How to Plan an Industrial Kitchen
Planning an industrial kitchen usually suggests the start up of a new restaurant or bar. Although the design process may seem overwhelming, your task will be less difficult if you consult a professional builder to make sure your plans do not break any codes. You'll need to create a fully functional space that promotes employee safety as well as ergonomic design. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Consider safety first. Design your industrial kitchen in a manner that will allow kitchen staff to move freely about the space without running into each other. Understand that specific tasks should be completed at specific spaces within the kitchen to cut down on staff running back and forth. Create a space for refrigeration, food preparation, cooking, holding, and washing. Consider an assembly line set-up, in which food comes out of the refrigeration area and moves directly to the adjacent food preparation area. The food then moves from the food prep area to the cooking area and then on to the holding area for waiters to pick up. Empty plates are then delivered back to the kitchen and placed in the warewashing center. If your restaurant includes a bar, consider purchasing an additional washer for glasses only.
-
2
Plan to brighten up your kitchen with plenty of light, starting with general lighting in the center of the kitchen. Install task lighting over the food preparation area to prevent employees from accidentally cutting themselves with prep knives or other equipment. Incorporate task lighting into the area where finishing touches are put on dishes as well. Remember that people appreciate an aesthetically pleasing meal and will often pay more money just for a fancy look. Ensure that customers get what they pay for by including proper lighting in your kitchen. Consider fluorescent lights instead of incandescent lights to cut down on energy consumption.
-
-
3
Plan for versatility and cleanliness. Understand that kitchens are constantly changing to keep up with demand in the world of food. Buy quality equipment, but make it easy to move appliances. Install casters (wheels) for moving heavy equipment and gas hoses that can be disconnected quickly. Plan to pull the equipment away from the wall regularly to clean behind it. Include a closet in your kitchen to house cleaning supplies. Keep an industrial-sized broom, mop, vacuum, and bucket inside. Also keep surface cleaners on hand for countertops. Consider adding padded floor mats near work stations in which your employees will be standing for long periods of time. It's important that the mats be non-slip for additional safety.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit kitchen image by AGITA LEIMANE from Fotolia.com
