Carinderia is a local Philippines eatery that offers a glimpse of what matters most to Filipinos—food and family. It is a place where parents and their children, office workers, company drivers, and other people from all walks of life satisfy their hungry bellies with home-cooked meals served in generous portions at affordable prices. The owner addresses regular customers by their first names and offers warm soup and lots of stories on the house.
While owning a carinderia seems fun and exciting, the work entails diligence, patience, and a lot of preparation. You cannot enter the carinderia business with a love of food alone. Apart from finding a good supplier of ingredients and the right location, you also need to invest in the right equipment to make your job easier and your customers more comfortable. If you are wondering what appliances to purchase for your carinderia business, you may want to consider starting with the following items.
Refrigerator and Chiller
Finding refrigerators and chillers for sale should be at the top of your to-do list because you need a sturdy fridge and freezer to store your fresh produce, leftover ulam, and other perishables. With the Philippines’ hot weather, you cannot leave food products like meat and milk sitting out in the heat for too long as they will spoil or become contaminated with bacteria.
Besides buying a fridge with a large freezer capacity, you should also get a showcase chiller. This appliance will not only keep your beverages cold, but it will also make them more inviting to customers. Even those who do not plan to buy a soft drink may order one when they see the refreshing bottles of beverages in your chiller.
Gas Stove
Another essential purchase is a gas stove with at least four burners so that you can cook different types of ulam all at once. The best thing about opting for this equipment rather than an electric stove with heating elements is the savings. It is cheaper to buy LPG tanks than pay for electricity.
Moreover, a gas range with burners provides instant heating that you can readily adjust by merely looking at the flames. Turn the knob on, and you are ready to cook. No preheating or complicated adjustments are needed.
Rice Cooker
Heaping amounts of fluffy white rice is one of the trademarks of a beloved Filipino carinderia. Your business will not survive unless you satiate your hungry customers’ love for delicious steamed rice that goes well with any ulam.
While cooking on a stovetop may seem easy at home, preparing large portions of food can be tedious and a hit-or-miss. Instead of going through the trouble, it will be best to invest in a reliable commercial rice cooker. With this kitchen appliance, you are sure to serve perfectly cooked steaming hot rice every time.
Pressure Cooker
Most Filipino dishes are made with beef and pork because these meats are versatile and tasty. The only downside is that such animal proteins take too long to tenderize.
Fortunately, you can avoid the hassle and waiting time of preparing dishes like pork ribs sinigang or beef nilaga by using a pressure cooker. With the help of this dependable kitchen equipment, you’ll have tender beef and pork meats ready to serve in a few minutes instead of hours.
Microwave Oven
Saving time and energy is essential in any eatery business since you need to focus on several things all at once. This way, every dish will be ready before the peak hours. As such, you should include a microwave oven on your to-buy list.
Using the microwave oven is a hassle-free way to heat up sauces, defrost frozen meats and other food products, and reheat any ulam. When you have this cooking equipment, you can prepare a few dishes ahead of time, put them in the fridge, and pop them in the microwave before serving.
Electric Fans
It is practically impossible to operate a carinderia business in this climate without electric fans. Aside from making you and your customers uncomfortable, the hot weather is the mortal enemy of food businesses. Did you know that people tend to lose their appetite when they feel hot? If you want customers to eat a lot and enjoy their time in your place, you should install mounted fans or buy several units of stand fans to keep the surroundings cool and comfy.
Television
Most carinderia customers are not only looking for affordable meals to satisfy their hunger. They also want to relax and enjoy their short break. So, why not set your eatery apart from the competition by offering visual entertainment?
You can buy a smart TV and stream exciting shows and movies on Netflix, or maybe simply play a well-loved noontime TV show during lunch. You will most likely enjoy a loyal customer following with this strategy. Moreover, your customers will not become too impatient waiting for their orders, which means less stress for you and your staff.
The appliances above are just a few of the must-have items to run a successful carinderia business. When looking for the right equipment to invest in, make sure to consider the quality and durability of the units and not just the price. Or better yet, find an appliance center that offers high-quality products at reasonable prices. Either way, make it a point to buy appliances that can keep up with the brutal demands of your venture for many years.
