A well-appointed kitchen makes all the difference when it comes to baking. Let’s face it, baking can be messy and time-consuming. More than simple cooking (a meal), baking demands precision and often involves several different kinds of appliances and tools. If you’re a baker and in the position to make changes to an existing or new kitchen layout, taking the time to consider the addition of certain key design features can help you bake tasty treats a lot more easily. Take a look at these tips for designing the ultimate baker’s kitchen space:
Make Space
Baking frequently involves rolling out dough, storing tools, and leaving items to rest before finishing them in the oven. If possible, think about creating dedicated areas for each step of the baking process.
- Counters — Experience suggests that the optimal counter height for mixing, kneading, and rolling out dough is around 30 inches (table height). Furthermore, a smooth, cool surface not only helps prevent dough from becoming overheated as it’s being worked, it better protects delicate ingredients, like butter and chocolate, from melting. Natural stone materials, for instance, hold their temperature, absorbing heat as the dough is worked but still staying relatively cool. Adding a low counter in marble or granite will help keep your body comfortable as you mix and knead and roll, and it will protect your ingredients and prevent your dough from over-fermenting and/or getting too sticky and tearing.
- Storage — In addition, you should remember to add a lot of storage space to your kitchen. There are several extra appliances (such as a mixer, blender, and food processor), as well as many specific baking tools, that are needed while baking. An ideal baker’s kitchen space will have a variety of storage options for all the bowls, cups, whisks, pans, racks, cookie sheets, etc. you need on hand to work effectively. Some suggestions include an appliance garage (for hiding stand mixers and other small baking appliances); roll-out drawers (for easy access to utensils, pans, and cups); divided cabinets (for vertically storing sheet pans, cutting boards, and muffin tins); and open shelving (for displaying bowls and cake stands). Of course, you also need a plan for storing pantry staples like flour, sugar, chocolate, and seasonings. You can often make creative use of horizontal spaces between cabinets for smaller items like spice jars and oils. Or you can always design a custom pantry; just remember to leave enough space for airtight storage containers so your baking ingredients remain fresh.
Choose Appliances Carefully
As mentioned, baking requires several different types of appliances. In addition to the multiple smaller appliances you’ll likely want to buy, you’ll also need a variety of built-in and/or free-standing standard appliances made especially for a baker’s kitchen space. Indeed, the right appliances will be better equipped to maintain or provide access to the precise temperatures required for many baking recipes. A large refrigerator with a bottom freezer, for example, allows room for ingredients and dough to properly chill (i.e., on large horizontal trays and pans) between recipe steps. A double oven means you can bake multiple things (at separate temperatures) at once, as does a good-sized range or stove. But don’t forget about adding a large sink and good dishwasher to your baker’s kitchen space. While they might not add to the quality of your baking results, they will definitely improve your efficiency, saving you valuable time at the end of a long day!
The Capitol Kitchen and Bath Advantage
These are just a few tips for creating the perfect baker’s kitchen space. For other suggestions, please contact our design team at Capitol Kitchen and Bath. We have experience creating kitchens for our clients that are both functional and beautiful and would be excited to see what we could offer you, too.
