Commercial pasta cookers help restaurants reduce costs and increase quality and profits. You can use premade pasta for your dishes, but competitors who make their own pasta will always have an advantage in:
- Quality
- Taste
- Cost
Restaurant owners and managers purchasing their first commercial pasta cookers have a lot to consider, from freestanding units to countertop options.
We'll help you make the right choice for your eatery by knowing what to look for in today's modern pasta cookers.
What to Consider When Choosing a Commercial Pasta Cooker
We have dozens of options in our catalog to choose from, but when recommending models to customers, we consider:
Cooker Types
Two main types of cookers exist:
- Countertop: A cooker that has a countertop/desktop option. You place the cooker on your countertop that you use the least and that's it.
- Standalone: The standalone option is a complete pasta cooking appliance with water tanks and baskets.
If you produce large volumes of pasta and have adequate room in the kitchen, the standalone model is your clear choice.
Countertop units are primarily electric-powered, which may not be optimal if you already have a gas hookup in your kitchen.
Gas models are preferred by restaurants because they offer fast, easy and affordable heating. You'll need ventilation for the exhaust, but you'll save more on costs compared to electric models.
An electric unit is easier to install without the same level of ventilation requirements or the need to extend the piping to properly fit the gas models. The downsides of electric models are that costs can be higher compared to gas and the heat-up time is longer.
Quantity of Food to be Served
Do you own a small restaurant? If so, a countertop model may work well for your needs. But when you need to cook pasta fast, a standalone unit can often cook 0.5 - 1.5kg of pasta in a single cycle.
Higher burner models may double, triple or quadruple this number.
Certain models have four or more baskets on them that can keep up with even the largest, pasta-focused eateries in major metropolitan areas.
Extra Convenience Features
When choosing a pasta cooker commercial unit, consider any convenient features it may offer, such as:
- Forced boiling design that uses a jet of water to disperse the food and keep it from sticking.
- Front drainage area for units that aren't equipped with a basket hanging plate. Just set the basket on top of the drainage area to allow the water to drain.
- Adjustable support feet to ensure your unit is safe and comfortable to use in your kitchen.
- Built-in faucets, which are convenient for rinsing starch from the noodles after cooking.
These are just some of the many convenient features that pasta cookers may offer. Weigh the pros and cons of each one to determine whether they're a must-have for your eatery.
Commercial Pasta Cooker Reviews: Our Top Sellers
Now that you know what to consider when choosing a model, let's look at some of our top-selling units and their features.
1. Axis AX-GPC-2 Free Standing Gas Pasta Cooker
The AX-GPC-2 is a freestanding model powered by gas. It features manual controls and a safety thermocouple shutoff. With 100k BTUs, this unit can easily meet your pasta-cooking needs.
You can use this unit to cook dry or fresh pasta, or to rethermalize food.
The heavy-duty stainless steel construction ensures maximum durability.
Axis has a number of different baskets available as well as accessories, such as tank covers, casters, drain water tempering kit, pressure regulators and more.
2. Nemco 6760-240
With its small footprint and countertop design, the Nemco 6760-240 is a fitting pasta cooker pot for smaller eateries.
Its stainless steel construction also ensures that this unit will deliver years of use. Plus, you can even use this cooker for vegetables, shellfish or other foods that need reconstituting. In just a few minutes, this model can cook one pound of spaghetti or three pounds of frozen pasta.
The initial heat-up time is just 12 minutes, and this unit recovers almost immediately.
The stainless steel design can stand up to commercial use, and the durable plastic-coated handles stay cool to the touch. If you want to prepare smaller batches of pasta, you can purchase Nemco's accessory set of six baskets.
The digital thermostat has a generous range of 100-212° F, making this unit ideal for cooking pasta to perfection.
3. Southbend NOD14
Southbend's NOD14 is a vertical, standalone unit powered by gas. Designed for larger volume establishments, this model offers:
- A 12-gallon capacity
- 4-button digital controller
- Self-cleaning burner system
- Down-draft protection
- 60k BTU power output
4. Omcan CE-CN-0002-B
If you run a small restaurant or only have one or two pasta dishes, the Omcan CE-CN-0002-B may be a fitting choice. This electric pasta cooker features two baskets and a 4-liter capacity tank. The desktop design makes it easy to add to your kitchen without major renovations.
The CE-CN-0002-B has a small footprint of 8.25" x 16.5" x 11.4" and a light weight, so it can easily be moved around the kitchen. Plus, the knob controls allow for easy use by staff.
This unit is ideal for cafes, buffet stations and diners that don't serve large volumes of pasta. A stainless steel construction, non-slip feet and a maximum temperature of 230F make this model a smart investment.
5. Omcan CE-CN-0008-P
The Omcan CE-CN-0008-P is a desktop unit with a double-tank design and stainless steel construction. Eight baskets allow you to cook multiple batches of pasta at once while your staff handles the prep work.
The CE-CN-0008-P offers:
- Two 9L tanks
- Baskets included
- Non-slip feet
- Front sliding door to refill the water and remove waste
Powered by electricity, this unit is ideal for mid-volume eateries that need a reliable pasta cooker.
The Takeaway
Whether you're launching a new restaurant or want to upgrade your equipment, a commercial pasta cooker is a smart investment that will add value and versatility to your menu.
Finding the right model is key. The models above are some of the best pasta cookers for modern eateries and also some of our top sellers. Weigh their features and pros and cons to find the ideal cooker for your restaurant.