As society becomes more health conscious, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure that commercial kitchens, such as restaurants and bars, are fully compliant with food safety. Here are the Top 10 Food Safety Tips For Restaurants And Commercial Kitchens.
Ten Food Safety Tips For Restaurants
In this guide, you will find information on how businesses can prepare for any unfortunate guests or situations that may arise!
1. Wash Your Hands Regularly
Wet hands can cause cross-contamination, which means you can spread foodborne illnesses to other people. The most effective way to prevent foodborne illnesses is to wash your hands regularly.
2. Refrigerate food
Cold food will stay safe longer and is less likely to spoil. Make sure to keep food cold by keeping it in a Refrigerator, a Freezer, or an Ice Chest.
3. Prevent Cross-Contamination
Ensure different foods are not kept in the same container or dish. Precautionary steps include washing your hands, sanitizing containers and surfaces, and separating raw meats from other foods.
4. Introduce Pest Control In Your Establishment
Pests, including rodents, cockroaches, and ants, can contaminate food and increase the chances of foodborne illnesses. Check your restaurant for signs of pests, including droppings and damage. Try to seal cracks in floors and walls that allow pests to enter.
5. Use Fresh Vegetables And Fruits
Fresh vegetables and fruits are clean and free of pesticides and chemicals, so they are a safe source of hydration for customers. Fresh produce should always be stored at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler and be protected from light exposure. When storing produce, minimize the amount of moisture in the space to prevent spoiling.
6. Observe All Incoming Food Shipments
In the food supply chain, contamination can occur at any point along the way. The meat, poultry, and seafood purchased by foodservice operators must come from approved sources.
7. Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Food handlers should wash their hands frequently to help prevent potential problems with cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses. Ensure that your kitchen is clean by using good housekeeping practices, including frequent handwashing with soap and water and keeping worktops clear of spills.
8. Train Your Employees
Food handlers must receive retraining in safe food handling practices if they have extra responsibilities or if requirements change (such as call-outs). The food handler may become careless about the food that he is preparing without these ongoing training sessions.
9. Conduct A Self-Inspection
Once or twice a month, you should walk through your establishment to detect potential food safety hazards. Alternatively, you can request some of your health inspector’s forms to help determine which areas are at the greatest risk.
10. Be Familiar With the Local Health Codes in Your Area
It is the responsibility of local, state, and federal health departments to enforce government health regulations. Thorough knowledge of local health codes is vital for avoiding fines and preventing outbreaks of diseases caused by food.
Ensure that you have a commercial gas safety certificate for the kitchen where you cook the food. Keeping employees and your company safe is of utmost importance.
What Can Go Wrong At a Restaurant?
Restaurants and commercial kitchens are busy places, and mistakes can quickly happen. Restaurants commonly make the following food safety mistakes:
· Providing rotten food
Restaurants often make the mistake of presenting rotten food stored for a long time. This can lead to food poisoning, and staff members can even get sick from working near tainted food. Make sure to identify and correct any errors in your order as soon as they occur.
· Unhygienic Conditions for Preparing Food
Unsanitary conditions are common in restaurants. This can lead to bacteria overgrowing, which can cause food poisoning. Use proper sanitizing tools and procedures when prepping food, and always wash your hands after preparing it.
· Serving Raw Meat
Many people think that serving raw meat is an easy way to add flavor to a dish. This practice carries a number of health risks. Always serve cooked meat instead of raw meat, and ensure it is properly stored before serving.
How Do Restaurants Prevent These Things From Going Wrong?
Restaurants and commercial kitchens must take food safety seriously to protect their customers. Food safety and health can be maintained through several actions.
- Immediately after food is prepared, it must BE INSPECTED to ensure that it is of acceptable quality. Restaurants use various methods to check the quality of the food, such as using microchips in meat or checking for contamination. This ensures that the food will be safe to eat and that any harmful bacteria or parasites will be removed.
- Another important step is FOOD PREPARATION. Restaurants must follow specific guidelines when preparing food, such as using sterile techniques and sanitizer when necessary. These steps help to prevent cross-contamination, which can lead to food poisoning.
- Restaurants also have to be VERY careful about where they store food. They should ensure it is kept cold and dry and away from areas where it could be contaminated. When a dish is not up to par, restaurants should immediately contact their chefs or managers to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Food safety is crucial in order to protect the Clients of a restaurant or kitchen.
Conclusion
Preparing food for restaurants and commercial kitchens requires high food safety. Safe food can be ensured with some simple tips.
A meat thermometer is necessary when cooking meat to regularly monitor its temperature. This will prevent food from being overcooked or undercooked, which could lead to bacterial contamination.
Be sure to cold-store foods properly. This means storing them below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius), so they do not spoil. Food that has been spoiled can contain harmful bacteria that can make you sick.
When cleaning surfaces and cooking utensils, use sanitizing agents that are safe for both food and hands. Many chemicals used in food preparation are also toxic, which means they can harm your skin and lungs if they are swallowed. Use clean water and gentle soap to clean surfaces and utensils, then sanitize them using a sanitizer certified for food contact materials.