Chances are you’re like millions of other people who struggle to keep their kitchen pantry neat and organized. Unfortunately, the design used by manufacturers for shelving remains inadequate to this day. Regardless of whether the pantry was small or large, or used in a commercial setting, if done with the right type and style of shelving it would save a lot of time and effort. Although this would be beneficial in the home, for commercial kitchens time is money so proper organization is a must. Regardless of your situation, instead of relying on an off-the-shelf solution, it might be time to consider custom pantry shelving.
For a situation like this, it would be important to contract with multiple manufacturers, requesting that a representative come to the home or restaurant to view and discuss the space, along with your specific needs. For this, the professional would determine the types of food and equipment kept in the pantry, the amount of traffic in and out of the space, and any special needs. For example, if the wine was kept in the pantry, this would be considered or if some form of overhead storage was needed, the professional would take note.
With the information collected, the professional would offer the best recommendation. Stainless steel shelving would typically be suggested for a variety of reasons. For one thing, this material is extremely strong, capable of supporting significant weight as long as the mounting system has been installed correctly. Also, stainless steel is durable, so even if the shelving were installed in a home, it would last much longer than any other material such as wooden shelving. Shelving of this type is also sanitary, which is essential for commercial restaurants. Since steel is a non-porous material, problems such as bacteria getting into small cracks or mold growth would be prevented.
If the manufacturer’s representative saw that a lot of people would have to go in and out of the pantry, floating overhead cabinets might be a great option. With this, the cabinets would be within reach making them fully functional but out of the way to help open up the space. Depending on the amount of space and configuration, a pantry can also include countertops. Often this space would be used to store things like cookware, small kitchen utensils, or even cookbooks. The bottom line is that for the perfect storage space, one that allows you to work more efficiently, it might be worth looking into options and costs for custom pantry shelving and other configurations.