A professional-grade kitchen pairs unparalleled functionality with luxurious style to create a design that accommodates even the most adventurous chefs. Whether you are a professional chef looking to bring your work amenities into the home or the family cook who wants the convenience of a professional kitchen, upgrading your kitchen to the professional level requires a couple of significant steps. The primary characteristic that differentiates an average consumer kitchen from a professional grade kitchen is the quality of appliances at every point of the kitchen work triangle. A professional grade kitchen has premium kitchen appliances for food storage, cooking and cleaning. Secondary to that are auxiliary appliances outside of the traditional work triangle and a cohesive style in all the kitchen materials.
Invest in High-Quality Appliances for a Professional Grade Kitchen
To successfully set up a professional kitchen at home, you need to invest in high-quality appliances from reliable brands. Three critical pieces of equipment you need for your space that you can find in a kitchen appliance package are:
- Range: Whether you opt for a gas or electric range, look at models with multiple simmer burners along with a bake and broil element.
- Refrigerator: Your refrigerator is integral to your professional grade workspace organization. Choose a model with sufficient storage and several distinct compartments so you can access what you need quickly.
- Dishwasher: Adding a dishwasher to your kitchen setup increases efficiency by allowing you to clean more dishes simultaneously. It also provides a deeper, more sterile clean than washing dirty dishes by hand.
Make a Professional Work Triangle
The kitchen work triangle is a term to describe the three most functional points of the kitchen: the refrigerator, range and sink/dishwasher. This layout was invented in the 1940s and has persisted because of its utilitarian benefits. It is currently recommended that each point of the triangle be 4 ft. to 9 ft. apart. A shorter distance makes the kitchen cramped, and longer creates an inefficient kitchen workspace. A professional work triangle adheres to these guidelines, and each point is composed of a high-end kitchen appliance. If you want a professional-grade kitchen, you too will need professional-grade appliances set up in the work triangle to facilitate efficient cooking.
The Cooking Point
When we think of kitchens, we think primarily of a range and range hood. It is the centerpiece of the professional kitchen, so it must accommodate all potential cooking escapades. A professional range should have more than four burners with varying BTU ratings and possibly a griddle as well. The oven should be spacious with many rack inserts. Six cubic feet of oven space is standard for professional grade kitchen ranges.
No professional kitchen is complete without a powerful range hood. The range and range hood often come in a kitchen appliance package because specific hoods are built to match stylistically and functionally with a certain range. If you opt to get your range and range hood separately, the general rule is to get a range hood a bit larger than your range. The ventilation required in a professional grade kitchen is significant, so it is better to have more ventilation than you need rather than not enough.
The Storage Point
The storage point of the triangle refers to cold storage rather than dry storage. That means the refrigerator is the storage point of the triangle and not the kitchen cabinets. Premium refrigerators suitable for a professional-grade kitchen are durable and easy to clean, have ample and adjustable storage space and match your kitchen’s design. A professional refrigerator should have at least 20 ft3 of storage and adjustable shelving and be made of stainless steel. Other important features include an icemaker, humidity-controlled shelves for perishables and door ajar alarms to ensure energy efficiency during hectic cooking sessions. Opt for a black stainless steel finish to match a dark modern kitchen or keep it chrome to accommodate any style.
The Cleaning Point
Based on the theory that the three main workstations in your kitchen should form a triangle, the third point is the cleaning area. This part of the setup includes your sink and dishwashing area. In modern homes, a dishwasher is often a critical component of the cleaning point of the triangle, along with bins located under the sink for compost, garbage and recycling.
Consider ways to increase the efficiency of your professional work triangle based on the type of sink you choose to install at the third point. A double bowl kitchen sink provides an area to wash and dry your dishes without compromising counter space for a drying rack. However, a farmhouse-style single bowl sink makes it easier to clean large pots and pans because of the increased space in the bowl. Think about what type of meals you frequently cook, how many people you entertain and what your cleanup process looks like to determine which sink style will complement your professional kitchen layout best.
Counter Space in the Work Triangle
While counter space isn’t one of the points of the work triangle, it serves an essential function in professional kitchens and the food prep area of the work triangle. Flanking both sides of the cooking point in the triangle should be significant counter space. The counter space should not impede into the triangle’s lines any more than 12 inches. The counter material should be stain resistant, durable and resistant to heat damage. Engineered stone options like a quartz countertop are ideal because they are low maintenance, easy to clean and nearly indestructible. Quartz also comes in hundreds of styles to match your kitchen appliances, cabinetry and flooring.
Become a Professional in Your Own Home
If you’re passionate about cooking, you can have the experience of working in a professional grade kitchen from the comfort of your own home. All you have to do is design the layout of your workspace with the triangle concept in mind for a flow that promotes efficiency, allowing you to do your best cooking. Supplement a great workstation design with high-quality appliances, and you’ll be whipping up meals like a head chef in no time.
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