10 Chef-Approved Kitchen Features and Hacks That Will Change the Way You Cook

When dreaming of the ideal kitchen in your new-build home, homeowners who love to cook may benefit from taking a page from professional chefs and their approach to kitchen design: bigger isn’t necessarily better.   

 Professional chefs are homeowners too, and they incorporate their best practices from work in their own home kitchen design. An efficient kitchen saves time and steps for the chef, with tools and ingredients right where you need them. 

Homeowners with culinary aspirations are at an advantage with a new build, because they can thoughtfully and easily tailor features to meet their needs. Here is what you need in your home kitchen, according to the pros, to satisfy your gourmet ambitions. Yes, Chef! 

1. Sensible Layout With Good Traffic Flow 

Open concept is the top choice for professional and home chefs alike.  

Beyond that, the “kitchen triangle” is essential: the placement of the fridge, oven/stove, microwave, close to each other in a triangular formation.  

“Every second counts, especially when you're in a commercial kitchen, but the same goes for a home kitchen. If the stove and the kitchen sink are opposite sides from each other, that requires extra energy and time, and adds inconvenience walking back and forth,” says Peter Keo, caterer, co-founder, and executive chef at Amuse Okanagan. “Everything has to flow in a certain direction to minimize as many steps as possible,” he says. 

 Use smart space planning to accommodate multiple cooks, like they do in a commercial kitchen. Make sure there is enough clearance between counters, island, and appliances.  More questions to consider: 

• Do you cook with your spouse?  

• Do you invite guests to cook with you when you entertain? 

• Is it common for kids to move about in the kitchen while you are preparing meals?  

 2. Durable, Beautiful Prep Space 

Most commercial kitchens use stainless-steel counters for prep, mostly because they are durable and easy to sanitize.    

While homeowners need similar functionality, they also have aesthetic considerations when choosing counters. In addition to the look, think about how and what you cook the most, because not all counter materials are equal.   

For example, although wood (particularly butcher block) counters are trending in the kitchen, wood isn’t great with moisture, heat, or knife cuts. Serious home chefs should probably cross this one off the list. Better choices are quartz, granite, quartzite, or marble.  

• Marble is very popular with home bakers, as it has naturally cooling qualities, great for baked goods.  

• For natural stone, make sure to seal and maintain it to protect against damage. 

• Go for polished or sealed finishes, over textured ones, because they are easier to clean. 

3. Smart Storage  

The method and mantra of a professional kitchen is mise en place, which translates to "everything in its place.” When cooking, professional chefs have only what they need on the counter, and clean as they go. That’s why storage is so important in a commercial kitchen, and it should be in your kitchen too.  

“I set up my home kitchen storage to replicate a commercial kitchen, so all items are stored in specific places, and nothing is crammed in drawers or kitchen cupboards,” says Keo. Not only does this free up space for prep, it means that you can find what you need when you need it.  

Keo also recommends making use of vertical space, e.g., hooks on the walls for kitchen utensils or knife magnets, which reduce clutter in drawers.   

Must-Have Kitchen Features Inspired by Real Chefs:  

1. Good task lighting enhances safety and makes cooking easier. Homeowners should layer lighting, including over-range lighting and pot lights (recessed lighting). 

2. Auxiliary spaces to the kitchen are trending in open floor plans, and home chefs can replicate the restaurant with a walk-in pantry or messy kitchen with an extra fridge or dishwasher. 

3. A well-placed outlet is any cook’s dream, professional or not. Make sure there are adequate outlets in the right places for small appliances and chargers, including in the counters and island.

4. Multiple cooktops are among the must-have appliances in a professional kitchen. Homeowners can replicate this with a plug-in induction cooktop, which is great for large meal prep, or when entertaining. 

5. Professional chefs have access to warming stations and lamps to keep food warm when plating and serving. Home chefs may find warming drawers or dual ovens helpful in their kitchens. 

6. Multi-functional appliances save space and help homeowners replicate aspects of restaurant dishes. For Keo, an air fryer is now a staple in his home kitchen.  “I never used air fryers until last year, and the overall functionality of cooking anything you like in a fraction of the time without the mess and grease of frying is unparalleled.” he says.  

7. Two dishwashers are a common new-build upgrade, and can be helpful for any home chef who has a ton of dishes after cooking and eating. 

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