From high energy costs to food safety and hygiene, staffing issues and equipment, there’s always a huge amount to think about when running a commercial kitchen.
One key decision is your choice of countrtop material. And it matters because it affects the style and functionality of your space, not to mention compliance with all relevant health and safety standards. Above all, the surface you choose must be capable of withstanding the high demands of a commercial cooking environment. That includes heat exposure, continuous cleaning, plus the extensive use of knives and other sharp instruments.
Here, we aim to provide an overview of the things you’ll need to think about:
Durability
This is one of the most important elements when choosing a worktop for a restaurant or other busy working kitchen. For all the reasons mentioned above, you’ll need a material that’s strong enough to withstand the rigours of a high-intensity commercial environment.
Hygiene and ease of cleaning
Obviously, these aspects are hugely important when you’re serving food to members of the public. Surfaces need to shrug off stains and bacterial growth. So choose materials which tend not to absorb moisture or harbour bacteria. This reduces the risk of contamination while making cleaning easier.
Heat resistance
Cookers and other heat sources are in constant use in kitchens, so there’s continual exposure to high temperatures. Therefore your countertops need to cope without discolouring, warping or otherwise deteriorating. They need to retain their appearance and functionality.
Think about what they look like
You clearly need to prioritise functionality, but what your worktops look like also matters. And that’s particularly the case if customers can see your kitchen. Select the best colour scheme and design features to suit the rest of your space, and indeed your brand as a whole.
Maintenance
Some materials require very little care throughout their lifespan, and need only some regular routine cleaning to stay looking their best. Meanwhile, others may demand specialist attention or things like resealing. The surface you choose should suit the operational needs of your kitchen. Equally, think about how much time and effort you’re prepared to put into the upkeep and maintenance of your worktops.
Marble, limestone or granite?
Of course, there’s plenty of choice these days, but two great options when it comes to natural stone are granite and marble. The former is known for its uniquely stunning look and myriad patterns and colours, including veined or speckled designs. What’s more, each piece is different. It’s also a very smooth stone, which, when you seal it properly, looks great. What’s more, its lifespan with proper care can be 20 years or more. So it’s genuinely a long-lasting investment.
Meanwhile, people know marble for its sophistication and luxurious aesthetic appeal. Plus the cool, smooth texture is ideal for certain tasks, including pastry making. Finally, marble’s polished finish looks seriously elegant.
Limestone worktops, for their part, offer durability, heat resistance and a unique look, which is warm and inviting, for example in a bar. It also withstands daily wear and tear well, including heat from hot pots and pans.
With these and other options, you have the opportunity to create the perfect surface for your commercial kitchen.
Talk to Royal Stone Care
Royal Stone Care can deal with everything you need for your natural stone maintenance, whether that’s granite repair, marble cleaning, limestone restoration in London. We have a skilled, expert team ready to protect your investment and keep your worktops looking their very best.
