INTRODUCTION
There are various types of fuels used in hotel kitchens to operate equipment to aid in cooking. We use LPG or electricity at home; but in professional kitchens , it is quite different like CNG, LPG, COAL, & WOOD etc.
Types of fuels and their usages:
- LPG:
The full form of LPG is Liquefied petroleum gas is the generic name for commercial propane and butane composed fuel used in this kitchen to fuel gas burners. This gas is supplied in industrial cylinders or in bulk storage tanks at the hotel premised. It is supplied to the kitchen through pipelines. These are stored in a separate place, usually known as “Gas Bank”. A large hotel may have 100-150 cylinders. LPG should be handled with utmost care as being a transparent gas, its leakage is not easily detectable and it is also highly combustible.
USAGE:
It is one of the most essential fuels used in the kitchen and is known for its efficiency. It is used as a fuel for cooking range, ovens, and salamanders, some tandoors used in Indian cooking are also fired by LPG.
- WOOD:
Wood is the essential fuel used since the ancient time. The primitive man started using wood to cook his food and now a days, it is used in hotel industry. It gives a smoky flavor to the food and therefore wood fired pizza ovens are commonly used in the modern restaurants.
USAGE:
It is used as a fuel that impart smoky flaour.
- COAL:
It is a very crude form of fuel to be used in a modern kitchen, but it is still very popular. The smoky flavor is much desired. Coal should always be stored away from food area, ideally in a cool, dark room and kept away from any moisture.
USAGE:
Coal is used to light tandoors and grillers for barbeque. The coal used in the kitchen in the hotel is wood charcoal only.
- STEAM:
Steaming is a cooking method to cook the dishes through steam. It is used to operate equipment. Steam is supplied through insulated pipes to the kitchen.
USAGE:
It is used in equipment such as dish washer and steam jacket kettles.
- CNG:
The full form of CNG is compress natural gas. It is slowly gaining popularity for its fuel efficiency and environmentally friendly properties.
USAGE:
It is used in eco-friendly hotels as fuel in many types of equipment such as oven, gas ranges etc.
- SOLID FUEL/HANDY FUELS:
This fuel is made from petroleum jelly and available in small tins. These are used in F&B service areas.
USAGE:
This type of fuel is used hardly in kitchen but is very commonly used in F&B service, where it is used in heating up food in the chafing dishes, used commonly in banquets.
- ELECTRICITY:
It is also used as a fuel to operate many types of equipment. Care should be taken while ordering such equipment as many countries operate on certain voltage. Equipment works on 220 watt in India, whereas in the USA, equipment works on 110 watt.
USAGE:
It is generally used to operate most of the equipment in the kitchen.
- SOLAR ENERGY:
The heat from the sun is used as a fuel. This is not a very commonly used fuel in the kitchen, but eco friendly hotels. Solar cookers are used in cooking.
USAGE:
Solar cookers utilize solar energy to cook food.