How to Set Up a Small Restaurant Kitchen

Your kitchen is arguably the most important part of your restaurant. It is a place that can make or break your business. When set up properly, service delivery will be fast, and hazards will be effectively mitigated. Here are some tips that are helpful for setting up a small kitchen.

Tools You Need to Have

The equipment and tools that should be present in your kitchen depend on the kind of dishes you want to serve and the scale of your restaurant. A fast food joint will not need as many tools as a full-service restaurant that serves international dishes. However, some basic equipment that almost every restaurant will need includes:

• Microwave ovens
• Slicers
• Cutlery
• Electric or gas cooker

How to Keep the Kitchen Clean

You need to keep a checklist of the type of cleaning routine to do daily and weekly. Every day, you need to do things like sanitizing the food preparation area multiple times, cleaning the sinks and wiping down the kitchen equipment. Once a month, you can do more intensive maintenance like deep cleaning the ice machine and dusting fridge coils.

Basic Safety Tips

Avoid overcrowding in the kitchen by having a maximum number of people who can be there at every point in time. Too many staff in the cooking area can increase the chances of accidents, burns and injuries.

Always maintain a clear and unobstructed path to every entry to the kitchen. Don't heap stacks of boxes against the wall. Keep all flammable substances away from fires. Keep your staff updated with the necessary training to protect them from any form of hazards.

Your Kitchen's Layout is Important

Depending on the amount of space available, choose kitchen layout setups that promote efficiency. Optimize the available space in such a way that every staff member can perform their duties without getting in the way of other people. Three types of commercial kitchen layouts include:

• Assembly line kitchen layout
• Zoning kitchen layout
• Galley kitchen layout
• Island layout
• Open kitchen layout