The Ultimate Healthy Cook's Kitchen

Our new kitchen, photography, and video space—part of the new Time Inc. Food Studios in Birmingham, Alabama—hits all the sweet spots. From the beginning, our team was involved in crafting the space to their dream specifications. Since our team moved into the new space in fall 2015, our drive to collaborate, get creative, and perfect the food we bring to you has never been stronger. See how we made the space integral part of our process. We hope you're as inspired by it as we are.

A ledge above the main work area gives guests a separate place to hang out without getting in the way, and it forms a nice visual break. “Having my laptop or tablet nearby is essential to recipe development—and a big part of most cooks’ kitchens these days—so I’ve repurposed a cooling rack to lift my laptop a few inches off the counter to keep coffee spills or flying flour from ruining my work,” says Recipe Tester and Developer Robin Bashinsky.

Not just for looks, marble counter insets are an ideal place to roll out pastry or bread dough—the surface is less sticky and naturally helps keep dough temperature down. Mimic this at home by asking your local stone company for marble countertop remnants.

Think about what implements you use most often, and keep them within easy reach for a quick grab while you cook. Separate wooden and silicone from metal tools, and store stainless items farther from your cooktop to keep them from getting too hot.

Most cooks need only a tablespoon or two of something at a time, so move heavy glass bottles of oils and vinegars to the pantry, and keep squeeze bottles of smaller amounts within reach.

Deep farm sinks have been a steady trend in kitchen design recently, but we opted for stainless steel vs. traditional porcelain. They can stand up to the beating they take from heavy recipe production. Outfitting countertops in stainless steel also helps reduce cleaning time.

Open shelving near heavily trafficked workspaces allows for convenience as well as a touch of personality and a splash of color. We rotate current cookbooks, ingredients, and even a few fun tchotchkes that inspire us in the kitchen.

There’s no need to go digging in the back of a dark cabinet; deep drawers easily house common countertop appliances and their associated accessories, allowing for more readily accessible workspace and less cluttered countertops.

A staff favorite is the special third rack in the kitchen’s Bosch dishwashers. It holds oddly shaped or delicate items in a more secure position, taking up less space in the main compartment.

House whole grains in airtight containers, such as zip-top bags or these OXO POP containers. Uncooked grains stay fresher longer in the freezer than in the pantry; cooked ones can go into quick meals.