It isn’t ever never too late to learn a bit more about food safety, and now is a great time to go over and review how to practice proper food safety and sanitation practices in your restaurant now that the new year has begun. Foodborne illnesses like norovirus and salmonella can cost your restaurant a lot of money. This is a very hefty price for something that can easily be avoided. To assist, we have put together a handful of free and easy ways to practice good food safety practices in your restaurant. Read on to learn more!

Food Storage, Food Safety, and Proper Temperature Control

Incorrect food storage and temperature control could easily lead to foodborne illnesses. There are some easy ways to prevent food spoilage and avoid what’s known as the temperature “danger zone,” which is about 40 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you:

• Always store the food in air-tight containers
• Follow the first in, first out rule
• Do not ever overload the freezers or fridge
• Keep track of the fridge and freezer temperatures
• Make it a habit to use infrared thermometers

Handling the Food

As a normal and reasonable restaurant owner, you should be taking suitable safety precautions from the second you receive inventory to the time it is served to your customers. For stocking, make sure your storage areas are cleaned with cleaning supplies and organized neatly. Always put the newest items in the back and store any raw meat, seafood, or poultry in sealed bags or in air-tight containers to prevent cross-contamination. For cooking, remind the kitchen staff to wash their hands and all surfaces as often as they can. Wash all produce thoroughly and make sure all raw foods are cooked to a normal and safe internal temperature. To keep your entire staff safe, keep the kitchen stocked with personal safety items like oven mitts too. Always remember to serve food on clean plates, and never place cooked food on a surface that has been in touch with raw food products.

Equipment and Kitchen Cleaning

Keep the commercial kitchen stocked with all types of cleaning supplies and educate the staff on pest avoidance and correct waste management. Food scraps should be disposed of daily to prevent pests and other cross-contamination.

Over 5,000 Products For Your Home or Business

At H.C. Walterhoefer, we have over 5,000 products ranging from paper goods to cleaning supplies to meet your personal or business needs. If you want something that we do not offer in our store, just ask us for it, and we will do our best to get it for you. Our store has everything you need! Stop by today to get supplies for your next event, all your restaurant needs, and the best cleaning products at the best prices. We even deliver! So call us today at 410-368-5070. We are located at 2331 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21230 and we are open from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ to stay up to date with everything H.C. Walterhoefer.