A lot goes on in a professional kitchen. It needs to be functional, have a modern appearance, get great ventilation, be well-organised and look great for everyone that comes into and out of it. Additionally, professional kitchens should be easy to maintain.

Good ventilation

Ventilation is essential for several reasons, from the overall impression your kitchen gives visitors, including customers, to the overall safety and quality of the food. Aroma is everything when it comes to the palette, and kitchens have a mix of many flavours and tastes. Some smells don’t mix well and can easily ruin an appetite.

In addition, ventilation helps reduce the scent of the harsh cleaners the kitchen staff must use to keep areas sanitary. Cleaning takes place throughout the day, especially after spills, and proper ventilation can keep these odours away from people in other areas of the building. Kitchens can get exceedingly hot; ventilation helps reduce heat throughout the year, especially in the summer. In addition, keeping the air circulating helps keep the working environment comfortable for staff and improves food hygiene conditions, preventing mould and bacteria growth.

Safety features

Safety is an important feature in every kitchen, however in commercial areas with heavy foot traffic, it’s essential. Although chefs and other professionals working in kitchens wear special kitchen shoes to prevent accidents, designs should incorporate slip-resistant floors. The extensive list of ingredients and other substances in use can make it easy to slip and fall despite safety plans and equipment. Spillages of water, oils, sauces and other liquids are not only messy, they also require cleaning products to clear away.

As well as the need for the floor to be slip-resistant, it needs to be easy to clean – able to deal with regular sweeping, mopping and scrubbing. Commercial-grade flooring should also be cost-effective for businesses, like UltraSyntec tile alternatives. These include stone tiles, vinyl, brick pavers and poured concrete. With professional installation, these can look great while also holding up to the heavy foot traffic floors in commercial kitchens handle.

Organisation/space

Commercial kitchens require enough space for all employees to complete their daily tasks without causing safety issues. If you don’t have masses of space, the best way to do this is through careful organisation and managing the limited area available. Chefs working the grill and stove-top area need to have all the tools and ingredients near them. A separate preparation area for slicing, dicing, mixing and other tasks important to their job shouldn’t be more than a few feet away.

When ensuring workers have enough room to move, take into account that they can be different sizes. What may be enough room for you could be too confined for another individual. During the design phase, remember that some areas will be visible to customers and need to demonstrate first rate maintenance and attention to cleanliness. However, other ideal designs need to pay close attention to health inspection rules and regulations. For example, there are multiple waste disposal systems for wet, dry non-recyclable and dry recyclable items and strict rules about where and what they can be placed near.

Easy to maintain

Commercial kitchens need to be exceptionally hygienic, which means regular cleaning. If your kitchen layout is confined, accessing every corner and cranny to remove grease, crumbs and other food items that splatter, splash, spray, squirt and spill – sometimes in multiple directions – can be virtually impossible. By eliminating excess hiding areas and keeping everything open, you’ll make your kitchen easy to maintain.

Another aspect of the design is choosing construction materials that are not only easy to clean, but also can put up with the process of regular cleansing. Besides floors, this should include counter-tops, sinks, work surfaces, stove-tops, grills, lighting, storage areas and the ventilation system.

Sleek, modern appearance

Presentation is important. A professional kitchen will have a variety of people seeing it regularly, from customers to health inspectors, different levels of management, vendors and other people important to the success of your business. Upgrading your floors and equipment can improve the look and impression of a professional kitchen. You want to give everyone who enters the kitchen confidence in your business.

Sleek, modern designs with clean, well-maintained floors, proper organisation, clear walkways, ample space for employees to work, all appropriate safety measures and impeccable air quality will provide a good impression.

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