Food Preparation Buyer Guide

Can Openers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Three types of can openers are sold by Burkett: hand size can openers easy for transport and storage, heavy duty table style can openers which are attached to a table and electric can openers. Burkett sells Edlund, Nemco, Thunder Group, Tablecraft and Focus.

A meat grinder, or meat mincer, is a culinary tool for grinding meat. Several varieties of the tool are available, although most people conjure the image of a hand-powered grinder which is cranked. Burkett carries Electric Meat Grinders. Meat Grinders can also be found as attachments on Food Mixers.

Most meat grinders function by forcing the meat against and through small holes as it is cut.

Used to produce dough used in preparing foods. Mixers are available in either 7qt, 10qt, 20qt, 30qt, 40qt, 60qt, or 80qt sizes. Come with a mixing bowl, wire whisk, dough hook, and spatula. Available in Countertop or Floor form.

Food Processors are capable of processing, cutting, and mixing vegetables, fruits, doughs, meats, and sauces in a fraction of the time it would take if these functions were performed manually. The size of the food service operation, menu items and the number of meals served to determine the requirements of selection and sizing of the appropriate food processor. Schools, hospitals, restaurants, correctional facilities, and catering operations all have different food processing requirements.

Vegetable processing encompasses slicing, grating, shredding, dicing, and preparing julienne and french fry cuts.

Vacuum Packing Machines are used for storing food and presenting it for sale. Food is stored in an airless environment to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Vacuum packaging allows for a special cooking method called Sous-vide meaning "under vacuum" in French and involves poaching food that is vacuum-sealed in a plastic bag.

Slicers are used in foodservice operations that require freshly sliced products (i.e. deli meat and cheese for sandwiches, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and other products for various uses). There are three basic categories of slicers. The compact series, the heavy-duty series, and the heavy-duty models with additional safety/operator convenience features. The type of slicer a customer will need depends on the type of product they slice; the quantity sliced per day and the overall amount of time per day spent using the machine. It is important that you get the correct type of slicer for the application. This will ensure that the unit will perform to the customer's satisfaction and last much longer.

Slicers come in either Manual or Automatic. Manual Slicers are the most economical ranging from 8" to 12" blade sizes. Automatic Slicers can be used in either manual or automatic mode. Automatic Slicers save time and labor. Supermarkets are currently the majority user for the Heavy Duty Slicers with additional safety/operator convenience features.

Vegetable Cutters and Cheese Slicers consist of Cheese Slicers, Lettuce Cutters, Onion Cutters, Potato Cutters and Tomato Cutters. Many are used to various lengths of cutting degree to get the most preferred slice of food, typically 3/16", 5/16", 1/4", 1/8", 3/8" and 1/2" cuts. Some may have interchangable blades that you may purchase.

Potato Cutters are usually used for creating the French Fry or Spiral Fry and Potato Wedge. Potato Cutters have table-mounted manual fry presses with a range of 3/8", 1/4" and 1/2" to a 6 and 8 cut potato wedge. You may purchase various size Cutting Frame sizes and Cutter Pusher Blocks to various size cuts of fries.