Restaurant Supplies to Help Ensure Food Safety
February 21, 2019Food safety is one of the most important issues facing restaurants. As Chipotle can tell you, even the very best branding and a very popular product doesn’t stop you from losing a lot of money when food isn’t safe.
What steps can you take to keep your food safe? There are quite a few, but they don’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, having the right restaurant supplies can make the job a lot easier.
Here are some tips to help you keep your customers – and your profits – safe.
Train Chefs to Think Scientifically
Many would argue that cooking is an art, but no one can dispute that it is also a science. Taking ingredients and applying heat and other preparation techniques transform the food in a predictable way that can be repeated over and over.
Taking this one step further allows chefs to focus on food safety as well. Have your kitchen staff memorize FAT TOM: Food, Acidity, Time, Temperature, Oxygen, and Moisture. These are the factors that can contribute to bacteria growth or reduction.
Having the right restaurant supplies will allow them to measure these factors – from the humble instant-read thermometer to the right oven and cooking equipment.
Have a System for Ingredient Recalls
Whether you invest in a third-party system to assist with recalls or develop your own, be sure to have a system in place. You’ll need managers to identify the possible places the ingredient could be, separate and dispose of them, and then get reimbursed for the costs of recalled food from the vendor.
To help make this more affordable, consider building a vendor recall fee into your contracts. This can allow you to recoup your costs, and more importantly, to signal to vendors that you’re serious about quality.
Having your restaurant supplies well organized will help if you ever do face an ingredient recall, and can help you avoid losing additional food to cross-contamination as well.
Choose Restaurant Supplies From Safer Growers
Pay close attention to safety results from your different vendors, and make sure you get your ingredients from suppliers you can trust. Despite razor-thin margins, you’ll find that the cheapest is rarely the right answer.
Instead, save money by choosing high-quality suppliers up front. You deserve the best restaurant supplies, and so do your customers. Look for rigorous food safety practices and you’ll gain peace of mind about your own operation.
Create a Food Safety Culture
Your employees are the front line implementors of these systems, and they are the only line of defense you have. It’s vital that everyone buys into the importance of food safety, not just for the customers but for their own sake as well.
Proper food storage, hand washing, and appropriate use of restaurant supplies are essential if your restaurant is going to succeed. Ensure that employees follow all guidelines.
Are you looking for restaurant equipment that will help you keep food safe? From refrigeration and freezers to storage and organization solutions, we have what you need. Contact us for more information today.
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