To help you understand the requirements of a school kitchen, we’ve put together this school catering buying guide. We’ve covered what catering equipment is needed for schools, the school food equipment you’ll need to create popular recipes and the cleaning and storage solutions you require.
We understand that designing a school kitchen is a complex process because we’ve partnered with schools across the country for over 50 years.
Refrigeration
Commercial fridges will help you keep the food you’re preparing fresh. Whether you choose a counter fridge or an upright fridge will depend on the number of portions you need to serve each day. Generally though, the majority of schools need an upright fridge.
Due to their vast internal capacities, upright fridges are a favourite of large-scale catering establishments like schools. In a school kitchen, multiple chefs will need access to food while cooking and preparing dishes. Depending on the access you require, you can decide between single door, double door or slimline fridges.
However, if the design of your commercial kitchen means you’re struggling for space, then several commercial counter fridges may be a better option for you. These can either be integrated in an under-counter capacity, or you can opt for a 2-in-1 refrigerator-worktop solution that offers you additional surface space for food preparation. Thanks to their versatile racking systems, commercial counter fridges can offer just as much capacity as an upright fridge.
Finally, if you’re preparing large batches of food in advance, then you may also need to invest in a blast chiller. This can reduce food from 90ºC to 3ºC in less than 90 minutes, ensuring you exceed food safety legislation and achieve HACCP compliance.
Freezers
When it comes to commercial freezers for a school kitchen, upright, under-counter and chest options are available. The best option for your school kitchen will depend on the space you have available and the amount of food you need to freeze on-site.
JLA Active Freeze freezers offer simplified storage, with simple cleaning thanks to durable stainless steel design and flexible tray slide-in for when your needs or menus change.
Dishwashers
In a busy school kitchen, speed, simplicity, reliability and wash quality are all vital. Thankfully, commercial dishwashers can make sure dishes never pile up.
Passthrough dishwashers
Passthrough dishwashers are ideal for high-volume school and college kitchens where efficiency and hygiene are paramount. Designed for fast throughput, they allow trays, plates, and utensils to be cleaned quickly and effectively.
The ergonomic design, typically paired with tabling systems, ensures smooth workflow and minimises manual handling. With robust construction and advanced wash cycles, passthrough dishwashers deliver consistent results while meeting strict food safety standards.
Undercounter dishwashers
Undercounter dishwashers provide a compact solution for smaller school kitchens or areas with limited space. Positioned conveniently beneath worktops, they offer quick and efficient cleaning for crockery and cutlery without disrupting kitchen operations.
It is important to ensure you use commercial-grade machines, which combine powerful wash performance with ease of use, making them suitable for light-to-medium workloads.
Food warmers
Finally, you also need to consider the kitchen furniture you’ll need to incorporate into the design of your school kitchen. Modular worktops, stands and pedestals can all be used to maximise prep and storage space while also complementing your other school food equipment.
Kitchen furniture
Finally, you also need to consider the kitchen furniture you’ll need to incorporate into the design of your school kitchen. Modular worktops, stands and pedestals can all be used to maximise prep and storage space while also complementing your other school food equipment.
Commercial ovens
The one thing that the majority of these meals have in common is that they can be prepared in bulk and served in large batches. Similarly, almost all of these meals can be cooked using convection ovens and combination ovens before being stored in a Bain Marie or hot cupboard until the children arrive.
Range and convection ovens
Commercial range ovens provide multiple cooking surfaces and oven space, allowing staff to prepare different dishes simultaneously, which is ideal for varied school menus.
Convection ovens use circulating hot air to cook food evenly and faster than traditional ovens, helping schools serve large numbers of students efficiently while maintaining consistent quality. Both options are durable, easy to operate, and cost-effective, making them practical solutions for educational environments.
Combi ovens
Combi ovens are an ideal solution for school kitchens because they combine versatility, efficiency, and health benefits in one appliance. They allow staff to steam, bake, roast, and regenerate food quickly, ensuring a wide variety of nutritious meals and promote healthy eating.
By cooking faster and preserving nutrients, combi ovens help schools serve large numbers of students within short lunch periods while reducing energy costs and saving valuable kitchen space. Their programmable settings guarantee consistent results, and built-in cleaning systems improve hygiene and safety, making them a cost-effective choice for educational environments.
Popular meals and the school food equipment they require
In modern schools, there’s a huge focus on supplying children with healthy and nutritious meals. This means that few popular recipes include the need for specialist pieces of equipment like fryers.
Now, popular school meals include:
- Pies made with high-quality meat or poultry
- Jacket potatoes
- Meatballs in tomato sauce
- Baked salmon with herbs and rice
- Vegetarian nuggets and wedges
- Cottage pie with vegetables
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Roast dinners with vegetables
- Lasagne with chips and salad
- Beef burritos
- Burger in a bun with chips and salad
- Cheese and vegetable pasta
- Fish and chips
- Sausage and mash
Full kitchen installations
We know how important it is for schools to have kitchens that can deliver healthy, nutritious meals efficiently and safely. That’s why we provide a complete, end-to-end design service tailored to the education sector from concept to handover.
Whether you’re planning a new build, refurbishment, or extension, our team works closely with school leaders, architects, and contractors to create spaces that meet compliance standards and supports high-volume catering.
How JLA can help
We hope you’ve enjoyed our school catering buying guide. Partner with us and you’ll benefit from over 50 years of experience. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you set up a school kitchen that suits staff members, pupils and kitchen staff alike. Our experts would love to help deliver the critical equipment solution that’s right for you
Download the JLA education sector brochure
Take a look at our detailed brochure for more information on how JLA can help the education sector.
- An overview on how JLA can help the education sector
- Sustainability and ESG
- Laundry, catering, HVAC and fire safety products
- Digital support
- Network of engineers
- Purchase options, including Total Care
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