2-compartment Sinks
2-compartment sinks provide extra space to perform a litany of kitchen tasks, including food prep, vegetable washing, and dish soaking. However, a 2-compartment sink should be relegated to a single purpose to avoid unintended health code violations and cross contamination. More
2-compartment sinks provide versatility in commercial kitchen operations. They can be used for either dish cleaning or food preparation, though it is important not to use any one sink for both purposes to maintain food safety.
Although two-compartment sinks will not replace your primary dishwashing system or food prep station, they can be used to complement those operations. Health codes generally prohibit these from being used as a complete dishwashing system the way larger sinks can be, but they can be used as a scrap or soak station before dishes are loaded into a machine. They also assist with various food prep tasks, such as thawing frozen meat under running water or washing vegetables. Which side contains the drainboard (or if either side has a drainboard at all) can help determine the tasks a two-compartment sink can be used for.
It's important to determine the space limitations of your kitchen layout before purchasing a commercial double sink, as they come in a range of sizes. The length of a 2-compartment sink can range from 24 to 139 inches, with drainboard locations on either the left, right, or both sides (or no drainboards at all). Faucet mounts may be located on the sink deck, which places the faucet closer to the bowls, but are more commonly incorporated into the backsplash, giving users more space. Sink bowl depths range from 10 to 14 inches, with round or square bowls. Depending on the desired thickness, two-compartment sinks are available in stainless steel ranging from 14 to 20 gauge.