Fast Fix LLC.

Restaurant equipment is one of the most costly factors of opening a restaurant or other commercial kitchen business. In the event something happens to your equipment, it will take a big chunk of change to replace it. Therefore, it's in your best interest as the restaurant owner to make sure that the equipment lasts as long as possible. In today's blog from your favorite Missouri restaurant equipment maintenance company , you'll discover some best practices for extending the life of your equipment. 1. Properly Cleaning Your Restaurant Equipment.  The single best thing you can do to ensure a longer life for your equipment is to keep it clean. This requires daily cleaning of all your restaurant equipment. Depending on the type of equipment, you should clean it either after every use or at the end of the work day. Regular cleaning will prevent food, grime, dust and rust from building up on your equipment components. This will keep your equipment running effectively and e...

You can't run a restaurant without some type of refrigeration unit. Refrigeration is important for keeping foods fresh, and it's critical that the refrigeration unit is working properly to maintain optimal temperatures. Today's blog discusses some signs that show it's time to call a restaurant equipment repair technician in Missouri . 1. Spoiled Food.  Spoiled food likely means that the refrigeration unit is not maintaining the proper temperature. If your refrigeration unit seems warmer than normal, it's time to call in a professional. First check that the thermostat didn't accidentally get set to the wrong temperature. If the thermostat is set correctly, you might have an issue with the door gaskets, a broken fan or a malfunctioning temperature sensor. Your technician will be able to address the issue and get your unit back up and running properly so food doesn't spoil anymore. 2. A Water Leak.  Watch for puddles around your refrigeration unit. W...

Christmas is almost here, and that means some delicious holiday foods. Whether you're eating at home or heading out to one of your favorite restaurants this holiday season, we hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends. In the spirit of Christmas, Fast Fix LLC wanted to share with you some fun facts about holiday foods. Holiday Food Fun Facts  1. Approximately 22 million people in the United States eat turkey for Christmas dinner. At Medieval Christmas feasts however, turkey was not the main dish. Instead, peacock was actually served on Christmas. Boat was also a Christmas mainstay during that era. It wasn't until Henry VIII had turkey for Christmas in the 16th century that it became the norm. 2. Mince pies date back to medieval times, if not earlier. Typically, these pies included minced meat, suet, fruits, nuts and spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. The pie was originally crustless, but over time the crust was added. Today, the minced meat usually ...

Managing a restaurant kitchen can be a challenge. From ensuring everyone is doing their jobs to making sure people are getting along and working together, a managers job is never ending. In today's blog, Fast Fix LLC offers a few tips to make managing your kitchen staff a little easier. 1. Provide Proper Job Training. The first and most important step in managing kitchen staff in a restaurant is providing proper training. Different restaurants run differently, and you want to make sure that everyone working in your kitchen is on the same page. Be sure to provide adequate training before letting new employees jump in. In addition, provide continued training and education to ensure even the seasoned staff doesn't lose sight of how things are to be done. Having a well-trained staff, who sees the possibility to progress in the business and develop their skills, will only help the restaurant. 2. Set Clear Job Expectations. As a restaurant manager, you need to make sure ...

The food-service equipment in your commercial kitchen is vital to the success of each breakfast, lunch and/or dinner shift. Without proper working equipment, it's difficult to continue food production as normal. Some equipment may be easily fixed with the help of the operating manual, while other issues may require calling in a professional like Fast Fix LLC . Below are a few common instances where you'd want to consider calling a professional restaurant equipment repair technician in Missouri . 1. The Commercial Oven Isn't Cooking Food Properly.  Whether the oven isn't getting hot enough or it's cooking meals unevenly, you're going to have a problem producing food to keep your customers happy. These two issues are usually due to a problem with the thermostat. It could be installed improperly, need to be re-calibrated or need replaced altogether. Another common problem we see is the pilot light not staying on. This could be the result of a malfunctioning ...

