Digital logging might sound techy, but it simply refers to the process of recording and keeping track of frequent tasks and information. In a restaurant, this is super important for a variety of reasons; whether keeping track of staff attendance and arranging cover accordingly, or checking temperature readings to ensure food adheres to safety standards.

However, digital logging is a cumbersome, often time consuming task. Plus in order to ensure all HACCP daily food safety checks are carried out, there needs to be a central place where these tasks are logged.

For most restaurant owners turning a checklist around multiple times a day is an exercise in discipline and patience. First you need to ensure all staff are aware when and how these checks are taking place and then you need to log, track and monitor. Fortunately, there are several ways to take on this challenge and they aren’t all time-consuming and long-winded.

Embrace technology

It seems like technology is being used in all manner of ways to make businesses more efficient, but how can technology help when it comes to running your kitchen and keeping track of processes?

A good digital logging system, such as Phenium’s smart solution, will monitor and measure vital stats in your kitchen, then use push notifications or alerts to update you. This means you don’t need to be actively monitoring, instead you’ll be reminded, so you can stay on top of things.

Improving accuracy

In the past, digital logs have been completed manually with staff taking analog readings and noting them. These manual methods can lead to problems, especially as the chance of human error is high. Digital logging is therefore highly effective when it comes to dealing with food safety temperature readings.

Most modern methods of digital logging involve automatic readings from smart sensors and probes.

Phenium’s clever system uses AI sensors which automatically record up to 1500 temperature readings per day, freeing up time for your staff to focus on other tasks.

Another great aspect of digital logging is that it can simplify your processes and remove paperwork. Having a central place where you can store all your training certificates, SOP’s and any other HACCP information is invaluable, especially in a busy and sometimes stressful kitchen.

Bringing you peace of mind

Whatever platform you use, adopting a digital logging system allows you better insights across multiple locations, eliminating risk, stress and potential problems. It helps you manage daily tasks and any incidents that might occur.

By using an app such as Phenium, you can delegate follow up work for your staff. For example, if a digitally logged checklist confirms that the food disposal area was not cleaned at the set time, you will receive an alert and can activate a Fix It order and assign it to the relevant member of staff.

Another, and perhaps most important aspect of digital logging is that when that all-important health inspector comes to visit, you can extract data quickly for reviewing purposes. This means you never need worry about health inspections again.

There is a reason why food waste is such a global concern. It is where the environment, the hunger crisis and business profitability all conjoin to cause serious issues for our people and our planet. Understanding how we can make a difference is a vital factor in moving forward.

From a restaurant owner’s perspective, it can mean thousands of dollars worth of wasted food. In this article we look at how businesses are tackling waste using smart solutions and clever technology.

Before we delve into the solutions, let’s just remember that according to the UNEP Food Waste Index, an estimated 8–10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are associated with unconsumed food. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated publicly that it aims to halve global food waste by 2030.

Reducing unconsumed food

Another way of managing the food waste in your business is to understand exactly what is being thrown away so you can take action.

US-based app Winnow uses technology to help commercial kitchens understand how food is being wasted. By using smart sensors attached to waste bins, the app proposes strategies to prevent waste while saving money. It has proven to cut food purchasing costs by up to 8%.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Winnow develops Artificial Intelligence tools to help chefs in large businesses like hotels, contracting caterers, casinos and cruise ships to run more profitable and sustainable kitchens by cutting food waste in half.”

“Our analytics platform and reporting suite helps teams pinpoint waste quickly, allowing enterprises to drive significant waste reductions at scale. Our hardware options range from simple digital measurement tools to our AI-enabled Winnow Vision which ‘learns to see’ food being thrown in the bin.”

When it comes to food safety, my watchful eyes and sensitive ears will tackle most problems around the kitchen. However, there are other factors that even us foxes need reminding of now and again. From well stored foods to perfect personal hygiene, there’s plenty of paw-sitive things we can do to make our kitchens even safer.

As you know, there are four ways to avoid the causes of harmful food and therefore reduce foodborne illness, they are; cleaning, separating, cooking and chilling. My smart app can help make these part of your training and monitoring routines.

Cleaning

I’ve shared some of my top tips for keeping your kitchen clean and sanitized. But it’s always good to remember to wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. Cutting boards and workspaces should also be washed down after preparing each food item.

Remember items such as fruit and vegetables need to be washed before being prepared as they may contain chemicals and soil debris. Never wash these food items with anything other than water.

Not sure everyone knows the best way to carry out cleaning tasks? You can upload all your standard operating procedures information into the Work Processes feature on my smart app to ensure that everyone in your kitchen is on the same page.

Separating

It is important to separate raw meat, seafood and eggs from other foods when you are storing and preparing them. Remember that the lowest shelf is where you should place raw meats as the risk of leakage and bacteria is high. The next shelf for vegetables and the shelves above for dairy and cooked food.

If you have information about the layout and storage of your kitchen why not upload them into the Work Processes feature on my app? It lets you digitize all your records and allows each person in your team to have visibility.

It’s vital that you have a clear system for preparing the different food groups. Cutting boards should be colour-coded so that each one is clearly used for a different food type. Remember; never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, seafood or eggs unless the plate has been washed in hot soapy water. And never reuse marinades used on raw foods.

For more information about the next way to prepare, handle and serve food check out the Training section on my app. It provides you with up-to-date information about food safety.

Cooking

With my clever AI technology, I can ensure that foods that are meant to be served hot are prepared at the right temperature. Simply install my easy-to-use sensors around your kitchen and the temperatures will be monitored, you can use the app to check temperature readings and set Alerts so you know everything is as it should be. Something seems off? Set up a Fix It order so it can be easily resolved.

Whilst my smart sensors can monitor the temperature of your oven, buffet, food pass and entire kitchen, a food thermometer is the only way to ensure the safety of dangerous foods such as poultry and meats. When checking poultry for example, it is important to use a thermometer to measure the thickest part of the meat to ensure it is cooked through and free from any harmful bacteria. These foods must be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature before they can be served.

Chilling

You know the score folks, cold food needs to be handled with just as much care as hot. It goes without saying that you should refrigerate or freeze meat and similar foods within 2 hours of cooking or purchasing. If the temperature outside is hot then it needs to be even less than that. When it comes to food, there’s no foxing about!

As my intuitive nose knows, food should not be thawed at room temperature, it always needs to be thawed either in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. If you intend to store cooked food, divide it into smaller containers for quicker cooling in the refrigerator.

In the refrigerator chilled food needs to be kept at 8ºC or below. With my foxy know-how I think it’s best to keep your fridge at 5ºC or lower, so your food is well within the threshold. It also ensures that every part of the fridge remains at an acceptable temperature. Freezers need to be kept at -18 ºC or lower.

And how can you ensure they always remain at the right temperatures? With my super smart sensors which can take thousands of readings every hour. The Temps section on my app always ensures you are one step ahead when it comes to kitchen intelligence.

A healthier tomorrow is around the corner

Handling food is one of the most important aspects of food safety — you don’t need to tell a wily little fox like me. So remember to be vigilant, stick to tried and tested processes and use my clever app to ensure everything is running as it should. Here’s to a healthier tomorrow!