5 Key Factors to Choosing Restaurant Shelving

During the lunch rush or dinner service, restaurant kitchens can become chaotic as orders need to be prepared, plated, and sent to customers all within a matter of minutes. Without proper organisation restaurant chefs and wait staff will not be able to get the food out on time quickly and safely.

With dozens of different ingredients, plates, cutlery, and cooking equipment making up a kitchen inventory, restaurant shelving becomes an integral part of keeping the workspace clean and tidy. Just as important as installing shelving capacity, is choosing the right kind of shelving for a kitchen environment. Read on to find out the key factors involved in making the decision on restaurant shelving.

1. Food-Safe Surface

Hygiene and sanitation are some of the top concerns for any restaurant business and that should extend to their shelving needs as well. Always look to get shelves that are certified to be food safe by trusted organisations like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). Generally chrome-plated or stainless steel rack shelvings are safe options to consider.

2. Durability

Restaurant shelves receive a lot of usage on both a daily and weekly basis. Chefs are constantly picking out ingredients and placing both hot and cold dishes on shelves constantly. Grocery shipments also mean that items on kitchen shelves generally get used and replaced quickly and the shelves themselves need to be durable and long-lasting.

Kitchen environments also play a part in choosing the right shelf. Kitchens can get hot while walk-in freezers can get very cold. Getting shelves that can handle both extremes of temperature prevents damage and reduces the need for replacement shelves.

If your restaurant has a plating area then your work tables also need to be food safe as well. Again, chrome-plated or stainless steel work tables in Singapore are good choices for their resistance to corrosion and the fact that they are easy to clean. A good choice for potentially messy kitchen environments where spills could happen.

3. Accessibility

Restaurant staff need quick and easy access to items on kitchen shelves. Their work is demanding, and having shelves that are easily accessible can save them a lot of time and effort. Size and height of shelves also need to be considered so that no member of staff has difficulty reaching for items and shelves can fit into cramped kitchen spaces.

4. Mobility

Restaurant kitchens can be evolving environments. Some days might be busier than others, menus can change, and staff numbers could increase or decrease as required. It can be useful to get shelving racks that are mobile and have castor wheels rather than mounting them to walls. This way they can be shifted to new configurations as required.

Stainless steel trolleys in Singapore are also a good option for restaurant owners. They can either be used in the kitchen to carry plates, move dirty dishes, or transport supplies to allow your staff to remain mobile while not taking up much space.

5. Safety

Safety is another important consideration for shelving in a restaurant kitchen. With hot stoves all around and people working in close proximity, it’s essential to get shelves that are safe for your staff. Shelves should be able to handle the weight of items put on them and should not be prone to suddenly giving way.

Shelving is a big part of planning a restaurant kitchen. Ideally you should consult experienced shelving providers to find out what kinds of shelves would best fit your needs and budget.

At Shelvings, we are a leading manufacturer of durable, heavy-duty shelves in Singapore. With years of industry experience, we understand the unique needs of our customers and look to provide them with the shelving solutions they require. Get in touch with us via our contact us page and send us your queries.