For businesses wanting to offer a flawless flavor experience, the preparation stage is as critical as the cooking process. At this point, pizza prep units, which provide speed and practicality in the preparation process of dough products such as pizza, pita, and lahmacun, allow for mass production without breaking the cold chain. The upper Gastronorm compatible well, which ensures ingredients are kept at hand and fresh, and the large storage area at the bottom gather the kitchen workflow in a single station. Thanks to its stainless steel body structure resistant to intense kitchen tempo and its ergonomic design, it minimizes chefs' preparation time and increases service performance.
Designed to make existing workspaces more functional and create extra cooling space in narrow kitchens, countertop pizza prep units offer a practical solution with their compact structures. Easily placed on any marble counter or work bank, these models ensure that pizza and pita ingredients are stored hygienically in standard gastronorm pans within the +2°C to +8°C range. Countertop prep cabinets, which keep ingredients fresh without drying them out thanks to the static cooling system, ensure food safety with glass protection panels at the front while creating a stylish and clean display opportunity for the customer.
Counter type make-up refrigerators, which combine preparation, storage, and production processes in a single station, are the basic need of high-capacity professional kitchens. The granite or marble worktop, which allows the dough to be opened easily without sticking and shaped without heating up, offers an ideal ground for chefs. While the refrigerated well pool at the top keeps all garnishes at hand, the large internal volume and shelved cooler cabinets in the lower section allow fermented dough balls and spare stocks to be stored without spoiling. Stainless steel body and strong insulation features make these units long-lasting and high-performance industrial kitchen fixtures.
Pizza prep unit prices vary widely depending on the dimensions of the device, material quality, and the functional features it possesses. The determining factor in pricing is whether the product is a countertop model or a counter type model with a refrigerated storage area underneath. Especially the thickness of the granite or marble table used on the work surface, stainless steel body quality, and the energy efficiency of the cooling system directly affect the costs.
In pizza prep units, manufacturers such as Öztiryakiler, Empero, and Dampak are among the brands that set the standards in the industrial kitchen sector with the innovative designs and high-performance cooling technologies they develop.
Question: What is the difference between a pizza prep unit and standard refrigerated counters?
Answer: Pizza prep units have a granite or marble work surface specially designed for the dough rolling process. In addition, there is an integrated well pool at the top of the counter that keeps pizza ingredients cold. While standard cabinets only provide storage, these units combine preparation and storage in a single point.
Question: Why should a granite or marble table be preferred?
Answer: Natural stone materials have the feature of retaining coldness. This feature prevents the dough from heating up and fermenting early during the rolling process and minimizes the risk of the dough sticking to the counter. It is also very easy to clean thanks to its hygienic and smooth structure.
Question: What is the ideal operating temperature range?
Answer: Pizza prep cabinets are generally set to operate in the range of +2°C to +8°C to maintain the freshness of ingredients and prevent bacterial growth. This temperature can be optimized according to ambient conditions via digital thermostats.
Question: What are the lower cabinet parts of the device used for?
Answer: The refrigerated cabinets or drawers at the bottom are used to store fermented dough balls and spares of ingredients that may run out in the upper well. In this way, the chef can quickly replenish ingredients during service without having to go to the kitchen's storage room.
Question: What should be considered in cleaning and maintenance?
Answer: Granite/marble surfaces should be cleaned with non-acidic damp cloths, and stainless steel surfaces should be wiped with food-grade surface cleaners. Keeping the condenser part free of dust and ensuring air circulation is not blocked is the most important maintenance rule that extends the life of the device.
Question: Should a countertop prep unit or a counter type be chosen?
Answer: If there is already a neutral work counter in the kitchen and only an ingredient cooling area is needed, countertop models are an economical and practical solution. However, if a station is being set up from scratch, counter type models offering both workspace and storage are more suitable for operational flow.
Question: Is the electricity consumption of the devices high?
Answer: New generation pizza prep cabinets have low energy consumption thanks to their polyurethane insulation bodies and high energy efficiency compressors. However, keeping the upper well cover closed when not in use and placing the device away from heat sources such as ovens is important for energy saving.
