Tips To Help Your Restaurant Properly Store Food

When it comes to operating a restaurant, making the most of what you have matters. Profit margins within the restaurant industry are notoriously small because the industry is highly competitive. One way you can maximize your profits is by limiting the amount of food you have to toss each day. The following are a few tips to help you properly store your food so it stays fresher for longer.

Use Air-Tight Containers

Oxygen threatens food safety by spoiling your food. This puts you at risk financially if your customers are poisoned. Placing your food in air-tight containers helps prevent oxygen from spoiling your food. You can find containers that are specifically designed for certain foods. Whether you have extra meat or vegetables, there is a perfect air-tight container out there that helps extend the life of your food.

Never Store Your Meat Above Other Foods

Your refrigerator is essential to your food storage system. It keeps meats, vegetables and fruits at safe temperatures to prevent spoilage. However, it's up to you to prevent some types of contamination, including E. coli contamination. One of the easiest ways to prevent E. coli — a bacterium that can cause diseases — is to ensure that you store your meats below other foods.

If your meat is thawing in the refrigerator, there is a possibility that fluids from the meat will drip from the meat container. When you store your meat below other foods, you avoid cross contamination. You can also place thawing meat in additional containers to ensure that liquids from thawing meat will not contact your fruits and vegetables.

Always Cook Food You Stored First Before Other Food

At the risk of spoiling, you want to make sure that you cook food that has been in your refrigerator the longest, first. This method is called the first in, first out rule. Since older food is at increased risk of spoiling, you want to make sure you cook it right away to avoid losing the food.

To improve your chances of getting this right, you should label all the food you refrigerate. You want to make sure you label what it is and what date you placed it in the refrigerator.

Another way to improve your restaurant's position within the industry is to purchase restaurant insurance. Restaurant insurance may help you cover the costs of liabilities associated with improper food storage. By speaking with an insurance agent today, you can get the financial reassurance you need to overcome liability issues associated with your restaurant.

We'll help you run a safe establishment. Call Buschbach Insurance Agency at (708) 423-2350 for more information on Chicago IL restaurant insurance.

Tips To Help Your Restaurant Properly Store Food

Use Air-Tight Containers

Never Store Your Meat Above Other Foods

Always Cook Food You Stored First Before Other Food

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