Have you ever taken a bite of food that tasted like other items in the freezer? Or perhaps you've noticed strange textures when eating prepared food. These food quality issues ensure you never return to a restaurant or try to prepare the same food again.
Luckily, with the right knowledge, these issues are entirely preventable. Here are some food safety tips to keep high standards in your kitchen.
Maintain Cold Storage
You should always put perishable food items right into your fridge or your freezer when you receive the food. Foods like dairy, eggs, and meat should only stay at room temperature for a short time and thrown away if sitting out for four hours.
Your fridge's temperature should be 41 degrees or below, while your freezer should stay at 0 degrees or below. Most fridges and freezers have their own thermometers inside, but if they do not, a separate appliance thermometer will work. Make sure to check these temperatures frequently! At least two times a day. There is some fantastic wireless technology that works with your cell phone to keep it simple. Call us if you want more information!
Establish a Food Quality Control System
Setting up a system in your restaurant can help keep your ingredients as fresh as possible. First, you should keep track of where you buy all your ingredients. List the ingredient specifications such as size, weight, color, allergens and specific use when you receive them to avoid confusion later. Substitutes are a challenge to track but you must in case of a recall or if someone claims to have become ill.
Packaging and labeling ingredients and foods is one of the most important steps in this process. Your internal labels should include the product name, the date it was received (for FIFO) and how long it can be stored. This way you're not mixing up products or using them past their expiration dates. You can not extend the shelf-life of the product. It is just not worth taking the chance.
Take Certification Classes
Taking food safety courses regularly is the best way to stay up-to-date on the latest regulations for food safety. Even if you already have a certification or two, it never hurts to take more classes to learn about things you may never have considered before. The new 2022 FDA Model Food Code will be coming out.
Wear Proper Clothing
Proper clothing, gloves usage, hairnets, beard guards and a clean apron, is a necessity in any kitchen. Without proper use, it is a clear violation of food safety regulations. Failure to ensure personal hygiene is achieved daily will impact your food safety and can lead to an allergen cross-contact, food cross-contamination and potentially a foodborne illness. Remember, personal hygiene is one of the five CDC risk factors.
Washing hands regularly, wearing gloves, using clean and sanitized tools, and changing out your apron as needed are essential when preparing and cooking food. They are necessities for new and seasoned chefs alike. That's why using the right equipment and clothing should be an integral part of training workers when they first start out.
You should be sure to have regular reminders about this. Signage around the kitchen is helpful, as well as regular verbal reminders and meetings. A simple 2-minute shift meeting is a simple and effective tool to use as a reminder and emphasizes your commitment to food safety.
Prioritize High Standards for Your Kitchen
These tips are just the beginning of many different ways you can keep food quality high in your kitchen.
Paster Training has a wide variety of courses in multiple states in the US. We also offer virtual training courses for people in any location. Check out our class schedule for more information to improve your food quality today.