A commercial kitchen produces food for resale or distribution. It can be an in-house facility, such as a school cafeteria, where the cooks prepare meals daily, or a large factory with staff cooking full-time to produce many different types of ready-to-eat foods.
To successfully run a commercial kitchen, here is a checklist of items to consider for your particular business needs.
Floor Plan and Layout
The floor plan and layout is important because it will determine how effectively the food production area is used. An efficient floor design will work towards the most excellent output, optimal food quality and safety, and ease of operation of a commercial kitchen.
Staffing, Hiring, and Training
Staffing, hiring, and training staff is a significant consideration for any commercial kitchen. Hiring the wrong people can lead to expensive errors in food preparation, food contamination, and many health liabilities.
A commercial kitchen has to have a clear process in place for hiring qualified candidates capable of handling specific equipment and doing kitchen tasks.
Training is also an integral part of maintaining a healthy and productive commercial kitchen. The training process should include education on safety, sanitation, food preparation, menu planning, and costing.
Equipment and Tools
For a commercial kitchen, having the right equipment is essential. The wrong equipment can result in severe injuries to staff and damage to food. A cook will not be able to function without the proper tools.
Equipment and tools vary depending on the kitchen size and the business’s necessities.
Restaurants, coffee shops, and cafeterias need to be ready with all the restaurant supply basics, like coffee cups, food bags and containers, and food preparation appliances like ovens, grills, and fryers.
Food Supplies and Ingredients
High-quality food supplies and ingredients are a crucial element of a commercial kitchen. Inability to get the right food supplies quickly can make it impossible for production to continue.
Commercial kitchen operators and owners need to find suitable and trustworthy suppliers who can provide the best quality food supplies and ingredients to please the customers and avoid shortage issues.
Inventory Control
Inventory control includes purchasing the right amount of raw materials needed for production and having procedures in place to monitor inventory levels so stock doesn’t run out before it’s time to re-order again.
Inventory control is about efficiently ordering supplies needed for day-to-day operations. without this, too much capital will be wasted on ingredients that will spoil if not sold quickly enough.
Food Storage and Preparation Guidelines
It is crucial to have a process for safely preparing, cooking, and storing food in a commercial kitchen. Food needs to be prepared at specific times of the day for it to be ready when needed.
Some foods will need refrigeration, while others may require freezing or even canning. Labels must be properly attached, or a system must exist for labeling ingredients within containers.
Without clear guidelines on handling food items, business owners risk spoiling food products and potentially exposing staff and patrons to dangerous bacteria.
Sanitation
Sanitation is critical within the commercial kitchen environment. The wrong food-handling hygiene practices can lead to foodborne illnesses which can be fatal.
Pest control should be a priority as well. Pests contaminate food and create a dangerous environment for staff members to work in.
Keeping the air clean is also a must. Proper ventilation is essential in this setup, as it will remove irritants and facilitate temperature control. Installing quality exhaust systems, such as ZLine range hoods, should be a priority when building any commercial kitchen.
Everyone working in a commercial kitchen must follow proper sanitary procedures while on the job. This includes not only food handlers but all staff members who come into contact with ingredients or finished products.
Waste Disposal
Waste disposal is another essential element in commercial kitchen management. Waste must always be disposed of properly to minimize dangerous substances brought into the environment.
The wrong kinds of waste can contaminate nearby soil and nearby water sources if not disposed of correctly.
Food also needs to be disposed of in a timely fashion to not build up an unsanitary environment for workers operating within commercial kitchens.
Kitchen Personnel Safety
Kitchen personnel safety is another key aspect of running a successful commercial kitchen operation. Ergonomics plays a vital role in ensuring that the workplace is safe and has the best setup for workers.
Kitchen equipment and tools should be ergonomically safe, easy to use, and regularly inspected to prevent costly injuries.
Production Schedule and Workflow
A commercial kitchen needs to make sure it has a system for scheduling and communicating the production schedule with staff members.
This includes having a plan for communicating food orders to suppliers and ensuring employees know how much time they have to produce a certain product or food.
Without such a system, there is a risk of missing food items or overproducing certain foods, leading to waste and spoilage.
Quality Assurance Standards
Quality assurance standards are fundamental to the management of a commercial kitchen. There should be clear guidelines for workers on what is expected of them and the products for sale or release.
This will help to ensure that quality standards are met, and customers get exactly what they ask for.
Utilities and Safety Systems
All commercial kitchens need to have adequate safety systems in place. This includes having an installed fire extinguishing system, proper ventilation, and maintained floors suitable for large volumes of foot traffic.
All areas must be adequately supplied with lighting, preferably natural light, whenever possible. It is also important to make sure that these safety standards align with the government health standards for commercial kitchens in the area.
Conclusion
A commercial kitchen is an important asset for any business which sells foods to the public. Having a well-designed and well-implemented system in place will help ensure that food products meet safety standards while also keeping operating costs down.
Commercial kitchens work hard to produce food that tastes great while adhering to health regulations. There is an intense level of coordination with all staff members having a shared goal of preparing quality products safely and efficiently. This commercial kitchen checklist will help ensure successful commercial kitchen operations.
___________________________________________________
Some other articles you might find of interest:
Make your business rock with these business plan writing skills:
Startup’s Guide to Write a Business Plan
Would you like to know how investors value a startup?
How Do Investors Value a Startup?
