To that end, here are 4 key buyer’s guide angles to consider when selecting your next roller grill.
The most successful roller grill programs are launched with an anticipation that the menu will expand beyond hot dogs and will serve consumer demand for flavor customization.
Think through your entire setup to ensure the grill you’re considering has the accessories—including bun boxes, warmers and condiment vessels—that will fit both the grill and your station’s layout.
But don’t stop there.
Protect your well-conceived investment by making sure you also have access to all the features and accessories you’ll need to meet state and local requirements, ensuring the grill itself has the appropriate agency listing, such as NSF for sanitation and ETL or UL for electrical.
Additionally, does your grill have the appropriate accessories, such as sneeze guards, tongs, and section dividers, to ensure health code compliance?
Hardly a standard feature, individually controlled heating zones are something you’ll have to seek out in the buying process.
They allow you to designate separate areas of the grill for pre-heating, cooking, and ready-to-serve product, ensuring your customers get the best product at the correct temperature.
This also gives you the versatility to use one section of the roller grill during slower traffic periods, when you may have product ready-to-serve and don’t plan to cook any more. The unused section can be turned off to save energy and reduce needless wear on heating elements.
For mid- to larger-volume grills, specify that each of these multiple heating zones is also powered by its own drive mechanism, typically involving a motor-and-chain system.
Like the autonomous heating zones, this feature further saves you energy and wear & tear because it allows you to completely shut down those zones that are not in use.
Additionally, in the event there’s a failure with a motor or drive mechanism, having these sections independent from one another ensures the entire grill isn’t out of service while waiting for a repair.
Finally, one of the most important keys to maximizing roller grill ROI is a key often overlooked for the fact that it’s not a direct function of the grill itself.
We’re talking about service and support.
Make no mistake. Some grills are more reliable than others. But every machine has to be maintained.
For a substantial investment like this, buy from a company that can support the product with equipment and applications expertise that is accessible and responsive. And, regardless of warranty status, make sure the company offers a full line of replacement parts should you need them.