How to Maximise Your Commercial Kitchen Space

Starting With Space

When considering what it means to truly 'maximise' space, remember that bigger doesn't necessarily equate to better.

Commercial kitchens are built for efficiency! You want your kitchen to be free-flowing, with everyone able to do their jobs without being crammed into the same stations or running into each other.

Because an intelligent commercial kitchen design beats abundant floorspace every time, it's wise to plan your kitchen layout with the critical equipment in mind. However, efficiency and safety are just as important considerations.

For owners of smaller cafes, for example, working with limited kitchen space is something they will have to contend with daily – so deploying a smart design is essential.

Article: Check out this comprehensive guide to Designing a Commercial Kitchen for tips and advice from the experts on everything you need to consider.

Planning and Prep

So, you want to maximise your commercial kitchen space but you're not sure where to begin. Planning and preparation should be front-of-mind, so keep your focus on these three things:

1. PLANNING THE LAYOUT: This is the key to making the most of limited floorspace. It's all about creating a kitchen that works for your type of business and the number of people who will be working in it day-to-day. Consider how the menu plays into the flow of your kitchen, and group appliances and stations accordingly. For example, if your prep cooks constantly need access to the fridges, make sure their station is in the right spot to reduce unnecessary movement.
2. FUNCTION OVER FORM: You need to plan for constant foot traffic and the frequency of different staff moving throughout the space. Functionality also needs to take into account the volume of food (for example, maximum customer capacity) you will be serving at any one time.
3. MENU CHOICES: One of the easiest ways to maximise kitchen space is to pare back your menu. Small café kitchens can get away with having a smaller menu. This helps limit the amount of storage space needed for ingredients while also lowering your food bills.

Choosing the Right Equipment

The equipment you use in your commercial kitchen will ultimately depend on your menu. Ideally, your choice of commercial cooking equipment should be able to handle every dish on your menu while simultaneously taking up as little space as possible in your prep area. For example, a café that serves up to 20 plates at one time would benefit from modular equipment because it's more compact than the alternative.

Think about purchasing appliances that have multiple uses – saving time and money in the long run. For example, food processors offer incredible versatility and the ability to save time during busy services.

You'll also need to do your research to choose the necessities that will be robust and long-lasting, effective for repetitive uses, and cost-effective. The Apuro Planetary Mixer 20Ltr makes mixing commercial quantities fast and safe. It's heavy duty, which makes it ideal in a professional kitchen, and it can handle any ingredients you need mixed.

Commercial fridges also need to be right for your type of kitchen. Think about whether you want an upright fridge or an under counter fridge – both have their own benefits, including limited floorspace, so choose one that's right for your business.

Much like your choice of fridge, gas ovens need to match your kitchen's needs – especially when space is in short supply. The Thor 4 Burner Gas Oven Range TR-4F is compact, reliable and functional, making it ideal for smaller cafés and bistro kitchens.

Stations and Storage

Finally, make sure your stations and storage are functional and practical for the size of your kitchen. Plenty of storage space is a must in any commercial kitchen, so think vertically and buy stackable storage and prep items.

For the stations, a prep station must flow within your chosen kitchen layout, and chefs need quick access to their stations. Make sure there's a top-quality food processor here like the Waring Commercial Food Processor 1.75Ltr – capable of chopping, grinding, mixing and pureeing a huge range of foods fast.

And for the cleaning station, hygiene is paramount. Purchase high-quality cleaning appliances like the Washtech UL Under Bench Dishwasher and Glasswasher, which is perfect for cleaning glassware, utensils and crockery in a short amount of time – plus it's quiet!