Kitchen Work Zones

Primary Kitchen Work Zones

There are three primary kitchen work zones in every home. The purpose of zones in the kitchen is to create areas of focus where all the necessary tools and equipment for accomplishing a specific type of task are conveniently located within easy reach of one another.

To plan work zones for your kitchen:

Identify the different types of work that you do in your kitchen (mixing, cooking, storing, cleaning).
Figure out what tools are needed for each type of task.
Designate areas, or zones, within the kitchen for doing the different tasks you've identified.

Thinking of your kitchen in these terms and organizing it accordingly will help you to establish an orderly, functional, clutter-free work space.

The three primary kitchen work zones center on the three major appliances or fixtures that make up the backbone of the kitchen: the refrigerator, the sink, and the oven/range. Let's examine each one more closely.

The Refrigeration Zone

The main function of the refrigeration zone is, not surprisingly, keeping foods cold. Simple and straightforward as that may seem, this is an oft overlooked kitchen work zone. In addition to the fridge itself, the refrigeration zone should include the nearby countertop and cabinet space. Ideally, you should have a minimum of 18 inches of counter space on the latch side of the refrigerator. That way you don’t have to close the refrigerator door or reach around it in order to access the counter space.

The section of countertop adjacent to the fridge serves as a sort of landing/launch pad for holding food as it goes into or comes out of the fridge. In addition, this area can be used for filling food storage containers to place in the fridge. If you don’t have counter space beside your refrigerator, a nearby kitchen island will work (see the image below for an example of this).

Any cabinets or drawers in this area of the kitchen should be used to house items that relate to the function of this primary kitchen work zone. See the list below for suggestions.

What to store in the refrigeration zone:

Bottle opener
Ice cream scoop
Serving utensils such as slotted spoons, salad tongs, etc.
Food storage containers for food going into the refrigerator – to include zippered freezer bags
Serving dishes for cold food (such as salad bowls, ice cream bowls, etc.)
Glasses – The tendency is to store glasses near the dishwasher, but it makes sense to store them near the refrigerator as well since this is most likely where you fill them. You have to decide which is more convenient for you based on the layout of your kitchen.

The Wash Zone

The wash zone is the most multi-functional kitchen work zone. This is where everything from fruits and vegetables to dishes and hands get washed. In addition, this center supplies water for drinking and for cooking.

This is the most frequently accessed area of the kitchen and the most likely to experience a traffic jam. Ideally it should include a fair amount of counter space to one side at least (30-36 inches is preferable) for draining, drying, and staging.

What to store in the wash zone:

Hand soap
Dish washing supplies (liquid dishwashing soap, dishwasher detergent, scrubbers)
Dish cloths and towels
Dish drainer
Colanders and strainers for rinsing and draining food
Glasses (if not stored elsewhere)
Pitchers and reusable water bottles

The Cooking Zone

The cooking zone needs to accommodate stove top cooking, baking, broiling, and maybe even microwaving so storage in this zone is at a premium.

What to store in the cooking zone:

Pots and pans and their accompanying lids
Casserole/baking dishes
Baking pans (muffin, bread, cookie, pizza)
Serving dishes & bowls
Common cooking utensils: can opener, whisks, stirring spoons, turners, thermometers, ladle, pasta server, etc.
Herbs & spices
Cooking oils

Sample Layout of Primary Kitchen Work Zones

Notice in the diagram below that the refrigeration zone and the wash zone overlap, sharing a section of counter space. Not only is this OK, it’s quite common. Think of zones as fluid transitions within your kitchen from one activity or task to another. They will frequently overlap in much the same way as the activities they support.

The refrigeration zone, wash zone, and cooking zone represent the basics of kitchen organization. In addition to these primary kitchen work zones, there are several potential secondary zones that you may wish to identify and establish in your kitchen to maximize efficiency and functionality. Click on the image below to read more about these specialized kitchen work zones.

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