Kitchen Work Zones

The Cook Zone is the primary work zone within the kitchen where the food is actually being cooked. The Cook Zone includes cooking appliances such as a range or a cooktop with separate wall ovens, steam oven, warming drawer, microwave, or any other cooking-related appliances that are ideally located within proximity to the Prep Zone. A well-designed Cook Zone will often include plenty of organized storage for commonly used items such as pots and pans, cooking utensils, trivets, oven mitts, and hot pads.

The kitchen Clean-up Zone generally consists of an area that includes a kitchen sink and a dishwasher that is separate from the Prep and Cook Zones. This zone is dedicated to the care and clean-up of items that are used during the cooking process and after a meal. When designing your new kitchen, the Clean-up Zone should be centered around the kitchen’s primary sink and focused on creating a smooth, simplified workflow.