Dishwasher Guide
What Commercial Dishwasher Do I Need?
Choosing the right commercial dishwasher for your café, restaurant or bar can make a big difference to the efficiency of your kitchen. Hospitality venues typically choose between glasswashers, undercounter dishwashers and passthrough dishwashers, each designed for different washing volumes and kitchen layouts. This guide explains the main types of commercial dishwashers and helps you choose the best machine for your venue.
Not sure which machine is right for your kitchen? Explore the different types of commercial dishwashers below.
Glasswashers
Glasswashers are compact machines designed specifically for washing glasses quickly and efficiently in bars, cafés and hospitality venues. These machines are typically installed under a bar bench and are designed to protect delicate glassware while delivering fast wash cycles.
Glasswashers generally use 350mm or 400mm racks and are ideal for washing wine glasses, beer glasses and cocktail glasses during busy service periods.
Best for:
• Bars and pubs
• Cocktail bars
• Cafés serving drinks
• Venues washing mainly glassware
Example machines:
• Washtech XG Glasswasher
• Washtech GM Glasswasher
Undercounter Dishwashers
Undercounter dishwashers are the most common type of commercial dishwasher used in cafés, restaurants and small hospitality venues. These machines fit neatly beneath standard kitchen benches and typically use 500 × 500 mm racks for washing plates, bowls, utensils and general kitchenware.
They offer a good balance of capacity, efficiency and compact design, making them ideal for venues with moderate dishwashing requirements.
Best for:
• Cafés
• Small restaurants
• Takeaway venues
• Hospitality venues with moderate dishwashing needs
Example machines:
• Washtech UD
• Washtech XV
• Hobart ECOMAX 504
Explore our Undercounter Dishwasher range
Passthrough Dishwashers
Passthrough dishwashers, also known as hood type dishwashers, are designed for high-volume kitchens that need to wash large numbers of dishes quickly. These machines are typically installed between infeed and outfeed benches, allowing racks to move efficiently through the washing process.
Staff load racks from one side, close the hood to start the cycle, and remove clean racks from the other side, creating a streamlined workflow.
Best for:
• Busy restaurants
• Hotels
• Commercial kitchens
• High-volume hospitality venues
Example machine:
• Washtech XP Passthrough Dishwasher
Explore our Passthrough Dishwasher range
Pot Washers
Pot washers are large commercial dishwashers designed to wash large kitchen utensils, pots, pans, trays and containers that won’t fit into standard dishwashing racks. These machines have larger wash chambers and powerful wash systems to remove heavy food residue.
They are commonly used in larger commercial kitchens where heavy-duty cookware needs to be cleaned quickly and efficiently.
Best for:
• Restaurants with large cookware
• Catering kitchens
• Commercial food production kitchens
• Bakeries
Rack Conveyor Dishwashers
Rack conveyor dishwashers are designed for high-volume commercial kitchens that need to wash large numbers of racks continuously. Racks move automatically through different wash and rinse zones on a conveyor system.
These machines are commonly found in large restaurants, hotels and institutional kitchens where efficiency and throughput are critical.
Best for:
• Large restaurants
• Hotels
• Catering operations
• Institutional kitchens
Industrial / Trolley Washers
Industrial or trolley washers are heavy-duty machines designed for large-scale operations such as hospitals, mining camps and large food production facilities. These machines can wash large trays, racks, trolleys and containers used in bulk food preparation.
They are built for durability and extremely high cleaning capacity in demanding environments.
Best for:
• Hospitals
• Mining camps
• Large production kitchens
• Institutional catering facilities
Choosing the Right Dishwasher
Selecting the right commercial dishwasher depends on several factors, including:
• the size of your kitchen
• the volume of dishes being washed
• the type of items being cleaned
• available space and workflow
If you're unsure which dishwasher is best for your venue, the team at Dishwashers Direct, operated by ProCook, can help you choose the right machine for your business.