How Much Labor Can a Taylor Two-Sided Grill Save a Restaurant?

Labor is one of the biggest expenses for most restaurants. At the same time, many operators are dealing with rising restaurant labor costs, restaurant staffing shortages, employee turnover, and pressure to serve customers faster than ever.

That's why many restaurants are looking for labor-saving kitchen equipment that helps employees work more efficiently without sacrificing food quality. Equipment that can reduce labor costs while increasing kitchen productivity has become a major focus for restaurant owners looking to improve restaurant efficiency and long-term restaurant profitability.

One piece of labor-saving restaurant equipment helping restaurants accomplish these goals is a Taylor two-sided grill. Many operators invest in a two-sided grill to reduce labor costs, improve consistency, and support long-term growth.

But how much labor can a Taylor two-sided grill actually save?

The answer depends on your menu, sales volume, and current cooking process. However, many operators find that a two-sided grill helps reduce labor pressure, improve consistency, increase restaurant throughput, and allow their team to accomplish more throughout the day.

Why Traditional Grills Slow Kitchens Down

Traditional flat-top grills require employees to constantly monitor food while it cooks.

They need to:

• Place food on the grill

• Watch cook times

• Flip products

• Check temperatures

• Remove food at the right time

This may not seem like much, but during a busy lunch or dinner rush, it can create bottlenecks. As more orders come in, cook times often increase, employees get pulled in multiple directions, and service can slow down.

For restaurants already dealing with staffing challenges, this creates even more pressure on the kitchen. These challenges can hurt restaurant labor efficiency, create grill bottlenecks, and make it more difficult to maintain a smooth restaurant workflow during peak periods.

How a Taylor Two-Sided Grill Works

A Taylor two-sided grill cooks food from both the top and bottom at the same time.

Instead of flipping products manually, employees simply place the product on the grill and start the cooking cycle. The grill does the rest.

Benefits include:

• Faster cook times

• No flipping required

• Consistent cooking results

• Easier employee training

• Improved kitchen productivity

• Less hands-on grill management

Because the cooking process is automated, employees can spend less time watching the grill and more time helping customers, preparing food, and assembling orders.

As operators continue exploring kitchen automation equipment, many have found that a Taylor two-sided grill is one of the most effective forms of automated cooking equipment available for improving consistency and reducing manual labor.

To learn more about available configurations and cooking capacities, explore our Taylor two-sided grills.

How a Two-Sided Grill Improves Kitchen Workflow and Restaurant Efficiency

Many people think the biggest benefit of a two-sided grill is faster cooking. While that is certainly true, the bigger benefit is what happens around the grill.

By reducing active cooking time, a two-sided grill can improve restaurant operations efficiency, strengthen restaurant labor management, and create a smoother kitchen workflow throughout the day. When employees spend less time monitoring food, they can focus on other tasks throughout the kitchen. That means fewer bottlenecks, better restaurant workflow, and faster service during busy periods.

In restaurant observations, traditional grill stations often became the slowest part of the kitchen during peak demand. As orders increased, cook times increased by as much as 20-25%, making it harder for staff to keep up.

Many operators use two-sided grilling technology to improve restaurant productivity, support restaurant labor efficiency, and create a more consistent customer experience.

How Much Faster Is a Taylor Two-Sided Grill?

One of the biggest labor-saving benefits comes from faster cook times.

In field testing comparing traditional flat-top cooking methods to two-sided cooking technology, operators saw significant reductions in cook times while maintaining product quality.

ProductTraditional Cook TimeTwo-Sided Grill Cook TimeTime SavingsHamburger6:331:3079%Chicken Breast13:422:3082%Bacon6:481:2579%Turkey Burger7:082:4063%

For restaurants serving burgers, sandwiches, chicken, and breakfast items, these shorter cook times can have a major impact on restaurant throughput, overall production capacity, and speed of service.

These faster cook times help increase restaurant throughput, improve speed of service, and allow restaurants to handle more orders without adding additional labor.

Where the Labor Savings Come From

The goal of a two-sided grill is not to replace employees. The goal is to help your existing team do more with the time they already have.

Instead of spending time watching the grill, employees can focus on:

• Guest service

• Food preparation

• Order assembly

• Drive-thru operations

• Cleaning and organization

By simplifying the cooking process, a Taylor two-sided grill can help operators reduce labor hours spent actively managing the grill while increasing overall kitchen productivity.

Many operators see restaurant labor savings as one of the biggest benefits of a two-sided grill because it allows employees to spend more time on higher-value tasks.

Improved restaurant labor management is another advantage, especially during busy periods when staffing is tight.

What Could Six Labor Hours Per Day Mean?

For some operations, the combination of shorter cook times and improved workflow can free up as much as six labor hours per day.

Those hours are not necessarily eliminated. Instead, they can be redirected to other important tasks throughout the restaurant.

Here's a simple example:

• 6 labor hours saved per day

• $18 per hour loaded labor cost

• 30 operating days per month

That equals:

• $3,240 in monthly kitchen labor savings

• $38,880 in annual labor savings

For multi-unit operators, those savings can add up quickly.

These savings are one reason many operators view two-sided grilling as an effective way to improve restaurant labor savings and support long-term growth.

If you're evaluating a new grill purchase, our restaurant equipment financing options can help make equipment upgrades more affordable.

Other Benefits of a Two-Sided Grill

Labor savings are often the biggest reason operators consider a Taylor grill, but they are not the only benefit.

Beyond labor savings, operators often report improvements in cooking efficiency, kitchen efficiency, and overall restaurant performance.

Many restaurants also see:

• Better cooking efficiency

• Faster speed of service

• Increased restaurant throughput

• More consistent food quality

• Reduced product waste

• Easier employee training

Faster cooking cycles can also help increase kitchen productivity and improve speed of service during peak periods.

Learn more about how Taylor Crown Series grills help operators improve speed of service during peak periods.

Who Benefits Most From a Taylor Two-Sided Grill?

Taylor two-sided grills are commonly used in:

• Quick-service restaurants

• Fast casual restaurants

• Burger restaurants

• Convenience stores

• Cafeterias

• Stadiums and entertainment venues

• Multi-unit restaurant groups

Restaurants facing restaurant staffing shortages often see some of the greatest benefits because a two-sided grill helps employees accomplish more throughout a shift.

Restaurants with high-volume grilling needs often see the greatest benefits because even small improvements in speed and consistency can have a major impact throughout the day.

Is a Taylor Two-Sided Grill Worth the Investment?

For many operators, the answer is yes.

A Taylor two-sided grill can help reduce labor costs, improve consistency, improve speed of service, and make better use of existing staff.

When evaluating restaurant equipment, it is important to look beyond the purchase price and consider the long-term impact on restaurant labor costs, kitchen efficiency, restaurant profitability, and overall restaurant equipment ROI.

Many operators compare different Taylor Crown Series grill models based on production goals, available space, and labor-saving opportunities.

For operators looking for labor-saving restaurant equipment, a Taylor two-sided grill can be a valuable long-term investment.

See Taylor Two-Sided Grills in Action

Different restaurants have different priorities. Some focus on speed of service, while others are looking to improve consistency, increase throughput, or reduce labor challenges.

Reviewing available Taylor Crown Series grill models can help identify the best fit for your operation.

At Rocky Mountains Distributing, we help restaurant operators throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Southern Wyoming evaluate Taylor two-sided grills, compare cooking capacities, and identify opportunities for labor savings and improved kitchen efficiency.

Contact Rocky Mountains Distributing today to schedule a live demonstration and see how a Taylor two-sided grill can help your restaurant operate more efficiently.