Fast Fix LLC.

It may feel too early to start thinking about the fall season, but when you are in the restaurant industry, it’s never too early! When it comes to planning out a menu and tweaking items for the seasons, starting now will give you a headstart, and an ordering plan. Pumpkin generally takes the lead in the fall, but there are so many other flavors that are brimming with spice and heartiness. Check out these delicious ingredient choices that you may want to add to your menu to add some fun. Apples So … apples are basically the old pumpkin. They are the official fruit of fall, so they really will never go out of style. In just a few short weeks, these flavorful fruits will be hitting the farmer’s markets and roadside stands, so it’s the perfect time to make your connections, place your orders and get ready for the season. Apples are great for pies, kinds of butter, sauces, and more. You can use the apple flavor for steaming hot drinks or unique appetizers. Beer While ice cold bee...

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 ...

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 ...

Have you ever noticed how draught drinks always taste a little bit different everywhere you go? Not something we really want to think about when ordering a drink, but a lot of the reason is based on the maintenance of the tap system. How well-maintained or how often a tap system is maintained can have a major effect on the taste factor of the product. So what are some ways you can ensure your restaurant equipment in the Missouri and western Illinois area is producing the best quality draughts for your patrons? Fast Fix LLC has a list of things that you should be checking regularly to make sure your tap system is consistently at its best. Is Coldest Really Best? Roughly 90% of draught problems are temperature related. Typically kegs should be stored at a temperature ranging between 36-38℉. The lines should be insulated or refrigerated to maintain flow temperature. If the temperature is too warm, this could cause the flow to be too fast and cause excessive foam and a bad taste. I...

Restaurant kitchens operate quite differently than your kitchen at home. Restaurants produce mass amounts of food each day, and while you may have any army to feed at home, you likely don't need everything you'd find in a commercial kitchen. In today's blog, Fast Fix LLC discusses a few differences between your kitchen at home and the commercial kitchen at your favorite restaurant down the street. 1. Kitchen Layout One major difference between residential and commercial kitchens is that commercial kitchens are designed with functionality and workflow in mind. Often times a commercial kitchen staff will consist of several people working together to push out a large amount of orders in a little amount of time. In order for this team effort to be effective, the flow of the layout has to allow for efficient task completion. Residential kitchens do not require such functionality since generally you're not cooking for hundreds of people at home.  2. Appliances ...

As a restaurant owner, you have a lot of things to worry about. Honestly though, what things should you be worrying about and what things should be left to a manager? While you may need to fill in occasionally in emergency situations, you shouldn't be working the line, prepping food, taking orders or cleaning regularly. As the owner, you have other responsibilities that you need to be focusing on to run a successful restaurant. In today's blog, Fast Fix LLC takes a look at 3 things that restaurant owners should be focusing on. 1. The Numbers As the owner, it's your job to create a budget for your restaurant. Having a budget and sticking to it is critical in the food service industry. A budget will allow you to be proactive rather than reactive, and is a key to being profitable. You need to make sure that you're making more than you're spending. The budget will allow you to examine how you're operating, determine what systems are working and what systems ...

In order to avoid costly repairs, its important you maintain your commercial ovens. Ovens are an integral part of any kitchen and keeping them in proper working condition will keep your business running smoothly. Fast Fix LLC is here to provide you with some tips and advice on keeping your commercial ovens and ranges in tip-top shape! Cleaning Your Commercial Ovens The best way to maximize the life of your kitchen appliances is to keep them clean. The same principle applies to your commercial ovens and ranges. Cleaning as you go will help you avoid baked on food and liquids, which are much harder to clean. Obviously, you're not going to be able to clean a spill inside the oven until after it's cooled, but if something does spill be sure to clean it up before the next use of the oven. As for the range, you can wipe up spills on the stove top when they happen. For food that gets down under the burners, you'll want to wait until the burner cools and remove it so you ca...

