Small food service establishments that do not serve many meals during the day should be able to get by with dish machine that fits under the counter. This type is similar to residential models in appearance, but can only wash a single rack of dishes at a time. Machines with a pull-down door are ideal for mid-sized kitchens that serve a few hundred meals during their peak business hours. Large commercial kitchens that serve around 2,000 meals an hour will want a dishwasher that pulls dishracks through the wash cycle on a conveyor belt.
Restaurants that use a lot of pots and pans or glasses can benefit from a specialized commercial dishwasher for these items. Stock pots or sheet pans with baked-on food will benefit from a pot washer’s turbulent spray jets and large interior space. To keep a steady supply of clean glasses on hand, many bars have a dedicated washer that uses lower water pressure or a delicate spray pattern to clean their glasses with minimal breakage.