The Way We Work: New Kitchen Math

Designers and chefs will tell you that efficiency of movement is essential to a well-run kitchen – whether it’s the kitchen in your favorite bistro on the one in your home or condo.

Historically, this perfect pathway has been known as the kitchen work triangle.  It consists of three imaginary lines connecting food storage (refrigerator), food prep (counter/sink) and cooking area (stove/oven). Typically the sink will be midway between the frig and stove to facilitate ease of movement for the cook. The goal is few wasted steps and no major traffic patterns cutting across the triangle.

And while the exact shape of the triangle (equilateral, isosceles, scalene) might vary based on the shape of  the kitchen – U, L, galley, square – the traditional work triangle concept has remained a fixture of kitchen design and construction…. until now.

Modern lifestyles = New Kitchen Math

Lifestyle changes and the introduction of a wide array of new appliances and tools ihave made it prudent to rethink basic ’ kitchen geometry.”

Consider these facts of modern culinary life:

q  There is often more than one cook in the modern kitchen. Or at least there is the home equivalent of  a chef and sous chef, as more couples and families discover the joy of cooking – together.

q  The kitchen is a key entertainment area. Friends gather to sip wine and munch on hors d'oeuvres or crudités as the main meal is being prepared.

q  Floor preparation may be performed on a freestanding island which has its own smaller sink.

q  Adjustable counter heights encourage participation by cooks and helpers of all ages and physical abilities.

q  Cook tops, freestanding ovens, convection ovens, microwaves and in-kitchen grills provide a variety of cooking options.

q  Multiple mini-refrigerators have helped decentralize food storage.

Making the “work triangle” work in your kitchen, or in the  luxury dream kitchen you are planning requires imagination, visualization and investigation.

Up next time: Perfecting Your Kitchen Triangle