For success in the food service industry, it is crucial to develop a good plan for building the commercial kitchen. Lack of planning can lead to a crowded kitchen space, causing big trouble for employees as well as guests. No restaurateur even wants to have a messy kitchen, because it will ultimately take a toll on the business. On the other hand, if the kitchen space is well-planned and functional, it can become the momentum behind fast business growth and huge profits. It is almost impossible to recover from a bad, faulty commercial kitchen design. That is why you should seek the help of experienced designers and engineers to plan the layout and design of your commercial kitchen in a proper and correct manner.
So, what does it take to design and build a functional commercial kitchen? In this guide, we will discuss exactly that and a lot more, so that you have a better understanding of the key steps involved in the procedure.
Understanding the Importance of a Functional Commercial Kitchen
Guests will visit your restaurant to enjoy delicious food. But all of this won’t work, if you don’t have a functional commercial kitchen. To achieve success, you need to streamline your operations. How your restaurant kitchen is designed impacts how your day-to-day operations will be carried out.
Key benefits of a functional commercial kitchen:
Enhanced Safety
One of the biggest advantages of a functional kitchen space is enhanced safety of the employees. Generally, many small food service establishments don’t pay adequate attention to safety. But it is crucial to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the staff to work in. A well-planned design will ensure the most ideal set up for all the cooking equipment and appliances. A functional kitchen layout will also ensure proper safety against the risk of fire.
Easy Management
When it comes to preparing and serving food to customers, nothing matters more than cleanliness and hygiene. Plus, it should be easy for the kitchen staff to operate in a smooth manner. If allocation of space for different equipment, machinery and sections is proper, managing the kitchen will be a lot easier. That is exactly why you should plan a functional commercial kitchen.
Save Time
Layout planning by experts involves equipment selection, storage solutions, ergonomic design, safety considerations etc. Most of all, it results in workflow optimization by the creation of adequate spacing between workstations. As a result of this, the operational efficiency of the kitchen will increase and time will be saved. You will be able to serve guests in a timely manner.
When you operate a restaurant, you need to fulfill orders by guests without having them wait for too long. Having a functional kitchen space will ensure you satisfy all guests and make them happy with fast service.
Assessing Your Needs and Space
The exact needs and availability of space varies from one type of commercial kitchen to another. There is no fixed format for designing a restaurant kitchen. So, the planning should be done based on what you specifically look for in order to maximize operational efficiency. Easy cleaning and maintenance should be one of your important objectives as well. For the best layout and design, experts will first evaluate your specific needs and see how much space is available
Different Types of Kitchen Layouts
There are several types of layouts for designing a commercial kitchen. But you cannot randomly go for any layout. You need to choose a layout based on how much space you have in the commercial kitchen. Some of the well-known kitchen layouts include Island Layout, Assembly Line Layout, Galley Layout, Open Layout, Ergonomic Layout and Zoning Layout among others. Designers will customize the chosen kitchen layout as per your specific day-to-day needs.
Health and Safety Codes
There are some specific health and safety codes that every commercial food service establishment needs to adhere to. Your commercial kitchen design should be developed in accordance with the safety regulations and guidelines, so that you can run your business in a safe and smooth manner.
To find out more about commercial kitchen layouts and health and safety codes that you need to comply with, reach out to one of our experts at Hood Builder in Denver, CO. Our company specializes in restaurant design, remodeling, fire protection and restaurant buildup and general contracting.
Optimizing Workflow and Efficiency
A functional commercial kitchen means the chefs, food preparation staff and other employees will be able to move without any hassle at all. If the kitchen staff feels safe and comfortable, the work efficiency will increase automatically. This is exactly what you will achieve by hiring experts to develop an ideal layout design for your restaurant and commercial kitchen space.
The challenge lies in making the maximum use of the available space. Commercial kitchen planning experts develop an ideal layout without wasting even a bit of the space you have. Maximizing the use of space doesn’t in any way mean not a single inch will be left unused. In fact, this means proper planning and setting up everything in a manner that also optimizes the workflow and enhances work efficiency for the chefs and kitchen staff. The staff should be able to move from one workstation or cooking station to another without interrupting each other.
In commercial kitchen remodeling projects as well, the ultimate goal of layout specialists is to increase workflow and efficiency.
Proper Equipment Selection and Placement
Based on your specific cooking and food preparation needs, you should be able to select the right type of equipment and appliances. The equipment you select should be a good match for the menu you plan to offer. However, selection of the right cooking equipment can prove to be daunting, unless you are an experienced restaurateur. So, the best idea is to seek the help of professionals and invest in the right type and quality of commercial kitchen equipment.