The restaurant business revolves around food. Preparing food, cooking food, serving food, cleaning up food, the list of food related restaurant duties goes on and on. When it comes to preparing food commercially, it's extremely important to keep food safety in mind. Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with how their food is being prepared and whether or not it's safe to eat. In today's blog, Fast Fix LLC offers some food safety tips for you to keep in mind when running a commercial kitchen. 1. Wash Your Hands. One of the most important things to remember when working in a commercial kitchen is to keep your hands clean. One of the main culprits of foodborne illnesses is dirty hands. Obviously you need to wash them anytime you go to the bathroom, leave the kitchen, touch doorknobs, etc. However, you also need to wash your hands when dealing with different foods to avoid cross-contamination. In addition to washing your hands, you should wash meat and vegetab...

As a restaurant owner, the cost of food is one thing that's always on your mind. You can't really run a restaurant without food. Have you ever thought about the amount of money that's thrown out with the garbage each year? While a little leftover food at the end of the night might not seem like much, those costs can add up quickly. Keep reading for 7 ways to reduce food waste in your kitchen from Fast Fix LLC . 1. Don't Overbuy Fresh Produce.  Providing quality, fresh food to customers is something every restaurant should strive for. The unfortunate thing about fresh produce is that is can spoil quickly. If a produce vendor has a huge sale, it's tempting to purchase extra. However, if you buy more than you'll be able to use before it spoils, your attempt to save money will have resulted in money wasted. 2. Inspect All Food Orders Upon Arrival.  The worst thing that can happen when it comes to purchasing mass amounts of food from vendors is finding ou...

Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to avoid needing major food-service equipment repair in Missouri and Western Illinois. At Fast Fix LLC , we offer maintenance agreements on an individual basis. An information list is available outlining what we do to promote the health of your commercial kitchen. Here are a few of the types of businesses we service on a regular basis: Major Restaurants  When you think of food-service equipment, the most popular business that might need our services would definitely be restaurants. No matter what type of food you prepare at your restaurant, you're going to need equipment to either store the food before it's ready to be used or to actually cook the food that you'll be serving. From fryers and grills to commercial refrigeration units and prep tables, restaurants require a lot of kitchen equipment and that equipment, no matter how great the brand or how expensive, will eventually need some maintenance or repair.  School Di...

Cleanliness is one of the most important aspects of working at a restaurant. Not only do you have to keep it clean to pass inspection, but keeping your restaurant equipment clean will help extend it's life and help you avoid costly food-service equipment repairs in Missouri . Here are a few tips for keeping your restaurant kitchen clean: 1. Assign Cleaning Tasks to Employees. Make a list of the cleaning tasks that need to be completed daily, weekly and monthly. Then assign each of those tasks to different employees. Be sure all employees know exactly what is expected of them. Keep a checklist for everyone to follow to make sure each cleaning task has been completed. The quality of your restaurant is dependent on everyone doing their part. 2. Clean Throughout the Day. Certain cleaning responsibilities should be completed multiple times a day. The grill for example, should be brushed down between orders. Prep areas should be kept tidy and cutting boards should be changed ...

When it comes to running a restaurant, things wouldn't go as smoothly without a commercial dishwasher. On holidays and other busy weekends, its imperative that you have clean dishes. If your dishwasher is malfunctioning, you're going to have trouble staying on top of orders and running an effective kitchen. Let's take a look at a few signs that your dishwasher may need to be repaired: 1. You've run the dishwasher, but the dishes are not coming out clean.  The point of a dishwasher is cleaning dishes so that you don't have to do them by hand. If they're coming out dirty, that kind of defeats the purpose. While the problem could be that you didn't stack the dishes the right way or didn't use enough detergent, there could be a bigger issue that requires repair from a food-service equipment maintenance company in Missouri or Western Illinois. 2. Dirty water is not draining from your dishwasher.  There's a common misconception that water pool...

When you own a restaurant, the efficiency of your food-service equipment has a direct impact on the success of your business. You know that restaurant equipment doesn't last forever, but how do you know if it needs replaced or just repaired? If you answer yes to any of the following questions, it might be time to consider replacing your restaurant equipment: 1. Are Your Equipment Repair Costs Adding Up?  If you're constantly having to call in a Missouri restaurant equipment repair technician, it might be time to bite the bullet and purchase new equipment. While individual repairs might not cost as much as a newer model, those costs can add up quickly. You don't want your repair costs eventually adding up to more money than what it would have cost you to just replace it. 2. Has Your Equipment Become Extremely Inefficient?  Maybe your equipment is still working, and you're getting by, but it's not working as efficiently as it should be. One common sign th...