5 Essential Restaurant Food Storage Guidelines to Know About
Your priority is none other than food safety if you are into the food business. Know that food is a fragile item. And that is the reason why you require proper handling to maintain the shelf life of the food. Know that in the restaurant, where you have to store and preserve dozens of foods. In the restaurant, you cannot afford to have fewer food items in the pantry. You need to stock all the food items in the kitchen. Having dozens of things to preserve can prove complicated to you. Safe storage is also essential because it can make your customers sick. Serving food of poor quality can put a spot on the reputation of your restaurant. The appropriate storage of all food items requires quality appliances. It is crucial to have a good quality refrigerator and freezer. If you are short on equipment, you can also get the advantage of storage fridges for sale offer. Many things participate in preserving the food. Below are the five guidelines you need to adopt for appropriate handling and storage of food.
1. First in and first out
While storing the food, the preferable thing is to take out the first thing you keep. When you take out the first in, you can lessen the chances of rotten food. The food items have a limited shelf life, and you need to use the food items within their lifetime. You can mark the items with the expiry dates. Try to place the old stock at the front and the new stock behind. This way, you will utilize the old food at first.
2. Dark storage area
Sunlight rays can harm food items. You need a dark storage area if you want to protect the food items. Direct contact with the sun is harmful to food items. Exposure to light can spoil food items quickly. That is why make sure your pantry is in a dry area. No light can enter your pantry. Keeping all your food items in a dry place can maximize and lengthen the time of food items. Make yourself a storage area at the bottom or basement of your restaurant. Besides, make sure that the humidity is also low in the storage area.
3. The temperature
One other thing you need to consider is the temperature range of the storage place. You need to store the food items at several temperature ranges. Make sure you keep all the food items depending upon the required temperatures. You also need to maintain the temperature of your storage area.
4. Cross-contamination
While handling and storing things, consider all the factors of cross-contamination. Store the food items separately to prevent any chance of contamination. Practice hygiene by keeping the raw and cooked items separately.
5. Use quality equipment
The freezer and refrigerator are two of the required appliances you need in food storage. Try to invest in quality equipment for the proper preservation of all food items.