Safety First! 8 Tips for Proper Food Handling and Food Safety

There is no room for error when it comes to food safety. One of the most important things you can do to keep your food safe is to handle it properly. This is especially true when it comes to running a food business.

So, what should you do to ensure that your food is handled properly when so many people’s health is at stake? What if you’re just starting out in the industry of running a professional kitchen?

The food service industry requires us to adhere to the highest standards. In short, proper food
handling and food safety are critical to ensuring the safety of your customers’ health. Check out
these 8 simple steps to ensure food safety for everyone:

Know the Proper Way to Store Food

Food contamination is easily avoided by storing it in airtight containers. A glass jar is ideal, but plastic or metal containers can also be used. Check that the seal is tight and that the lid fits snugly on top of the jar. This is an important consideration, especially when large quantities of ingredients and food items must be stored.

Avoid Cross-Contamination

Do not use the same cutting board for raw meat and fruits or vegetables that are being cooked on the same surface; this can result in cross-contamination of non-meat food by bacteria such as Campylobacter and E. coli. E. coli that may not be killed by cooking. This protocol must be strictly followed by your kitchen staff.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Regularly wash your hands with soap and water to remove dirt and bacteria. To avoid food and surface contamination, do the same before preparing food or handling raw meat products in bulk.

Clean your cooking utensils.

Before using any kitchen utensils, make sure they have been thoroughly washed in hot soapy water or disinfected by boiling for at least 1 minute according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Refrigerate immediately

Perishable items should be refrigerated or frozen immediately after cooking because they spoil quickly at room temperature if not refrigerated or frozen. If this is not possible, ensure that the food is served and consumed as soon as possible. Food that has been sitting for several hours is more susceptible to bacterial growth.

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly

Before cooking, you must always thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables. This will help prevent bacteria from spreading from one item to another during preparation, preventing cross-contamination between items that could lead to illness later on.

Separate raw meat and cooked food in the fridge

Separate raw meat and cooked foods in the refrigerator until ready to cook so that if one becomes contaminated by bacteria, there are no other potential sources of contamination.

Clean and Sanitize Restaurant Surfaces Thoroughly

Another aspect of food safety that you should not overlook is the regular sanitation of surfaces, both in the kitchen and in the dining area. This would aid in preventing bacteria from spreading into human food.

As someone responsible for many tummies and nutrition, we owe it to them to keep our kitchen not only professionally, but also to the cleanest standards possible. We hope that by following these simple guidelines, you will feel more confident in keeping every customer safe—by keeping the food you serve safe.

Shop for janitorial and cleaning supplies for your restaurant at the Comcom Store! We have a large selection of equipment at low prices