Design and Material Considerations in Installing Stainless Steel Benches in Commercial Kitchens
23 January 2020There are a lot of things to consider in purchasing items for commercial kitchens, unlike in residential kitchens. Your appliances as well as your workbenches must be sturdy and durable enough to take on a heavy load of work for a longer period of time. That is why most commercial kitchen owners commonly prefer stainless steel benches. However, these stainless steel benches are still varied in types and designs. Below are design and material considerations in installing stainless steel benches in commercial kitchens.
Design Considerations
Drawers
Drawers that allow you to keep tools such as knives, gloves, and labels at hand will make working in the kitchen much more time-efficient, which is crucial in a commercial kitchen environment.
Casters
Stainless steel benches that come equipped with caster are really convenient, allowing your staff to move the bench freely as they please. This is particularly useful for cleaning purposes. Nevertheless, note that the casters will increase the height of the workbench.
Under-shelves
Another design particularity that many commercial grade benches come with is under-shelves. When you have a small commercial kitchen, this means that you should maximise all the space you have at your disposal – otherwise, chaos will sink in. A bunch of under-shelves attached to your workbench can be life-saving for storing small ware and extra equipment.
Material Considerations
18-Gauge Stainless Steel
An 18-gauge stainless steel is considered as the most affordable choice for benches. However, it is not as durable as compared to its more expensive counterparts. It is advisable to use for preparing salads, sandwiches, sorting items, or even providing the necessary space for general work. Since it is more prone to dents and dings, it is not advisable to load heavy items on the surface of the workbench.
16-Gauge Stainless Steel
This is a good option for commercial units that seek a balance between affordability and quality in steel benches. It is still affordable but its durability ranks higher than an 18-gauge. Aside from that, it is also versatile meaning that such a workbench is compatible with most applications.
14-Gauge Stainless Steel
Furthermore, if your priority is getting a higher degree of durability and quality, then this alternative should most likely meet your needs. Many times, butchers choose this type of worktable because it can resist heavy-duty use, being suitable for rough applications, without having to worry about denting or anything of the kind.
Type 304
One of the most popular types of stainless steel is type 304. It is rust and corrosion resistant with high nickel and chromium content and low carbon level. This mineral content allows heavy-duty utilisation since it can successfully fit into any commercial environment and be the perfect fit. Sanitising such a table is effortless, as well as maintaining it in top form. This is what makes it ideal for busy commercial kitchens.
Type 430
Type 430 stainless steel is a lower grade of steel, which includes a degree of iron and chromium. This means that this type of stainless steel isn’t as resistant to corrosion as other types. Still, it would be a decent option for environments with mild susceptibility to corrosion. Plus, it is quite low-cost while being a good option for working with veggies and fruits, plating meals and combining ingredients.
Have your commercial kitchen stainless steel bench installed by Metcon Steel. Aside from that, we can work with you to design, fabricate and if needed install your customised projects and sheet metal needs.
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