What’s the Right Equipment for a Correctional Facilities Kitchen?
There are millions of people currently incarcerated in the U.S. Every single one of those prisoners is entitled to three meals a day. That’s a lot of food coming out of a lot of kitchens. It isn’t easy to run a correctional facilities kitchen because there are always a whole lot of mouths to feed. Do you know what kind of commercial kitchen equipment you need to get the job done? Do you know how to purchase cafeteria equipment and how to run a kitchen? Food is essential in any jail or prison. Now, you need to know the essentials of keeping a correctional facilities kitchen running smoothly and efficiently.
The Equipment in a Correctional Facilities Kitchen
There is a lot of food service equipment needed in any correctional facilities kitchen. Many correctional facilities provide food and shelter for thousands of inmates. In some facilities, meals may be conducted for all the inmates at once, while others may use shifts to get everyone fed. Either way, it’s up to the kitchen to provide safe and nutritious food for all the prisoners.
Of course, every correctional facilities kitchen needs certain basic equipment. A large, commercial refrigerator for food storage, a commercial oven, stovetops, and a commercial ice machine will all be necessary. The kitchen will also need a large prep area where food can be chopped and otherwise prepared for mealtimes. Don’t forget about the cafeteria equipment that will be needed, such as trays for carrying the food and utensils for serving and eating the food. Napkins, forks, (dull) knives, and spoons will all be needed. The kitchen workers will need tongs, large spoons and forks, and sharper knives in order to prepare and serve the food.
A Good Correctional Facilities Kitchen Design
Good use of space is essential in any correctional facilities kitchen. You need to make the most out of the space and still maintain a design that’s safe for the staff, the inmates, and the guards who may be working in the kitchen. Keep the prep areas near the food storage spaces.
The correctional facilities kitchen should also have sinks for washing food and utensils, and sinks and dishwashing areas for cleaning dishes and trays. May correctional facilities kitchen designs include a large, commercial dishwasher. These machines are capable of washing trays and the tools associated with food service.
Remember to have places to dispose of food waste and other trash as well. NO kitchen is complete without this. If you’re familiar at all with restaurant kitchen design or school kitchen design, you already have a good idea of how to design an efficient correctional facilities kitchen.
There were 2,162,400 people in federal and state prisons in 2016. That’s a lot of mouths to feed, and that’s why designed and equipping a great correctional facilities kitchen is so important.
