Wire Shelving Organization for Restaurant Kitchens
The restaurant world is no stranger to the hustle and bustle. However, a quick way to cripple a profitable and well-oiled restaurant operation is to have a disorganized and dysfunctional kitchen.
A good flow in the kitchen is critical to keeping up with the pace of a full dining room. Organizing your equipment and storage will allow your kitchen staff and chef(s) to continue pumping out delicious food and ultimately, keep your paying customers happy.
In this post, we’ll discuss stainless versus wire storage among other things. Keep reading for a few essential storage options to keep your restaurant kitchen organized. We’ve had many customers approach us with organization and storage issues related to the size constraints in their kitchens. We like to consider ourselves pretty darn good at what we do, but while we cannot expand the walls of your kitchen, our staff can help you maximize the space you have available when it comes to storage and arrangements so listen up!
Stainless vs. Wire Storage
We often advise customers that there should be a mix of stainless products in your kitchen. Stainless is among the most sanitary of materials, so it goes without saying it’s a good fit for any kitchen. Plus, stainless requires little maintenance which appeals to many restaurant owners and managers.
However, if you’ve done your homework, you know that stainless products come at a premium cost.
When we speak of stainless, we are talking about the heavy duty stainless countertops; wall mounted shelves, stoves, and ovens.
Wire storage relates to the heavy duty, but lighter weight product, often including truss supports and open mesh concept.
Stainless countertops come highly recommended by our staff as they encourage a good workflow and require less maintenance. The same holds true for wire shelving except, wire shelving typically comes at a lower price point.
We often hear that when it comes down to choosing stainless or wire storage, the wire is the preferred choice because of price and value.
There is no one size fits all in kitchens. But, we have found through feedback that the following items are successful in improving the flow of restaurant kitchens:
1. Freezer Wire Shelving
Freezer Wire Shelving works best for walk-in refrigeration units. It can handle all environmental conditions, hot or cold and has an epoxy coating over carbon steel components for added protection. It’s also simple to add casters for easily rearranging your walk-ins; the perfect storage unit for an organized restaurant freezer.
4 shelf, 69″ tall mobile freezer wire storage unit
2. Wall Mounted Shelving
Mounted wall shelves are excellent for taking advantage of vertical space. They keep kitchen items on the perimeter of the kitchen promoting natural flow. These shelves are often adjustable and can be used with snap-on shelf hooks to hang pots, pans, and other kitchen necessities.
3. Wire Shelving
Wire shelving is perfect for flatware, pans, spices, plates, etc., and the possibilities are quite endless. You can customize wire shelving with many accessory options too as well as find units that range from 2-5 shelves. Smaller units can be placed on top of food preparation areas for extra storage and easy access to kitchen items, while casters also make your storage mobile and easy to move about your kitchen.
4. Stainless 3-Bar Slides
These are ideal for food line and sous chef preparation areas. Heavy duty stainless finish holds up in harsh conditions, while 3-bar style allows food to fall through keeping it from sticking to bowls and plates being served. They are very common in cafeterias.
Conclusion
There are several things to think about when trying to design your restaurant’s kitchen. Improving flow and productivity should be at the forefront of any kitchen operation. Having the correct tools and storage is essential for achieving this.
Our staff at Omega Storage Solutions can help you design and select the right tools for the job and assist with kitchen layout. Call us today to speak with one of our representatives and see how we can improve your kitchen storage and productivity!
