Commercial Kitchen Equipment Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the specs that decide which equipment you buy — BTU, kW, R-290, ENERGY STAR, stainless gauge, condenser type, and more — with what each one means on a real spec sheet.
BTU (British Thermal Unit)A BTU is the energy needed to raise one pound of water 1°F. In foodservice, gas equipment …kW (Kilowatt) RatingA kilowatt (kW) is 1,000 watts of electrical power. Electric foodservice equipment is rate…R-290 Refrigerant (Propane)R-290 is purified propane used as a natural refrigerant in self-contained commercial refri…ENERGY STAR (Commercial Kitchen)ENERGY STAR is a U.S. EPA/DOE certification identifying equipment in the most energy-effic…Ice Capacity (lb/day)Ice production is rated in pounds of ice made per 24 hours (lb/day), measured under standa…NSF CertificationNSF certification (to standards like NSF/ANSI 2, 4, and 7) means foodservice equipment mee…Stainless Steel GaugeGauge is the thickness of sheet steel — and it runs backwards: a lower gauge number is thi…304 vs. 430 Stainless Steel304 and 430 are the two stainless grades common in foodservice. 304 (18/8) contains nickel…Condenser Type (Air, Water, Remote)The condenser rejects the heat a refrigeration or ice system removes. Air-cooled condenser…Voltage, Phase & AmperageElectric equipment lists voltage (120/208/240V), phase (single or three-phase), and ampera…Type I vs. Type II HoodKitchen exhaust hoods come in two classes. A Type I hood captures grease-laden vapor and s…ADA Compliance (Sinks & Fixtures)ADA-compliant sinks and fixtures meet the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility st…Static vs. Forced-Air RefrigerationRefrigerators cool by one of two methods. Static (gravity-coil) cooling lets cold air fall…CFM (Airflow)CFM is cubic feet per minute — the volume of air a fan or hood moves each minute. In comme…