Imperial Range electric cooking equipment

The features and benefits of electric cooking equipment from Imperial Range

When deciding on what cooking equipment you will be using in your restaurant, there is one question that all restaurant owners and operators must ask regardless of their specific situation, and that question is: “gas or electric?”. The answer is dependent on several factors, and though for some the answer may be straight-forward, the answer usually depends on the kitchen the equipment will be operating in.

Although gas is less expensive than electricity, it does not necessarily mean it would be a better option in your specific foodservice application. For example, propane is often used in food trucks, but many food truck owners have to retrofit their trucks with high electrical outputs for refrigeration, and it may be easier to just plug an additional piece in and draw more electricity than to spend extra money adding propane tanks.

A leading manufacturer of electric cooking equipment is Imperial Range. Founded in 1957, Imperial Range is a family-owned company that supplies gas and electric equipment to commercial kitchens and foodservice operations.

Imperial electric products range from commercial ranges to deep fryers, to griddles. Below are a few highlights of these high-efficiency electric cooking equipment categories.

Electric ranges and ovens

Imperial electric ranges exude professional quality from the top shelf, to the cooktop, to the kick plate. Their use of heavy-grade stainless steel is a differentiating feature used on all exterior surfaces of their commercial ovens, keeping heat inside while providing added weight and strength to withstand a high-production kitchen environment.

Imperial understands that even temperature distribution and precise temperature control are critical factors in electric cooking. Traditional electric coils can render uneven temperature distribution, producing hot and cold spots. Imperial has chosen a different approach. Their 2-KW sealed round plate elements are flat and solid. This ensures complete contact with the bottom of the pan. Direct source-to-pan contact combined with sealing the elements also provides faster, even heating and easy-to-clean Teflon surfaces.

Imperial’s heating elements have a 9-inch diameter, the ideal size for 10- and 12-inch pans, the most commonly found in the foodservice industry. Their heating elements have independent infinite controls for precise temperature control, meaning the operator can select the heat for each element to achieve anything from a hard boil, to a delicate simmer or anything in between.

Imperial’s electric ovens are engineered to maintain consistent, accurate temperature throughout the cavity, attributes which define a professional-quality oven. Imperial uses a 5-KW serpentine element as the heat source. To further ensure even heating, a robust, highly sensitive thermostat monitors the temperature and controls the heating element.

To protect the element from spills, Imperial uses a heavy gauge metal splatter screen which is located directly above the heating element.

Imperial oven doors are fortified with a stamped liner that also improves heat retention directing the heat back into the cavity. The extra strength oven hinges are designed specifically for endurance, extending the lifetime of the oven door.

Electric fryers

Recovery times are important when it comes to fryers. The heating element in an electric model is submerged directly in the oil. Imperial electric fryers have two element styles. One is immersed permanently in the frypot and the other is a tilt-up option which allows for easier cleaning of the element and frypot. Both option types are located inside the stainless steel frypot, below the fry zone. Since the element does not heat the frypot before the oil, the process is much more efficient and makes recovery between fry cycles much quicker. Heating the oil quickly also results in less absorption of the oils and better tasting food.

Additionally, Imperial’s electric fryers feature a cold zone and forward sloping bottom to collect and remove debris from the fry area, helping maintain oil quality and making clean-up easier.

Optional features also include automatic stainless steel basket lifts and a high torque, heavy duty basket lift motor. Basket lift arms are also removable for ease of cleaning.

Electric griddles

The key to a great griddle is heat control across the griddle plate. The griddle plate on Imperial commercial griddles are 24 inches deep, which provides maximum cooking surface, increasing production capacity. Imperial uses highly polished steel griddle plates for a wide variety of cooking applications.

Imperial offers a chrome plated mirror finish plate which increases heat retention within the griddle plate to lower operating costs. It also controls the temperature across the griddle plate more evenly while reducing flavor transfer between foods.

The 4-inch tapered stainless steel splash guard serves a dual purpose. It protects nearby equipment while also keeping the heat in the cooking zone.

The burners on the snap action heavy duty griddles are U-shaped and located every 12 inches. This provides even heating across the plate and fast recovery. Another way they retain even heating across the plate is with aeration baffles located between each burner to deflect and spread the heat up and out across the bottom of the plate.

The full-length flue also works to distribute heat uniformly across the griddle surface.

Need help sourcing the right equipment for your establishment's power capacity? Call our sales team at 404-752-6715 or stop by our Norcross showroom at 6286 Dawson Blvd. NE in Norcross, GA 30093.

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