Choosing the Best Commercial Carts for Your Operation

Prep carts enable kitchens to temporarily expand the workspace in a specific area, facilitating flexible, high-volume food prep. Most prep carts are compatible with kitchen cutting boards, helping chefs quickly swap out the cutting surface between tasks. To accommodate many users, some models can be adjusted for height, and most are mounted on locking casters for easy relocation. Typically, these commercial kitchen carts have shelves to hold additional cutting boards, utensils, and product.

Cooking carts provide a mobile cooking surface for presentations, demonstrations, and catering uses. They can be powered by gas or electricity and can cook with induction or infrared burners. Cooking carts can be decorative in appearance to enhance cooking displays, and some include a flambe option for added entertainment. These carts often have storage space beneath the cooking surface, usually enclosed shelving. Many gas-powered options don't require an electrical outlet to operate, but the stored gas tanks can occlude some or all of the unit's interior space.

Portable sinks enable sanitary handwashing in locations without hand sinks or plumbing. Many options provide hot water, and some have dual basins for two-stage dish washing and sanitizing. These commercial kitchen carts provide mobile handwashing ability for remote areas, such as outdoor garden parties, catered events, and fairgrounds. In addition to sanitary food prep and dish cleaning, mobile sinks are useful for promoting handwashing near food tents and portable toilets.

Portable bars are useful for large scale or outdoor events, such as weddings, awards ceremonies, and garden parties. Using portable bars to provide drinks from more than one location can cut down on wait times and alleviate congestion as guests wait for their drinks. Some units feature built-in refrigeration and/or post-mix soda systems, while others include little more than an insulated space and a speed rail. Portable bars come in trimmed-down, utilitarian designs as well as upscale, decorative options, providing choices to fit any budget.

Meal delivery carts keep plates of food hot and fresh as they're transported throughout hospitals, hotels, cruise ships, or correctional institutions. Some options have built-in heating or refrigeration systems, while others rely on insulation to preserve safe food temperatures. Meal carts are available in several different size configurations to hold a large or small volume of meals while fitting comfortably through doorways and onto elevators. Many meal carts provide a space on top to collect empty trays, as well.

Room service carts have two main styles, each of which is designed to fulfill a different application. The first style is a rolling cart that folds out or otherwise expands to double as a temporary eating surface, enabling guests to dine comfortably in hotel rooms without a dining suite. Other room service carts are similar to meal delivery carts but smaller. These carts are designed to transport just a few meals at a time to specific rooms, delivering food whenever it's ordered.

Beverage service carts streamline tea and coffee service at hotels, offices, and restaurants. Designed to hold several carafes, airpots, or insulated beverage dispensers, these commercial serving carts on wheels enable a single operator to transport and serve several liters of coffee, tea, orange juice, lemonade, and other beverages. Most beverage carts include storage space for cups, napkins, creamers, and other supplies. Some specialty units feature wine caddies, bottle coolers, or built-in stemware racks. Beverage cart options can be insulated or ambient and may have enclosed or open storage.

Food and vending carts facilitate mobile food vending and merchandising. Some models provide insulated storage or space for drop-in pans, as well as options such as built-in cup dispensers, cutting boards, or locking doors. Large concession carts, known as kiosks, can double as a mobile buffet and be used to hold, prepare, and serve food and beverages.

Some food carts are specialized for a specific product, such as cotton candy or popcorn, while others are multi-use. Food carts are available for packaged or fresh food and can include outlets for small equipment, such as blenders and coffee machines. Some options have enclosed storage, while others feature shelves, drawers, or an overshelf.

Cheese and dessert carts add visual flair to dessert, fresh fruit, cheese, and wine courses. Designed for venues that serve full-course meals, the cheese and dessert cart provides an attractive way to merchandise before- or after-dinner courses, such as aperitifs, hors d'oeuvres, coffee, tea, digestifs, and desserts of all varieties.

Arranging these items in an attractive display and wheeling them around the dining room stimulates impulse buying and provides diners with a visual guide to different menu choices. These restaurant serving carts on wheels can be made with drawers, shelves, drop leaves, cooling wells, and storage cabinets. Some options even include flambe burners and bottle storage.

Trash carts provide a mobile collection point for cleaning staff to consolidate waste from various bins and wastebaskets distributed around an establishment. For heavy-duty trash collection and hauling, some models are fork-lift compatible and/or designed with reinforced frames. Some models known as tilt carts can be tilted forward to quickly empty the contents. Towable carts can be hitched to equipment or daisy chained together for efficient, high-volume trash transport.

