A commercial kitchen is a hectic place, but you can calm the chaos and increase efficiency with a little cooking utensil rearrangement and a dollop of ancient wisdom.
Feng shui is the ancient Chinese concept of arranging rooms for optimal energy flow. And it’s not just for home makeover shows looking for higher ratings or life coaches going through an “Eastern philosophy” phase—it has practical applications in your commercial kitchen.
We’ll show you how to improve your restaurant kitchen’s efficiency simply by rearranging your commercial kitchen utensils and flatware. And, just for kicks, we’ll do it through the lens of kitchen feng shui. So prepare the prep spoons and grab the utility tongs—we’ll share some feng shui tips that’ll streamline your kitchen operations like magic.
Why does kitchen organization matter?
Every meal you send to the dining room takes time and effort to prep, cook, and plate. At peak, you’re churning out about 70 meals per hour, and each one requires several minutes of attention and care. It’s hard enough to deliver gorgeous, perfectly-cooked meals to every diner, every time—a chaotic kitchen makes it nearly impossible.
The damage of a disorganized kitchen
Working in the fast-paced, high-intensity conditions of a commercial kitchen, it’s easy to waste time and bungle orders. Food might get dropped or burned, driving up food waste and sinking your profits. Diners might receive the wrong food, leaving them hungry, annoyed, and primed to leave a poor review on social media.
When you’re really under pressure, you might under-cook a meal, putting your diners at risk of food poisoning—and your restaurant’s reputation on the line.
The benefits of an orderly kitchen
Organizing your kitchen utensils in an efficient manner helps you stay in control of your kitchen, even when the dining room’s packed and orders are flying in. You’ll stay cool and collected, knowing your tools and utensils are exactly where you need them.
Plus, you’ll shave minutes off the prep, cook, and clean-up time in your kitchen. You can create more meals, more quickly, and under less stressful working conditions—simply by organizing your tools.
3 tips for arranging cooking utensils and flatware for a more efficient kitchen
Streamlined operations benefit everyone from kitchen staff to servers. These tips will help you arrange your kitchen so it’s easier to work in for kitchen staff—and they’re feng shui approved!
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Get organized
Feng shui arrangements are based on flow, and the first step in creating a smooth flow is setting up your space. Create separate, and distinct zones in your kitchen for each stage of food preparation and cooking to keep things flowing smoothly and to avoid overcrowding—a no-no in feng shui and a hazard in your kitchen.
There should be areas for:
- Chopping and peeling vegetables
- Deboning and preparing meat
- Par-cooking
- Cooking
- Plating
In each zone, you should have the necessary tools and utensils on-hand. That’s where categorizing and organizing your utensils and tools comes in. Each utensil should appear in the kitchen near the area where it’s used the most.
Blades are particularly meaningful in feng shui, and the philosophy suggests keeping them away from common areas. In practical terms, it makes sense to be extra thoughtful with your knife storage to reduce the risk of injury. If you have the wall space, magnetic strips are a great place to store knives, as they free up extra space on the prep counter. Knife blocks are also a good choice, as they hide the sharp edges, making it safer for staff passing through the prep area.
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Materials matter
In feng shui for commercial kitchens, stainless steel gets top billing. It brings elements of precision, efficiency, and clarity to your kitchen—3 attributes that are super handy during a busy rush! Plus, stainless steel utensils are strong, heat resistant, and dishwasher safe.
That’s not to say that all of your kitchen utensils should be stainless steel—there will always be a place for high heat nylon, for instance—but where possible, it makes sense to invest in high-quality stainless steel materials.
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Keep it clean
Feng shui dictates that your kitchen utensils stay clean and in good working order. Dirty or tarnished utensils create negative energy, so you’ll want to clean and polish your tools regularly and store them in a clean, safe place.
You’ll also want to avoid leaving unused tools sitting idle. In feng shui, this causes their energy to become stagnant. On a practical level, it can create clutter in your kitchen and leave you with dirty, rusty tools. If you’re not using it, remove it. Make room for only the tools you need and take care of them.
Corby Hall—the flatware and dinnerware that goes with the flow
We know not everyone embraces feng shui in their kitchen layout, but no one can argue with the importance of high-quality dishes, flatware, and servingware! That’s why discerning chefs choose Corby Hall.
No matter what your restaurant kitchen throws at Corby Hall products, they’ll keep your restaurant or club running efficiently and looking great. Every piece is crafted from top-notch porcelain or stainless steel, giving you stunning-looking utensils and dishes that work hard in the back-of-house and look dazzling in the dining room.
Talk to the sales team, or browse our dinnerware and flatware collections to find the perfect pattern.
