Chef Base Basics – important to think about when you’re planning the layout of your kitchen. These units are a versatile and efficient option for streamlining your workflow and maximizing your kitchen space. A great way to save time and ensure that your staff is working quickly and efficiently. Chef Bases make it easy to reach for ingredients without having to leave your workstation

What is a Chef Base?

Chef bases are work surfaces with built-in refrigeration or freezing drawers underneath. They are designed to hold cooking equipment on top, such as grills or griddles, while keeping food cold and ready to cook. Whilst refrigerated chef bases are designed for storing open food, they are not intended for long-term storage. Instead, they are best used to keep immediate-use ingredients or pre-prepared foods cold on the cooking line making your food prep more efficient than ever.

Space Savers

Thanks to the two-in-one design, each chef base offers a durable work top and refrigeration below. They come in a variety of widths and heights to accommodate various kitchen types and equipment. Available in 2, 4, or 6 drawer options, each drawer can hold various configurations of food pans. These units are typically constructed of high quality stainless-steel top & sides.

Chef Bases vs Equipment Stands

Chef bases can be used to replace equipment stands to utilize the otherwise limited space below stands and tables. While an equipment stand is great for creating work prep stations, it doesn’t provide convenient access to fresh ingredients the same way that a chef base does.

What base is right for me?

Several factors should go into deciding what base is right for your circumstances:

Size – Chef bases come in a variety of widths and heights, so you can choose the perfect one for your needs. Just keep in mind that the equipment you place on top will add to the overall height. You should also consider how much weight the base can support to ensure a safe workplace. For this, check the spec sheets of the chef base, as well as the equipment you plan on putting on top of it, to make sure you don’t exceed the weight limit of the base.

Castors or Legs – Deciding how your base is mounted is also a consideration in the purchasing process, too. These units either come on castors or on feet. With castors, chef bases are mobile, so you can easily move them around for cleaning and maintenance without having to remove the equipment first. They also offer layout versatility, as you can configure them to fit in different spaces or accommodate new equipment. If you use high-heat cooking equipment or hot liquids on your chef base, it is important to choose a model with sturdy, level legs that can support more weight than castors.

Our Recommendations:

Lincat Blu Range:

To fit every need, we recommend the Lincat Blu range of Chef Bases. Designed to accommodate heavy-duty Opus 800 series equipment such as chargrills, griddles and induction hobs. These units have self-closing, heavy-duty drawers capable of holding 1/1 GN 100mm-deep containers, providing convenient bulk storage for meat and fish. When durability and strength are key, these refrigerated chef bases are sure to add efficiency to your kitchen.

Adande VC Range:

Without proper space for airflow, heat from your griddles, grills, and other equipment can melt the insulation in the top of the base, severely affecting the internal temperatures and causing multiple issues. A heat shield on top of the chef base can deflect some of the heat from the cooking equipment away from the refrigerated cavity of the chef base. The ADANDE VCR1/CHS Chef Base Unit, Rear Engine & Heat Shield Top is part of the range of Chef Bases with heat shield (HS) worktops designed to accommodate hot cooking equipment and withstand temperatures up to 200°C or for cool cooklines.

Call us today on 01379 641223 to learn more about our selection of chef bases and to get the best possible price. Our knowledgeable team can help you choose the perfect unit for your needs, and we offer a wide range of options to fit any budget.

(Main image shows BD20032 – Lincat Blu Refrigerated Chef Base)