Food safety can be the not-exciting side of owning a foodservice operation, but it is also one of the most important aspects of keeping customers returning for more. The other, of course, is excellent food!

Follow these three easy ways to keep your food prep safe, sanitary and efficient every day.

Ensure staff can easily follow allergen prep procedures

Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that the prevalence of food allergy in children increased by 50% between 1997 and 2011, and about 30% of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food. Knowing this, it's important that food service staff follow safety protocols when preparing food for a customer with food allergies.

One way to help avoid allergen cross-contamination is by using food prep kits that are set apart for that specific purpose. For example, the Allergen Saf-T-Zone™ System from San Jamar includes basic prep and cooking tools in a special purple color, including a cutting board, tongs, turner and a chef’s knife. The tools are protected and stored inside a durable purple case, and all are designated for preparing allergen-avoiding foods. 

Safely cool hot liquids for storage

By quickly chilling hot liquids, you can minimize time-temperature abuse and bacterial growth. Using durable mixing paddles built for this purpose, such as San Jamar's Rapi-Kool® Cold Paddles, is an efficient way to keep hot liquids safe for your customers to consume later. These cold paddles work by freezing water inside the paddles, then using them to mix hot liquids, cooling them from the inside until they are ready to be stored. 

Safely wrap foods for storage while reducing contaminants

When prepared foods ingredients are ready for storage, ensure they are kept protected from contaminants using film or foil. Foods should be marked with a date of preparation and an expiration date. Finally, keep kitchen personnel safe with protected safety blades or slider cutters on the film dispenser to prevent accidents. A system such as San Jamar's Saf-T-Wrap® Station has suction cup feet to hold it steady during use, an additional safety feature for users.

All of these products are available through Boelter.