Saving time is critical for a busy Atlanta family. With family activities, the demands of work, and long commutes taking over most of their hours, homeowners struggle to manage their time—and this struggle begins every day in the kitchen.
A 2016 study reports that even with the hectic pace, 58% of full-time workers still cook 3 to 6 times a week. The study also shows that 23% of the respondents cook for more than an hour, 50% cook from 31 minutes to 1 hour, 24% cook from 16 minutes to 30 minutes, and 3% cook for less than 15 minutes.
Some people don’t have much time to spend preparing and cooking meals daily, and we’re not even taking into consideration the clean-up time yet. Fortunately, there are several changes you can make in your kitchen that can help you save time. Through a kitchen remodel, Atlanta contractors can help you create time-saving improvements.
Utilize the Action Triangle
The action triangle is composed of the three most important elements in your kitchen: the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator. This area should be kept as compact as possible, so that you can easily move from one equipment to another. A contractor can help you plan a space that does not restrict your movements and enables you to keep all the components of the action triangle within reach.
Designate Activity Zones
Having a designated activity zone for your usual preparation set-up can make you work faster as it limits unnecessary movement around the kitchen. Your main cooking area should also house the cookware necessities, such as chopping boards, knives, pans, and the like. If you regularly bake or make blended juices, create compact areas as well with the tools you need for these activities. You can even have a contractor customize these zones to have pull-out areas where you can have a surface for kneading dough or for juicer storage.
Organize Your Stations
While your activity zones are focused on preparing and cooking food, your stations are dedicated to storage. Having a place for everything and keeping tools and suppliers in place can save time spent on looking for misplaced objects. Here are some of the common stations found in time-saving kitchen layouts:
- Food storage station. Not all perishable food items have to be stored inside the refrigerator. You can get spices or canned food you need quickly by having a narrow pull-out cabinet that can be placed right beside the fridge.
- Non-food storage station. You can use this area to keep food containers, as well as appliances that you do not use as often. Labeling drawers is also a great way to keep track of things stored in the non-food storage station.
- Cleaning station. The cleaning station is usually by the sink or dishwasher. This is usually a cabinet where you store cleaning materials like dishwashing soap and gloves.
Save Time with a Well-Planned Kitchen
A kitchen with a well-planned layout not only makes chores easier, but also gives you more time to spend with the people and on the things you love. Consult a kitchen remodel contractor to know more about the time-saving options you can apply in your home.
Sources:
Julia Child Would Be Thrilled: Most Americans Prefer to Cook at Home, ReportLinker.com
Americans Spend an Average of 37 Minutes a Day Preparing and Serving Food and Cleaning Up, USDA.gov
7 Ways to Make Your Kitchen More Efficient, PamperedChef.com
