The Answer Lies in the Level of Expected Usage
Time to buy a commercial microwave for your restaurant, food truck, gas station or the lunch room at a hospital, school or other business... should your business purchase an Amana commercial microwave with dial controls or a touch pad unit? It's a common question for restaurant owners, as well as businesses that allow customers/employees to utilize units.
Commercial microwaves don't receive the credit they deserve for allowing foodservice operations to produce large menus of food... and fast... from vegetables (asparagus, anyone?) and other sides like macaroni and cheese to crab legs and lobster.. all thanks to a steaming process.
Dial controls or touch pad? Back to the question. The answer depends on expected usage. After all, the specifications and features – including wattage – on Amana’s dial control microwaves are identical to those on key pad units. Warranties? All the same. The only difference in these microwaves is the click of a wrist versus the touch of a finger. And your decision should be based on expected usage.
Expecting higher wear-and-tear on a daily basis? Invest in a commercial microwave with a key pad. Why? It will last longer and handle rough usage from employees during a lunch or dinner rush.
Imagine your staff at a Mexican restaurant or sandwich shop. Due to high turnover in the foodservice industry, new employees start one day and leave the next. That’s why it’s harder to ensure proper handling of dial control commercial microwaves during dozens of daily usages (too many aggressive twists of the dial control may damage the unit).
However, commercial microwaves with dial controls may be a better investment if your operation expects a low amount of daily usage; for example, a small business. After all, commercial microwaves with dial controls are smaller investments.What’s considered the cutoff for high daily usage? Approximately 50 uses a day, said Hap Schneider, general sales manager at ACityDiscount. Schneider recommends key pad controls for all restaurant operations.
What size commercial microwave should your restaurant purchase? Here’s an example of intended usage:
Medium Duty: 1,200-1,500 watts
Usage example: Steam crab legs and vegetables, melt cheese dip, cook asparagus, warm macaroni & cheese, pastries
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Heavy Duty: 1,800 watts
Usage example: Steam lobster and vegetables, produce higher production of medium duty usage examples
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