Choosing the right equipment will translate to work speed and efficiency. If you have a diverse menu and will do a large volume of cooking, you need to purchase equipment that can speed up work. Based on your specific menu, you need to get equipment and machinery that doesn’t extend your budget. With the help of experts by your side, you will be able to determine what exactly you require and then select the most ideal as well as high quality equipment. Most of all, you will need a good plan for proper placement and set up of all the equipment. Feel free to talk to one of our professionals at Hood Builder in Denver, CO for more details
Ensuring Adequate Storage Space
Storage of different types of food items is an important concern in every commercial kitchen. When you design and aim for a functional kitchen, the storage space is properly designed as well. Adequate storage means the kitchen staff will not face any kind of difficulty in food safety and inventory management. A commercial kitchen should have the following storage areas.
- Low-temperature storage
- Medium-temperature storage
- Dry goods storage
Some food items are perishable, so they need to be stored in refrigerators and freezers. Likewise, proper storage is required for fruits, vegetables and non-perishable items. Make sure you plan for the storage areas in your commercial kitchen in a proper manner to avoid issues later.
Considering Safety and Ergonomics
An ergonomic kitchen design means maximum working comfort and efficiency of the employees. All the cooking equipment and appliances are arranged in a manner that keeps wrists straight. The workstations are designed in a way that elbows remain close to the body. In an ergonomic design, layout experts position the cooking station, food preparation area and storage in a specific way. This type of design is planned to reduce the movement of the staff.
As a result of minimized movement, the kitchen staff will save a lot of time. Most of all, such a design will reduce the risk of accidents in the kitchen. For explanations, feel free to reach out to Hood Builder in Denver, CO.
Designing for Easy Cleaning and Maintenance
A functional design means the kitchen is optimized for easy sanitation and cleaning. In addition to cooking, the cleaning and maintenance also takes a lot of time. That is why you should plan ahead for the proper and easy cleaning of every area inside the facility including all the work tables, cooking equipment, appliances, floors and walls. This will ensure food safety and hygiene.
General cleaning is for the staff to carry out after the end of every shift on an everyday basis. It is crucial to keep the entire kitchen area clean for the next shift, so that the operations are smooth.
For detailed or deep cleaning, you will need the help of specialists. For example, the cleaning of the fire suppression system should always be carried out by well-trained technicians. With the help of professionals, you should develop a proper cleaning routine and get it done in a timely manner. In this way, you will avoid minor issues with the system and avoid costly repairs too.
Incorporating Energy Efficiency Practices
Due to a large volume of cooking and the use of various systems and machinery units, commercial kitchens require a lot of power. When designing a restaurant kitchen, you should take energy consumption into account as well. If you ignore this crucial aspect while planning the kitchen layout, you will face the issue of high energy consumption and there will be little to be done.
That is why you should work with experts and optimize the commercial kitchen layout to create energy efficiency. This also includes the selection of top quality and ideal cooking equipment and appliances.
Creating a Well-Ventilated Environment
A commercial kitchen should always have proper ventilation to provide a safe and healthy environment for the staff. A well-functioning exhaust system plays multiple key roles including removal of hot air and smoke as well as odors. The main purpose of the exhaust hood system is to extract impure air and draw in fresh air, thus maintaining the indoor air quality. The installation of a vent hood system is a key requirement in order to comply with the safety codes.
After the installation of an exhaust hood system in your restaurant kitchen, you should conduct regular inspections to monitor any kind of issues and maintain the entire system in a proper manner. For HVAC installation, repair and maintenance, reach out to Hood Builder in Denver, CO.
Considering Future Expansions and Flexibility
A commercial kitchen may need upgrades to fulfill changing demands in the future. It is crucial to take flexibility into account when selecting a specific layout for designing a restaurant kitchen.
In the future, you may want to expand your menu or add more services for guests. If you choose a layout that is not flexible, you will face problems because upgrading the current setup will be difficult. By working with experts, you will be able to discuss all these requirements and select a layout that supports future expansions and flexibility as per changing needs and demands.
Talk to an Expert
For the success of your restaurant, you should always choose a functional and efficient commercial kitchen layout. You need to plan for the placement of cooking equipment, storage areas, production areas, service areas etc. The purpose is to have seamless operation and increased productivity. If you operate a restaurant or plan to design a new one, feel free to talk to one of our experts at Hood Builder in Denver, CO, and discuss your specific needs in detail.
For your free consultation, you can dial our phone number or write us an email using the contact form given on our website.