7.01 apply the elements of a functional kitchen types of kitchens

7.01 Apply the Elements of a Functional Kitchen

Types of Kitchens

Work Centers for kitchen activities:

Food Preparation & Storage– Counter for preparing food. – Refrigerator and cabinets for storing utensils and food.

Cooking & Serving– Stovetop and oven for cooking and baking. – Cabinets and counter for tools and utensils.

Clean Up– Sink and dishwasher.– Cabinets for storing dishes, tools, and utensils.

Today kitchens may also have a planning work center with a computer, bookshelves and desk.

Work Triangle

To make a kitchen efficient as possible you need to place the focus points of major work centers at the corner of imaginary triangle. Called a work triangle.

The total walking distance between refrigerator, sink & range should not exceed 21 feet.

Kitchen Work Centers – Work Triangle

The ideal work triangle follows the normal flow of food preparation. You move food from the refrigerator/freezer & take it to the sink for cleaning. From the sink food goes to range for cooking.

After cooking & eating leftover food is returned to refrigerator.

One Wall Kitchen

The range, sink, refrigerator and cabinets are arranged along one wall.

Saves space – usually in apartments

Very limited storage& countertop

Corridor Kitchen

Appliance and cabinets are arranged along 2 walls, with an aisle between them.

Usually has a compact efficient work triangle

If both ends of corridor are open can have interruption from people walking through

L-Shaped Kitchen

Appliances and cabinets are arranged along 2 adjoining walls. Allows an open area that may be used for dining.

More than 1 person can work in kitchen

Corner storage might not be fully accessible

U-Shaped Kitchen

Contains appliances and cabinets that are arranged along 3 adjoining walls.

The most desirable because most U-shaped have more continuous counter and cabinet space than other layouts.

Island/

A freestanding storage and countertop unit in a kitchen

May contain a second sink or a cooktop

Peninsula

A kitchen countertop that is attached at one end to a wall

Usually cabinets beneath countertop

Can serve as an open divider between the kitchen & a dining room or family room

Kitchen Sinks

Styles and colors to suit every style Can be round, square, oval: deep or shallow Can have single, double, triple bowls Can be made of porcelain, stainless steel,

acrylic

Refrigerators

Size depends on number of people in family

2 people = 16 cubic feet. Add 1.5 cubic feet for each additional person

Can be broken into different compartments separate for fruits, veggies, meats

Types of Refrigerators

One door: does not have a freezer, only a colder compartment. Will not keep food frozen

Compact: suitable for dorms, offices, hotels rooms. Not suitable for frozen foods or ice. Can be rented or purchased cheaply

Two door: most common type found in home. Has a separate freezer compartment that remains at about 0. Above, below, bedside doors

Refrigerator Special Features

Ice maker Ice cube & water dispenser in door Self defrosting freezer Movable glass shelves Deep door compartments Built in touch screen & bar code scanner for

inventory and so go online to order items at local store

Built in TV

Side AboveBelow

The recommended size of the refrigerator depends on the number of people in the household.

For 2 people use 16 cu.ft.

Add 1.5 cu.ft for each additional person.

Ex: Family of 4…..16 cu.ft. + 1.5 + 1.5= 19 cu.ft

Freezers

Style: Consider the product and its location in your home. Will an upright or chest freezer work better for you? A 14 cu. ft. upright freezer annually consumes less than half the energy needed to light a 100 watt bulb for the same period of time.

Chest type freezer: large, bulky packages are easier to store, use LESS energy because less cold air escapes when door is opened.

Disadvantages: Take up more floor space and food must be lifted out

Upright type freezers: food is easier to see and remove, takes up a small amount of floor space. Uses more energy.

Electric Ranges

Conventional Coil: electricity flows through wires encased in coils

Glass ceramic top: smooth top, coils are hidden, easy to clean, scratches easily

Halogen cartridges: uses electricity but provides instant heat just like gas

Induction Cook tops

Uses a magnetic field to generate heat in the bottom of cooking pots and pans which must also be magnetic.

Heat from the cookware then cooks the food NO heat is created on the range top. Cleanup is easy because spills do not burn

and coils are beneath a glass ceramic top

Gas Ranges

Heat is produced from the combustion process between gas and oxygen.

Gas is controlled with a valve with electronic igniters (required by law)

Conventional burners: do not fit snugly into cook-top so spills are difficult to clean

Sealed burners: No opening exists between burner and cook-top, easy cleanup

Styles of Ranges

Freestanding: Most common and comes in different sizes, colors, and has many different options. Oven is below the cook-top, may stand alone OR between cabinets.

Slide-in range : either slides into or rest on base cabinets. Usually chrome strips are used to cover the side edges and provide the built in look

Built-in range: provides cooking surface separate from the oven. Installed on a countertop, usually an island. Oven is installed in a wall, can have microwave installed above/below.

Warming Drawer: used to keep hot food warm until serving time. Used to warm plates and serving pieces.

Convection oven: bake foods in a stream of heated air, browns and cooks food faster at a lower temperature

Microwave oven: cooks with high-frequency energy waves. Can cook, defrost, & reheat foods. Come in many sizes and wattages, can be countertop or built-in

Food Waste Disposer

Installed below the sink to catch and grind most types of foods. Connected to a sewer line or septic tank.

COLD water is needed to help grind the scraps and flush them through the drain

Dishwasher

Dishwasher: saves time, energy & water. Uses hotter water & stronger detergents, dries dishes faster, can be built-in or portable, many have special cycles for pots, fine china, food disposer, quiet operation

Trash compactor

compress household trash to a fraction of its original volume.

Trash is placed into heavy duty plastic bags, trash compactors can handle almost any kind of nonfood trash, including bottles, cans & plastic containers

NOT intended for food scraps, flammable materials and aerosol cans

Resources

Housing and Interiors, pages 496-514 www.lowes.com www.homedepot.com www.whirlpool.com www.kitchens.com www.nkba.com www.sears.com www.geappliances.com www.energystar.gov www.hgtv.com www.bhg.com

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