The value of preparation can never be understated, especially in the food industry. For this reason, prep tables are considered one of the cornerstones of a commercial bakery or food production plant.
Prep tables can be made from a variety of materials, but one of the most common, hygienic and cost-effective is stainless steel. Stainless steel is an alloy that’s resistant to corrosion and bacteria, which makes it the best sanitary and anti-corrosive material on the market.
Types of Stainless Steel
There are four types of stainless steel currently available.
Due to its resistance to stress corrosion and cracking, ferritic stainless steel is commonly used as material for coins, slate hooks, and lower-cost kitchenware. Ferritic stainless steel became an attractive substitute because it was cheaper than other types of stainless steel.
Austenitic stainless steel is the most common type of stainless steel. Weldable by all processes, austenitic stainless steel can maintain its form in extreme temperatures and be hardened and tempered using high heat or other ways of aging.
Duplex stainless steel has an almost equal proportion of austenite and ferrite in the alloy, hence the name. The alloy is designed to be better resistant to corrosion and has a higher strength compared to the standard austenitic stainless steel. Application of duplex stainless steel is seen in architectural structures like the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the La Sagrada de Familia in Barcelona, the Helix Bridge in Singapore, among others.
With its corrosion resistance and durability, stainless steel materials make lasting prep tables that are part of an efficient working kitchen.
Types of Stainless Steel Tables
One type of stainless steel table available in the market today is the food processing table. A versatile stainless steel prep table, the food processing table is durable and completely customizable depending on your application requirements, commercial kitchen layout, workflow and workspace available.
Another potential addition to the kitchen or preparation space is the customizable shelf table. Typically used in commercial bakeries and food preparation areas, the table is designed to have a large staging area and a shelf that can be used to stack materials. Aside from the specs, the shelf table can be custom made with different accessories to make it more functional.
For food operations involving packing goods, the packing operation table should come in handy. The table specs depend on your requirements to ensure the equipment matches the needs of the kitchen.
The standard commercial table is a versatile table that provides either additional storage or a bigger food preparation area. It is heavy-duty, and customizable depending on the kitchen’s requirement.
For frozen food and products that need to be kept at a specific temperature and easily within reach, the frozen produce processing table does the job. The table includes a drain, a set of walls, and an opening where products could be easily placed on it. As with other tables, the frozen produce processing table can be customized depending on the requirement.
We also cater to the needs of pet food manufacturers. Our pet food processing table is perfect for prepping, processing and basting delicious, nutritious food for pets and ensuring your pet food production line runs smoothly and efficiently.
Other Stainless Steel Products
We offer a variety of stainless steel products, aside from stainless steel prep tables:
The stainless steel nesting oven rack, for example, can slot directly into carousel ovens, or ovens with Baxter-style lifts.
Known for their durability, the stainless steel single pan rack, double pan rack, and the stainless steel double oven rack are designed and fabricated all-welded to maintain the material’s integrity. Fasteners are attached to heavy-duty casters for greater stability and easier mobility.
We also customize stainless steel sinks for specific configuration requirements that are heavy-duty, sanitary and easy to clean.
Opting for pallets made from aluminum or stainless steel resolves issues on sanitation and contamination, because these are materials that are easy to clean and guaranteed not to rust.
We got the design idea of our stainless steel meat tote cart from one client who produces hand-made pizzas and gourmet sandwiches. Dripping pans are attached on the top and middle shelves to catch water dripping from plastic totes filled with meat and ice.
Both our lug rack and our five-shelf double lug rack (as seen here) are great to use in food processing settings because of the plastic lugs that can carry different kinds of material inside. It can also easily be pushed around with heavy-duty casters attached to the foot of the racks. Just like the other products, these racks are welded entirely to ensure durability.
Choosing a Stainless Steel Prep Table for Your Food Facility
To ensure that your stainless steel prep table functions effectively in your bakery, commercial kitchen, meat processing plant or restaurant, it’s really important that the layout of your work space is planned carefully. Determining the size and kind of equipment needed for your specific requirements will allow you to gauge the size of the work table or rack that’s needed to complement it.
Before buying, determine how the stainless steel prep table will be used, so you can pick the best steel to fit your needs.
Get advice from experts by scheduling an on-site visit from your prep table fabricator. Identify what add-ons that can be installed at stainless steel prep tables to maximize its use.
Conclusion
The key to choosing the right stainless steel prep table depends on getting the right supplier to do the job. Here at Schaumburg Specialties, we work with our clients so they get exactly what they need. Each kitchen or workspace is unique. We guarantee that our products need less maintenance because of superior craftsmanship. Call us today at 800-834-8125, and let’s talk about racks and tables.