As all of us working in the food service industry know the importance of food safety. That includes the four key areas one needs to focus on: cleaning, separating, cooking and chilling. However, the next time you take stock of your very efficient kitchen, consider all the training, learnings and processes you had to put in place to ensure it runs like clockwork. Then perhaps acknowledge if there are any quick and obvious points you are missing? From storing oysters to cracking eggs over a flat surface, here’s a few simple tips to make your kitchen a healthier place. 

1. Don’t overfill your refrigerators

Whilst it might seem obvious, in a busy kitchen where everyone is rushing about, it’s important to ensure your refrigerators aren’t being overfilled. Inside the cold air needs to be able to circulate, as this is how it keeps the food chilled throughout. If your refrigerator is crammed full, the unit has to work even harder to make sure the air can circulate. This not only creates inefficiencies, but it can also lead to unsafe food. 

2. Always wash fruit and vegetables

Yes, we always clean fruits and vegetables before eating, cutting, or cooking – but remember that even if you discard the peel (case in point: a grapefruit) it is still important to scrub fruits and vegetables under running water as germs on the peel or skin can get inside fruits and vegetables when you cut them.

3. Check your mussels and throw out any where the shells don’t open when cooking

The simplest preparation often brings out the best in fresh fish, so make sure you are doing it right. Mussels must be alive to ensure their freshness – so check that their shells are closed  – this ensures they are alive. If any are open, they should close when tapped or squeezed. Fresh mussels should be stored in a dry bowl or container covered with a damp cloth. Never cover with a lid as they will suffocate.

4. Don’t wash meat

Meat and poultry are cleaned during processing, so further washing is not necessary. It’s important to ensure you (and your staff) never use soaps or detergents on meat or poultry products as they can contaminate food with chemicals and make the meat unsafe to eat.

5. Store oysters with the curved side downwards

Always keep oysters stored with the curved (convex) side downwards. This helps to retain the fluid in the shell and keep them alive. Also remember to s tore the oysters in a deep bowl (to prevent leaks) and away from other open foods. Do not store below raw meat or fish.

6. Wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds

Whilst the optimal length of time for handwashing depend on many factors, including the type and amount of dirt on the hands and the setting (eg in a hospital versus a kitchen). Nonetheless, evidence suggests that washing hands for about 20-30 seconds removes more germs from hands than washing for shorter periods. 

7. Ensure food cools down before placing it in the refrigerator

It’s common sense, but if you have hot food leftovers, make sure you let the food cool before placing it into the fridge. Not only does the fridge have to work harder to compensate but you could inadvertently put other food in the fridge at risk.

8. Crack eggs over a flat surface

When you tap a fresh egg on the edge of a bowl, you don’t break just the shell. The thin membrane surrounding the white and the yolk also ruptures, allowing tiny shell shards to mix with the liquid and egg remnants to fly around your cooking area. However if you do it on a flat surface it is clear where you need to clean. Cracking the egg on a flat surface, like a counter makes a clean break. That way, the membrane stays intact, meaning no shell in your scramble.  

9. Ensure you are separating foods 

Ideally, store raw and ready-to-eat food in separate fridges, freezers and display units. If they are in the same unit, store raw meat, poultry, fish and eggs below ready-to-eat food. Unwashed fruit and vegetables should also be kept separate from ready-to-eat food and above raw meat.

10. Install a digital food safety solution

From digitizing pen and paper checklists to monitoring fridge and freezers – as well a range of other kitchen temperatures, digital food safety solutions will undoubtedly make your kitchen a healthier place.  Phenium’s Ai powered kitchen intelligence has avoided over 2,400 food safety incidents since it launched in 2019. The app has also saved over $1.2 million in food soiling costs, so it’s a no brainer when it comes to making your kitchen a healthier place. Call it metrics and chill.

We all know that cleaning your kitchen is essential when it comes to food safety. It means that foodborne illnesses can be stopped in their tracks. While you probably know that my smart sensors can monitor a range of temperatures and appliances in your kitchen, did you also know that I can also help with your cleaning and sanitizing routine too?

From equipment maintenance to shelving, there are literally hundreds of areas around the kitchen that need attention. So let me, Elliott the fox, be your guide as we go over a few dirt-busting tips to get you organized. Oh and I promise to make you feel bright AI’d and bushy tailed about it too!

Setting a cleaning schedule

As a watchful fox I can sniff out a cleaning fail anytime of the day or night. How? It’s all tracked in my clever app which creates a schedule for you to complete. It also reminds you when the next cleaning routine is due to be carried out.

Fallen behind? A Fix It alert can be set up to notify you if anything is overdue.

For deep cleans you can set more reminders, so you never need to manually track ever again. Smart, huh?

To make sure everyone is aware what your schedule consists of, upload details of your Standard Operating Procedures directly into my app.

And to make things even easier, here’s a few of my fox-tastic tips…

Cleaning surfaces

Outfox bacteria before it has a chance to cause problems by cleaning countertops and open shelving with properly diluted chemicals, otherwise the cleaning solution could be wasteful or ineffective. Always use clean cloths, change them frequently and make sure you launder after use.

When mopping floors use an anti-slip cleaning product designed for commercial use — you don’t want me smearing my mucky paws on it. Change the mop head often and wash after use. And ensure that the mop pole and bucket are both cleaned frequently too.

Cleaning tools and equipment

Whether you are foxing about with spatulas, tongs or other items, make sure that all tools are cleaned properly after use. Allow equipment to air dry thoroughly before placing them in storage. Bacteria thrives in damp environments. Plus wet surfaces attract dust, hair and other contaminants — not good for a furry fox like me.

Make sure you set aside regular times to clean the following equipment; fryers, ovens, burners, grills and refrigeration units. These items will all need specific attention. A fryer for example needs to be boiled out once or twice a week, while a refrigerated unit will need a full deep clean — which includes cleaning the condenser coils and drain pans — every few months. But don’t worry, with my app you can keep your kitchen cleaning game strong.

Storing products and food

All foods can be a source of contamination, and depending on when they are washed, cooked and stored, they can contaminate surfaces and equipment. There is no such thing as being too shelf-aware, so be mindful of how you are storing all your food and the containers and areas in which you are storing them.

Every few months, carry out a deep clean of your storage areas. This includes everything from racks and shelving units to pantries and cabinets. Clean off dust, crumbs or other loose debris, then scrub down any grease or grime and finally dry with a clean cloth. Make sure you record these deep cleaning routines, so I can help you set reminders for the next time they are due. I’m all about being the AIs and ears of your kitchen!

It’s also important to make sure your storage areas are kept at the right temperature. A pantry for example, might not be given the same attention as a refrigerator, but it is just as vital. My smart AI sensors can be located anywhere in your kitchen, so you’ll always have peace of mind that food is being stored, prepared and served at the right temperatures.

Remember personal hygiene

Wash hands regularly whenever handling food or cleaning products. Also ensure hair is tied back and kept out of the way. As a thick-haired furry fox, I am all too familiar with the problems poor personal hygiene can bring!

Less paperwork

As I’ve said before, with my clever app, you can do away with all the paper records around the kitchen and digitalize them. Not only is it a more efficient way of working, but there’s less room for missing paperwork, human error and general foxing about! All round a better solution.

Now’s the time to step up your food safety routines and embrace a happier and healthier kitchen.