Kitchen & Bath Business - October 2020 - 24

HOT TOPIC
hit every mark required for a perfectly designed
multi-cook kitchen.
Two work triangles are the key elements to a
multi-cook kitchen. A work triangle is the space
between the three work centers in your kitchen
during food preparation. And a key element of
this is clear traffic lanes among the sink, range
and fridge, which allows for speed, safety and efficiency while cooking.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR
A MULTI-COOK KITCHEN:

Cook(s) in the Kitchen
Design tips for accommodating multiple
players in the heart of the home

ABOVE "Meal prep always

looks like this in our house - all
of us in the kitchen at once,"
said Kurtz. "And our dog is
most deﬁnitely on the ﬂoor
waiting for scraps."

EVERY PARENT KNOWS that getting your kids to eat healthy can be a challenge, but give them macaroni and cheese, and most children are happy! As
we get older, we become more conscientious about the things we are eating
- especially if we are selecting and preparing it ourselves.
Food becomes more than just a meal put in front of us, it becomes a hobby
and a healthy routine when we learn to make choices we enjoy eating. The
same goes for children, and getting them involved in the kitchen can be an
easy way to encourage your kids to eat healthy foods along with you.
This is especially true now that more often than not, families are staying
in and eating healthy, home-cooked meals. This also means that there are
most likely more cooks in the kitchen, including children and other family
members.

CATERING TO THE KIDS

PLANNING A SPACE WITH MULTIPLE USERS IN MIND

One of the biggest things to consider while designing a kitchen is who will be
using it. Designing a space for more than one cook is a key piece in encouraging your kids to cook with you, and planning this out in advance can create
years of quality time spent in the kitchen together.
Create space for them to do their own thing in their own work area now
and as they get older. Give them the independence to create things on their
own while still being in the same room as you if they need help or guidance.
This is most often called a multi-cook kitchen and is the first thing to consider
in kitchen design.
In recent years, our house has become much busier. With a giant English
Bulldog who wants to be right there when the cooking goes down and a
little one who loves to be involved, we anticipated a full kitchen during meal
prep. And while planning our current kitchen remodel, we made sure to

24
24_KBB_1020_HotTopic.indd 24

The sum of the distance of the two work triangles should not exceed 26 feet, with no single leg
measuring more than 9 feet or less than 4 feet.
No major traffic patterns, such as a main walkway from one room to another, should cross the
work triangles.
You need a main sink, and the other can be a
prep sink.
Separate prep spaces include counter space next
to each sink and next to the range. It is recommended that there be 30 inches on each side of
the range.
It is recommended that there be 48 inches
(larger work aisles) between cabinets and/or
appliances for a multi-cook kitchen (42 inches
for a single-cook kitchen).
A six-burner range allows for each cook to have
their own side of the range and multiple burners
to accommodate their prep.
Sturdy step stools are great for little helpers at
the countertops.
Incorporate utensils that are kid friendly and
easy to grip for smaller hands.

By KATIE KURTZ,
a Minneapolis-based
designer with Adorned
Homes

A multi-cook kitchen not only benefits your
children's eating habits, but cooking with them
starting at a young age can help with many other
things such as independence, thinking, creativity
and problem solving. Kids need to figure things
out like, "What utensils do we need to prepare
this?""How much is a half cup?"
Start cooking with your kids at any age and
introduce new things that fit their abilities. Continue to add more responsibility as they get older.
Kids under the age of two love to mix ingredients
or unpack food from grocery bags. They can observe what you are cooking and help where it is
appropriate. Older children can start preparing
certain dishes on their own and will learn what
makes the dish better or worse. You can teach your
kids to make a simple dessert, one that they can do
on their own.Then they get to have a serving of the
dessert they made as a snack once a day, teaching
them more than just how to cook but how it is
okay to have treats in moderation.


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Kitchen & Bath Business - October 2020

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