator) are short enough to slide under most countertops. This makes it easy to add the storage space you need without compromising on prep or cooking capacity. Depending on how much product you need to store, you can choose from either a 27"W unit or a 48"W unit. You also have the option to add a backsplash to the top to make them into a worktop. The backsplash will keep ingredients or smallwares from rolling off the back of the unit.

The prep units, on the other hand, come with a built-in cutting board and a refrigerated top section for easy access to your most popular ingredients. They also include plenty of storage below the work area, and come in widths of 27", 48", and 60".

Ranges

If you plan on doing any cooking on your truck, a 4-burner range is a fairly versatile choice. It can handle most of your cooking needs, and our Volition model comes with a kit that allows you to convert it to an LP unit.

Prep Units

Having the necessary space to put together your pizza, taco, gyro, crepe, hot dog, etc. is clearly important for your food truck to run smoothly. Including a work table in your setup is a great way to add in prep space as well as additional storage. And if you want durability, stainless steel is the material for you - it is not only corrosion resistant, but also easy to clean!

Start with Your Menu

Your equipment needs will, in large part, be dictated by your menu. Because space on a food truck is so limited, however, you should analyze the equipment necessary to make each menu item. If you find that one item requires equipment that will be used for nothing else, you might want to replace that item.

Food Truck Equipment Recommendations

Fried food is quite popular with food trucks, so if you need a high efficiency fryer that is set up for LP, we recommend our Volition 35-40 lb Floor Fryer. It includes two nickel chrome fry baskets with red plastic coated handles, and it was designed with your safety in mind - a back-up safety high limit control shuts the fryer down if shortening exceeds the maximum temperature. The temperature range is 200 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and the unit comes with a 1-year parts and labor warranty.

Develop a Budget for Your Food Truck

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it never hurts to be reminded to work within your budget. Unexpected costs are always a possibility, so it's best not to overextend yourself from the beginning.

Food Truck Equipment Recommendations

Keeping this in mind, a good way to cut down initial costs (without sacrificing quality!) is by using countertop equipment. While they are smaller than their floor-style counterparts, if they can still handle your production demands, they can be a good investment. We offer countertop fryers (both one- and two-well), countertop griddles, countertop charbroilers, hot plates, and more!

Choosing Multi-Purpose Items

Picking items that can used more than one way can save you both space and money. It also makes it easier to change your menu, as you aren't stuck trying to incorporate a piece of equipment that only has one specific function.

Food Truck Equipment Recommendations

One multi-purpose item we think you'll love is the Beverage Air Cross Temp Convertible Refrigerator/Freezer. It can convert from a freezer to refrigerator (and vice versa) in less than an hour! This is a solid option for food trucks that change their menu seasonally or based on what kind of event they are attending.

Make Sure You are Meeting Requirements

Depending on your state (and even your county or city), there will be a number of health, safety, and other codes you will have to meet. Having a thorough understanding of what exactly is required will save you from the panic and expense of a report that tells you another sink or exhaust fan is needed after you've already fully equipped your truck.

Food Truck Equipment Recommendations

While the sinks we mentioned above are one of the most integral factors of code compliance, it's also helpful to have food labels that will help you monitor the age of your food, cleaning and sanitizing buckets that will help you maintain cleanliness standards, and thermometers that will ensure your food is being cooked or held at the proper temperature.

Be Mindful of Your Food Truck's Limitations

If your equipment measurements are even a quarter of an inch off, your whole setup can be thrown out of whack. Make sure you check and double check all of your measurements before making any purchases. Your food truck will also have a weight limit, so it is essential to keep that in mind as well.

Food Truck Equipment Recommendations

Choosing portable equipment like a full size food warmer, a warming chafer, or a thermal beverage dispenser to store some of your menu items can give you more flexibility in your setup - without the commitment of a huge, expensive piece of equipment.

Try Out a Commissary Kitchen

Incorporating all of the necessary equipment into your food truck might feel like it's impossible - if that's the case, a commissary kitchen might be a good choice for you. You will have access to a wider variety of equipment than you would be able to fit into your food truck, as well as additional storage. Other benefits (depending on the kitchen) could include a place to dispose of your grease, a nighttime parking spot, and more!

Food Truck Equipment Recommendations

If you are going to be regularly moving food from a commissary kitchen to your truck, Rapids recommends a front-load pan carrier or an insulated food and beverage carrier. They will keep your food at the proper holding temperature for 5 or more hours!

Learn More About Food Truck Setup

To get some more insight into some of the different considerations that go into the actual build of a food truck, we recommend the Food Truck Builders Group videos, divided into Part 1 and Part 2.