The catering industry is remarkably fast paced, with tight deadlines, expectations to multitask, and the inherent pressure to make sure everything runs like clockwork. In an industry like this, every piece of the puzzle matters—including having every single piece of equipment needed to do the job.
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With so many tasks to manage at once, it’s easy to let things slip your mind. That’s why having a thoughtfully developed catering equipment list makes such a difference.
The following catering equipment list details over 50 items you need for both essential and niche catering services, from core cooking and heating equipment to specialty equipment for specific scenarios, that you can add or remove depending on the nature of the event. Having this list ready to go fosters an organized setup and simplifies operations.
Essential Catering Equipment: 13 Items
No matter how big or small, complex or simple your next client’s event is, your catering staff needs the following items:
- Cooking and Heating Equipment:
1. Ranges: Useful for general cooking techniques like stir-frying, sautéing, searing, boiling, and grilling, and may even provide extra drawers for refrigerating and freezing.
2. Ovens: Suitable for broiling, warming, baking, and roasting.
3. Portable Cooktops: Hot plates, induction cookers, and warming plates which are useful if you have limited space or are cooking at an unconventional venue.
4. Specialty Equipment for Large Events: Need to cook big batches at once? Outdoor smokers, rotisserie ovens, large-capacity fryers, and industrial griddles ensure you’re able to serve large groups on time.
5. Specialty Equipment for Special Cuisines: Depending on the specific cuisine, you might want to source items like sous vide machines, crepe makers, tandoor ovens, woks, paella pans, and more to cook dishes effectively and authentically.
- Refrigeration and Storage:
6. Portable Refrigeration Units: Easy-to-maneuver units that can keep food within the correct temperature range during service.
7. Stationary Refrigeration Units: Freezers for frozen goods, walk-in coolers for large-scale events, and reach-in refrigerators to make ingredient-access easy.
8. Storage Containers: Source approach food-safe storage containers to prevent spoilage or keep goods dry. For temperature-controlled goods, choose insulated carriers that are designed to transport hot or cold food.
9. Chafing Dishes: To keep food warm in a buffet-style setting. Extremely common in large events and requested often by corporate catering clients.
10. Buffet Sets: Complete sets of items like trays, plates, and utensils for guests.
11. Serving Utensils: Utensils, such as tongs, ladles, scoops, carving knives, and spoons that are varied enough to accommodate several types of food.
12. Beverage Dispensers: Thermal dispensers, cocktail towers, glass dispensers with spigots, and others to suit a wide range of drinks.
13. Place Cards: Editable place cards (for easy changes) to communicate what each dish is for guests, as well as any specific diets each item aligns with.
Tip: Be sure to have a diverse amount of serving equipment at your disposal so you can adapt to a range of event styles.
Specialty Equipment for Outdoor and Offsite Catering
Occasionally, you may need to cater events that are hosted outdoors (night or day) and even head offsite where you won’t have access to a kitchen or facility. Here are the tools you need when serving such events:
- Outdoor Catering Essentials:
14. Portable Power Solutions: Outdoor lighting for both function and aesthetics and generators to run appliances, which are often forgotten about in an offsite catering equipment list for evening events.
15. Furniture and Shelter: Canopy tents to provide protection and shade and collapsible furniture for guests.
16. All-Weather Cooking Appliances: Smokers, griddles, camping stoves, induction cooktops, wood-fired ovens, and charcoal grills to provide a well-rounded experience.
- Offsite Catering Equipment List:
17. Shelter and Furniture: Collapsible furniture and canopy tents.
18. Transport and Storage Solutions: Food transport carts to transport dishes and ingredients together, insulated carriers, coolers, and ice chests, and labeling system and stackable bins to keep things in order.
19. Portable Bars: Mobile bar carts or folding bars can be set up anywhere and come with integrated storage and versatile designs.
Essential Food Preparation Tools
Food prep needs to be efficient without compromising on quality, and the next list of tools ensures you achieve exactly those kinds of results.
