A poor commercial kitchen layout not only causes delays and inefficiency, which are serious issues when your business is serving food, but also presents a safety hazard to everyone present.
Commercial kitchen installation and design can be carried out by professionals such as https://www.targetcatering.co.uk/commercial-kitchen-designers. The design should incorporate storage facilities, a wash station, a cooking station or stations, and a service area, with attention paid to practical and legal considerations. Your choice of five popular layouts depends on the size of the space, the number of staff, the content of the menu, and the number of customers:
Galley
Galley kitchens are recommended when space is limited, such as in a food truck, as all equipment and stations are fitted tightly to the walls. In the smallest kitchens, this may mean the two longest walls, running in parallel.
Assembly line
A long, narrow row of stations in a line allows food to move from prep to cooking to plating quickly and efficiently, like a mechanised factory. It suits a heavy workload with rapid service.
Zone style
This type of kitchen is divided into zones, meaning separate stations for everything from preparation and cooking to plating and washing. It needs more space but offers increased diversity in the menu; for instance, you can have specific stations for salads and pastry.
Island
Island kitchens require a bigger space, as the cooking stations are pushed to the centre of the room while other stations fill the walls. This allows for greater collaboration between the chefs and other staff, creating a more cohesive whole.
Open
Open layouts remove the wall between the kitchen and the customers, although you may still want a glass partition for safety. It widens a small space and creates a more intimate sense of connection between the diners and the chef; however, constant observation may be stressful for the staff.
Deciding on a kitchen layout is an important part of ensuring your commercial kitchen performs its intended functions safely, legally, and efficiently. Take your time to ensure it is right.