Food And Nutrition
Strand 2
Work centers, storage areas, kitchen types and features.
If students understand the basics of kitchen planning and organization they will better utilize their kitchens.
Kitchens are used as multipurpose rooms, i.e. dining, social area, play area, office/study area. You want to make the best possible use of the space you have.
Kitchens are divided into work centers or areas for a particular type of work activity. The standard four areas are explained as follows:
Some kitchen floor plans are much better than others because they allow the work to flow more smoothly. The more that the range, refrigerator and sink are located so that each is at the point of a triangle, the better. This is called the Work Triangle.
In food preparation the work flows from refrigerator to cabinet, to the cleaning food if necessary, to preparing, to cooking and serving. Ideally, the sink should be between refrigerator and range. You don't want people walking through the kitchen to get from one area of the house to another -- that causes confusion/congestion/accidents.
FIVE MOST COMMON KITCHEN FLOOR PLANS
One Wall: appliances/cabinets/counters are along one wall - most often found in small apartments; very limited storage and counter space.
Corridor: appliances/cabinets/counters are arranged on two facing walls - efficient if not too long and both ends do not have doors; doors at both ends cause confusion.
L-Shaped Kitchen: appliances/cabinets/counters are along two adjoining walls - work triangle can be long. This is efficient because the remaining space is used for other activities.
U-Shaped: appliances/counter/cabinets are along three adjoining walls. Generally, this has the best traffic pattern, work pattern and shortest walking distance between appliances.
Island: use with one of the previous four kitchen plans. This is best in a kitchen with a large square footage. The island is a separate counter space. It may contain a surface cooking unit.
ACTIVITIES:
Describe what could happen if you didn't have a counter next to the refrigerator?
Imagine that you are cooking. Describe what it would be like if all our pots and pans were on the opposite side of the kitchen from the range.
What would happen if you used the counter near the range center to make a cake?
Explain what will happen if there is a door or entry way at both ends of the corridor floor plan?