- Prep Surfaces and Utensils
20. Cutting Boards
21. Knives
22. Mixers
23. Peeler
24. Food Thermometer
25. Colander
26. Measuring Cups and Spoons
27. Baking Sheets
28. Tongs
29. Whisk
Because these items are commonly and frequently used in the kitchen for any type of food prep, you’ll want to purchase durable, high-quality variations and surfaces that withstand frequent use. For example, durable bamboo boards or carbon steel knives.
- Specialty Preparation Equipment
30. Immersion Blender
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31. Food Processor
32. Mandoline Slicer
33. Spiralizer
34. Mortar and Pestle
35. Ice Cream Maker
Specialty prep items serve a specific purpose in the kitchen, whether it’s for pureeing soups, shredding, precise slicing, or making homemade ice cream. This equipment may be available in compact versions or can double up in purpose to save space and increase efficiency.
Safety and Cleaning Equipment
You’re working with food—and that means food safety and cleanliness are number one. Here's the equipment you need to keep everything clean:
36. Thermometers: To check for food temperatures in storage and cooking.
37. Food-Grade Disposable Gloves: Protects staff, guests, and food from contamination.
38. First Aid Kits: In case of injury during food preparation.
39. Personal Protective Equipment: Hair nets, non-slip shoes, aprons, and chef hats, depending on the scenario.
40. Trash Bins with Lids: For proper waste disposal.
41. Disinfectant Wipes and Other Sanitizing Solutions: For sanitizing utensils, equipment, and surfaces to avoid cross-contamination.
42. Sanitizing Soak Solutions: To kill any bacteria or pathogens on equipment and utensils.
43. Brooms and Mops: To keep the kitchen and serving area clean from debris and food particles.
44. Sponges and Scouring Pads: Non-abrasive scouring pads for delicate cookware and glass, as well as heavy-duty scrubbers for tough scrubbing.
45. Trash Bags: Heavy-duty, odor-control trash bags that keep garbage smells from negatively impacting your staff or guests.
46. Paper Towels: To wipe hands after washing, and for drying and wiping down surfaces.
47. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products: Vinegar-based cleaners for food preparation areas, biodegradable all-purpose cleaners for surfaces, and biodegradable dish soap for safety.
Technology and Management Tools
The right communication and management tools will help any catering event run smoother and keep everyone on the same page. Here’s the equipment we recommend you invest in:
48. Software Solutions: Catering management software solutions are designed to be all-in-one hubs to manage your catering business. Such functionality includes managing everything from your kitchen inventory and order history to client bookings and marketing efforts.
The right catering management software will come with these features to optimize operations:
- Real-Time Tracking: To get a complete picture of how your stock levels and inventory look. Running low? You’ll know before it’s too late.
- Payment Processing: Clients should be able to book your services and pay you through the same platform.
- Reporting and Analytics: Get concrete information about your bookings and customer feedback so you’re well-prepared to make adjustments if needed.
- Cross-Platform Access: Make sure you’re able to manage your business on the go, no matter if you’re using a tablet, mobile device, or desktop.
- Collaboration Tools: Look for platforms that include customizable permissions for team members’ regular work responsibilities so they can access the right features within the platform, allowing them to view and edit relevant information when the need arises.
- Communication Tools: When an event is taking place, you’ll need multiple reliable communication methods for you and your staff. Ideally, both an instantaneous tool like a walkie-talkie system and an online messaging solution like Slack, , or simply a group text thread.
Having everyone on your team accustomed to these communication tools supports fast, efficient collaboration and makes it easier to handle last-minute changes. The more robust your complete communication system is, the more it improves teamwork and the overall quality of service you provide.
Get Ready to Take on Any Catering Event
With a well-thought-out catering equipment list, you’re fully prepared to tackle a spectrum of catering events. Whether outdoors or indoors, general menu or cuisine-specific, having the right tools for each occasion will improve the experience not just for your guests, but for you and your team.
Aside from the must-have cooking, refrigeration, storage, and serving equipment, you’ll want to include offsite and outdoor catering essentials in your repertoire, as well as safety and cleaning equipment to maintain hygiene standards. Add on management and communication tools like messaging apps and complete event management software, and you’ll be ready to exceed client expectations. Caterers should always review and update their equipment on a regular basis to keep up with industry standards.