Janitorial carts can have shelves, bins, or enclosed cabinet space for storing cleaning items; some models also have a built-in platform to support a mop and bucket. Attachments for brooms, dust pans, spray bottles, and garbage bags are available on some units, and most models provide a bin for collecting trash. Some models have locking doors to keep contents secure. Specialty janitor carts designed for cleaning foodservice equipment also exist; these include a water tank, hose, and pump.

Housekeeping carts are similar to janitor carts, but with more compact options available, the carts can fit through narrow spaces, such as aisles in airplanes, train cars, and movie theaters. Most options have a bin where trash or soiled linens can be collected, and some are designed to support a vacuum cleaner for ease of mobility. Housekeeping carts can also have shelves or enclosed cabinets, some of which have locks to prevent theft. Many housekeeping carts include hooks, loops, or pockets where spray bottles, paper towels, trash bags, and gloves can be kept.

Bus carts are designed to hold multiple bus tubs, enabling bussers to scrap and organize dinnerware, glasses, and flatware as they work. Models can hold anywhere from two to six tubs per unit, and they usually include an integrated handle for improved control when maneuvering the cart around a dining room. These carts can be utilitarian or decorative in appearance, and many can double as serving carts. Some models are enclosed on three sides, keeping dirty dishes and table scraps concealed from view.

Dish dispensing caddies can be ambient or heated and typically hold one, two, or four columns of dishes per cart. Ambient dish carts are often used for storage, and many options have a cover that can be purchased separately that blocks dust and germs from falling on the clean dishes during storage. This type of dish cart is also useful for quickly dispensing a large number of plates at buffets and dining halls. Temperature-controlled options keep the plates warm until they're used, prolonging the warmth of food once it's served.

Tray dispensing carts keep meal trays, serving trays, and sheet pans stored and organized between uses. Providing a method of quick dispensing, these carts make it simple for guests and staff to find the tray they need. Some tray dispensing carts can also store and dispense flatware and drinkware. Because they're mobile, these commercial kitchen carts can be placed near cafeteria entrances or by buffets for streamlined self-service.

Media carts keep electronics organized and streamline mobility for efficient presentations. Electronics such as laptops, speakers, projectors, and DVD players are often arranged on a media cart, making it easy for presenters to move from room to room during training events, stakeholder meetings, and project presentations. Many media carts have a built-in power strip, so users don't have to rearrange power cords or look for multiple outlets when they reach their destination. To keep valuable items secure, some models feature locking cabinets, while others have open shelves.

Computer carts are a type of media cart that are specialized for computers. This kind of cart often has space to put a mouse and mousepad as well as a rollout keyboard tray for typing. Useful in hospitals, warehouses, and retail stores, these carts make it simple for users to set up a work station once then and move it quickly from place to place without interrupting its usability. Some computer carts are designed to store laptops and tablets as they charge; this type of computer cart is typically fully enclosed and has a lock to keep electronics secure.

Laundry carts make quick work of collecting, washing, drying, and distributing bedding, uniforms, towels, and table linens. Often found in hospitality and institutional settings, laundry carts are also useful for catering companies, spas, gyms, and sports arenas. These carts can have one large bin, or they can be divided into multiple sections to make laundry sorting simple. Some options feature removable bags that can be laundered themselves, reinforced frames for heavy-duty use, or a collapsible design for compact storage.

Hotel luggage carts can have a tilting style that resembles a two-wheeled hand truck, or they can stand upright with four casters and a platform. Truck types usually have a handle, while platform carts have multiple uprights that serve as hand grips. Designed for quick loading and unloading, these carts are typically open on the sides with barriers to contain bags and suitcases on each end. Luggage carts can be decorative or utilitarian and are designed to fit inside most elevators for easy use.

Utility carts come in several varieties and are most commonly associated with foodservice applications. Flat utility carts have smooth shelves without edges, making it easy to slide equipment on and off the unit. Marine edge carts are useful for applications where spills are likely; their slightly raised edges make them comfortable to work on while containing liquids and preventing small items from rolling off the cart's sides.

Carts with raised edges are a good choice for restocking walk ins and storerooms because they keep fruits, vegetables, bags, and canned goods contained as the cart moves. Heavy-duty utility carts can transport hundreds of pounds at a time and are often used in warehouse and industrial applications. No matter the style, these workhorse carts are flexible in use and are often used as a backup option when a more specialized cart isn't available.