Kitchen

A kitchen (also called jiko) is a room or space within a house, restaurant, hospital, or other building designed for storing, preparing, cooking, and cleaning food and cooking equipment. It is one of the rooms with the most technical infrastructure, because it brings together water, fire or electricity, and ventilation.

The layout of modern kitchens is based on three elements: a water area (sink), a cooking area (gas, electric, or wood), and a storage area (refrigerator, pantry). The coordination of these three is used to measure kitchen efficiency.

Brief history

For a long time, cooking took place in an open space or room with a fire and smoke escaping through a hole in the roof. Once compact metal stoves and later indoor water pipes were invented, the kitchen became a separate enclosed room. In the twentieth century, the 'compact kitchen' concept—in which appliances are arranged to minimize the steps required of workers—influenced residential home designs in Europe.

Components and equipment

Essential equipment includes the cooking surface (stove) and oven, sink, work counter, refrigerators, and pantry. Additional equipment includes dishwashers, microwaves, and exhaust hoods that remove steam and odors. In small houses, the kitchen can be set up as part of the living room (open kitchen).

Safety and sanitation

The kitchen is a place where fire and burn hazards can occur, because it contains hot oil, knives, and flame. Therefore kitchen design includes ventilation, non-slip flooring, and separation of raw and cooked food to prevent bacterial contamination. In commercial establishments, public health regulations define sanitation and storage standards.

Culture and society

The kitchen is considered one of the most labor-intensive spaces in the house in terms of time and work. Social scientists examine how kitchen work is divided among household members, and how changes in equipment and prepared food have reduced the hours spent cooking.