As a restaurant owner, you know the importance of your commercial food-service equipment. In order to continue running a successful business, you have to have equipment that works efficiently. If a certain piece of equipment breaks down, some menu items would be difficult or impossible to continue producing. Therefore, it's important to have a trusted restaurant equipment repair company's number on hand! Today's blog focuses on the values of Fast Fix LLC and how we can help you with all your Missouri and Western Illinois restaurant equipment repair needs. Honest. Reliable. Professional.  At Fast Fix LLC, we pride ourselves on three core values: honesty, reliability and professionalism. Our mission follows the "Golden Rule" of treating our customers the way we would want to be treated. Our technicians are professional in work and appearance. We keep abreast of this ever changing profession by sending our techs to schools as new equipment and technology evolv...

When opening a restaurant, you have a lot of decisions to make. From the dining room furniture to the menu options, there's a lot of planning that goes on. One of the most important decisions you need to make is what commercial kitchen equipment to purchase. With so many choices, where do you start? Today's blog from Fast Fix LLC offers a few considerations for when you're looking at restaurant equipment. New vs. Used  One of the largest expenses associated with opening a restaurant is the commercial kitchen equipment. Purchasing used equipment is a great way to save on some of your start-up costs, but it has its pros and cons. Aside from costing less, used equipment is often times in pretty good shape because of the high failure of new restaurants. Many used pieces have only been in service for a year or two, and if you can get multiple pieces of equipment from the same dealer, you can often negotiate a bundle price or get a freebie thrown in. The downside of buying ...

The temperature at which foods are stored can affect their appearance, taste, nutrient content and most importantly their safety. In the restaurant industry, food safety is extremely important. If you serve your customers bad food, they won't be coming back and you'll be out of business. Not only that, but the food service industry regulations are super strict. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of storing your food at the proper temperatures, and how to do that with the help of Fast Fix LLC . The Purpose of Refrigeration A refrigerator is used to keep foods at a cooler temperature in order to slow down the growth of bacteria. A freezer, however, is intended to completely stop the growth of bacteria. On average, commercial refrigeration operates between 36°F and 45°F. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that refrigerated products must be kept at 41°F or lower. Maintaining Proper Refrigeration Temperatures  Commercial refrigera...

The kids aren't in school anymore and that means more opportunities for the entire family to eat out! Is your restaurant ready for the increased number of customers? Today's blog from your Missouri restaurant equipment repair professionals focuses on prepping your commercial kitchen for the summer season. 1. Start Your Deep Cleaning Tasks Now. Many Missouri restaurants are extra busy during the summer months, and that means less time to dedicate to cleaning. It's important to get the large, deep cleaning tasks out of the way now. In the middle of the summer, you're not going to have the time to do those things unless you stay long after closing time. Get those major cleaning tasks done now, and then clean as you go throughout the summer to avoid letting dirt and grime build up. 2. Organize Your Walk-In and Pantry Shelves. During a lunch rush, you're not going to have time to sort through food items until you find the right one. You'll want to get ever...

One important piece of equipment in most commercial kitchens is the ice machine. You don't want to be serving your customers warm drinks, and if smoothies or iced coffees are your specialty, you're going to need lots of ice. This piece of equipment is also one of the most abused in restaurants, especially bars. Today's blog from your favorite Missouri restaurant equipment repair company discusses a few do's and don'ts for your commercial ice machine. Keep it working in tip-top shape by following these tips. Commerical Ice Machine Do's  1. DO Adjust Production When Needed.  One of the easiest ways to increase the life of your ice machine is to monitor production and adjust it when needed. You'll likely need more ice in the hot summer months than you will during the cold winter season. By predicting how much ice you will need and adjusting the production, you'll save on energy costs throughout the year. Another thing to consider is only having it...

The summer season is just around the corner, and that means the weather is bound to get hot! Regulating the temperature in a restaurant can be difficult. You need to make sure you're staff if the kitchen is comfortable, while also ensuring your dining guests aren't too hot or too cold. Along with ensuring all your food-service equipment is in proper working order, Fast Fix LLC also has experience maintaining commercial HVAC units in Missouri and Western Illinois and can make sure yours is in optimal working condition for the warm summer months ahead. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of an efficient HVAC system, and how that will help with the comfort level of your restaurant. Restaurant Air Conditioning Challenges From dish washing to cooking, food preparation areas produce a significant amount of humidity.  However, it's important that the humidity doesn't transfer out into the dining area, where guests and staff want a comfortable environment...