Key points for practical design of kitchen tableware

Key points for practical design of kitchen tableware

The practical design of kitchenware should revolve around five core aspects: functionality, safety, ergonomics, ease of use, and aesthetic compatibility. The following systematically sorts out the design points of different types of tableware based on their common and characteristic requirements:

First, general design principles

Ergonomic fit

Comfort of holding: The handles of tableware should conform to the natural curve of the hand (for example, the length of the handle of a soup spoon is recommended to be 12-15cm and the diameter 2-3cm), and the surface should be treated for anti-slip purposes (such as frosted material or concave-convex texture).

Weight balance: The overall center of gravity of the tableware should be close to the holding point (for example, the center of gravity of the knife should not be more than 5cm away from the end of the handle) to avoid operational fatigue.

Material safety

Food contact compliance: It must comply with national food safety standards (for example, stainless steel should be grade 304 or 316, and ceramics should be free of lead and cadmium leaching).

High-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance: It needs to be suitable for scenarios such as microwave ovens and dishwashers (for example, heat-resistant glass needs to withstand a temperature difference of -20℃ to 150℃, and metal tableware needs to resist acid and alkali corrosion).

Easy to clean

Surface treatment: It should be designed without dead corners (for example, the connection between the spoon handle and the spoon head should have a smooth transition) to avoid residual stains.

Antibacterial property: Antibacterial materials (such as silver ion coating or bamboo fiber composite materials) can be selected to reduce bacterial growth.

Second, practical design points for classified tableware

Cooking tools category

Cutting tool

Blade design: The blade type should be selected based on the purpose (for example, a Chinese kitchen knife needs a wide and thick edge, while a Western chef's knife needs an arc-shaped edge surface). The hardness is recommended to be HRC55-60 to balance sharpness and durability.

The connection between the handle and the blade: A full or half keel structure should be adopted to avoid the risk of breakage.

Cookware

Uniformity of heat conduction: Composite base materials (such as aluminum core + stainless steel outer layer) should be selected, and the thickness is recommended to be 3-5mm to reduce hot spots.

Handle heat insulation: It is necessary to be equipped with a heat-resistant silicone sleeve or a hollow design to ensure that the hand is not burned even after long-term cooking.

Spatulas and spoons

High-temperature resistance: It needs to be suitable for high-temperature cooking (for example, silicone spatulas can withstand temperatures above 230℃, and stainless steel spatulas can withstand temperatures above 500℃).

Edge design: It should match the curvature of the pot (for example, a flat-bottomed pot needs a straight edge spatula, and a round-bottomed pot needs an arc edge spatula).

Tableware for eating

Chopsticks

Material balance: The weight ratio of the head to the tail needs to be controlled (if the design is heavier at the head and lighter at the tail, it is prone to slipping. It is recommended that the weight ratio be close to 1:1).

Anti-slip design: The tip of the chopsticks needs to increase friction (such as frosted treatment or concave-convex texture) to prevent it from falling off when picking up slippery food.

Knife, fork and spoon

Functional adaptation: The fork teeth should be designed according to the type of food (for example, the fork teeth for salad are wide and those for beef steak are narrow), and the depth of the spoon should be adapted to liquid or solid food (for example, the depth of a soup spoon is 3-4cm and that of a dessert spoon is 1-2cm).

Children's tableware: Safety designs need to be added (such as blunt fork teeth, anti-slip handles, and detachable parts for easy cleaning).

Container type

Bowls and plates

Edge design: It is necessary to prevent spillage (for example, the edge height of the deep plate is recommended to be 2-3cm, and that of the shallow plate is 1-2cm).

Stacking stability: The bottom should be flat and the edges rounded to prevent tilting or scratches during stacking.

Food preservation box

Sealing performance: It is necessary to be equipped with a silicone sealing ring to ensure no leakage (such as not sprinkling water when inverted, and no cross-contamination of odors when refrigerated).

Transparent and visible: Transparent materials (such as PP or glass) should be used to facilitate quick identification of the contents.

Third, optimization of scenario-based design

Family kitchen

Versatility: It is necessary to integrate multiple functions (such as graduated measuring spoons and cookware with detachable handles).

Storage convenience: Hook holes or stacking structures need to be designed (for example, tableware can be hung on the wall and cookware can be nested for storage).

Outdoor picnic

Lightweight and portability: Lightweight materials (such as titanium alloy tableware) should be selected and equipped with storage bags.

Drop resistance: Structural strength needs to be enhanced (such as thickening the plastic material or metal frame).

Commercial use of the restaurant

Durability: It needs to withstand frequent use (for example, tableware needs to pass more than 100,000 opening and closing tests).

Standardization: The size and weight need to be unified (for example, the capacity error of the soup spoon should be controlled within ±5%).

Fourth, the compatibility of aesthetics with culture

Color matching

Main color selection: It is recommended to choose neutral colors (such as white, gray, black) or natural colors (such as wood color, beige) to avoid visual fatigue.

Accent color application: The liveliness can be enhanced through local colors (such as the handles and edges of tableware), but it needs to be in harmony with the overall style.

Integration of cultural elements

Traditional craftsmanship: It can be combined with regional characteristics (such as blue and white porcelain patterns, lacquerware craftsmanship), but it is necessary to ensure that practicality is not affected.

Modern simplicity: It can create a sense of luxury through streamlined design or matte surface treatment.