On average, an American home cook spends approximately an hour-and-a-half in a day preparing for food and cleaning up the mess. And to ensure the time spent in the kitchen improves, the homeowners often install various sinks. This can change the game in the kitchens of those who wish to enter or have big families. The secondary sinks have several names, usually based on their location and purpose. Here, the prep sink just fits the purpose. And to stay sure, akin to a pot filler faucet or a wine refrigerator, it is a piece of extravagance that a few homeowners can’t stay without when they have known how useful it is. The prep sinks is very useful, but there are many reasons to love it. The important ones are:
1. It is convenient
The practicality and proximity are two factors to consider when you want to install this sink. You certainly want to locate it at a distance from the primary sink so that it’s logical. Also, it would help if you placed it in a way so that it’s easy to carry out the desired task. For example, if you wish to use it mostly as a food prep sink, make sure to install it where there is ample counter space. In that case, a sink aimed to help in the cocktail making will be near or on the bar. And to cater to multiple purposes, some people add in many sinks in the kitchen layout.
2. It acts as your island sink
The several locations where you can use the prep sink can surprise you. However, most of the time it benefits the kitchen island. It’s a place where most of the food prep gets done. Also, the sink on an island also motivates interaction and conversation compared to the sink against a window or the wall. A few are at the middle of the island and some get set off to another side, based on the design choices and the island size.
3. Adding more fun to entertainment
Often people come across imaginative ideas during their cocktail parties. Most of the items needed for preparing a cocktail are kept on a shelf. Here you can consider an entertainment prep sink to add more spark to your party.
4. Enables several cooks
One would like to think that prep sinks will make cooking more social, communal and certainly more comfortable. It’s mostly because of the added sink at the time of a dinner party on a holiday. And it’s usually the time when several people in the kitchen are preparing meals and are cleaning up.
Improve the design aesthetics- Prep Sinks
You can add to the lavish factor by adding a total showstopper and catering to several décor styles – right from new-age to rustic. You can install an under-mount, apron-front, drop-in, as a narrow trough or deep bowl in a mix of materials, from copper to cement.
A few essential considerations
The use and the size
The prep sinks can get customized as the three-layered sink along with the disposer welded in the sink bowls or the top. Usually, this type of sink comes using a polymer cutting board which fit’s the top of the bowl. It enables cutting and trimming the vegetables and fruits. The scraps can go to the disposer. You need to check with the local inspectors for understanding any rules for placing the prep sinks and using devices, like disposers. It’s because the regulations can vary in different municipalities. And when it’s not used, you can store the cutting boards in the stainless-steel holder.
The generic prep sink size is 4 to 6 feet long. It has a width of 24 to 36 inches. The welded bases are available but it tends to be expensive. Hence, it is essential for the prep sinks to be huge enough to hold the bulk product needed for rinsing and washing.
The considerations for purchasing
The majority of the operators don’t opt-in for a cutting table when they are selecting a prep sink. Experts say that the workstation is an essential part of the design. And the operators need to think concerning the device place, irrespective of placing a cutting space on a single side or both sides.
The amount of prep sink required by an operation gets based on the number of hours the staff will be using the sink. It also depends on the product volume. In certain cases, the operators can select the three-tiered sink, but every municipality might not require it. Usually, sinks aren’t a big investment. The operators are able to save labor hours for doing more than a single task at one time. You need to realize that operators primarily use prep sinks to slice fruits, vegetables, and clean food. It’s not conducive to handwashing.
The maintenance and cleaning
You need basic maintenance and cleaning for prep sinks. The frequent sanitizing and cleaning of the sinks should be avoided to avert corrosion and rust. You can make use of mild water and soap or even the non-abrasive cleaners for cleaning stainless-steel sinks as the abrasive cleaner might dull and scratch the surface. Once the cleaning gets done, make sure the sink is dry.
You need to maintain the drains as well, as it can leak. Experts recommend the use of drain screens. Updating the drains is one of the essential parts of maintaining the prep sink. And there is need for maintenance when the drain or the faucet leaks. And physically, what wears out from the original sink is the edges that can get damaged from pans running across them. Even the welds can get broken. And this occurs over a period.
Finally, you need to know that prep sinks will last you for 10 to 20 years. If you find that there are broken drain systems, faucets and welds, it indicates that the sink is failing and requires to be get fixed or it needs an update. You don’t need to replace a sink till such time you need a bigger size.
