Commercial Vs. Domestic: The kitchen storage edition
In a competitive industry where every dollar counts, it’s natural for those in the foodservice business to seek out means of cutting costs. While economising measures can come in a number of forms, from streamlining certain processes to running services with minimum staff, one area you can’t afford to compromise on is your commercial kitchen equipment.
In order to produce amazing results time after time, everything from your combi oven to your cooktops needs to be capable of handling the strain of a commercial kitchen. The same rule applies to your kitchen storage. Here we take a look at some of the potential pitfalls of using domestic storage in a professional environment.
Don’t settle for less
The use of domestic tools in commercial kitchens is unfortunately still prevalent throughout the foodservice industry – particularly in smaller businesses such as cafes where such equipment may seem like a more economic choice to keep costs down.
However, what may seem like a cheaper storage alternative at the start, can end up costing your establishment down the line, potentially even compromising food safety. If your coolroom is full of food stored in tins or old containers with aluminium foil, you should consider the effect this can have on your produce.
Budget storage or domestic solutions without proper lids can pose a significant risk to food safety, as bacteria can get in and compromise the integrity of your ingredients – with salmonella representing a serious threat.
Whether you’re running a service station cafeteria or a larger restaurant or catering operation, subpar kitchen storage can not only end up costing you more in food wastage, but it could also land you in hot water with a health inspector.
Commercial storage
The best way to ensure your produce keeps fresher for longer while upholding food safety standards is to ensure you are using only high-quality commercial kitchen storage. Domestic or budget storage containers simply aren’t manufactured to handle constant use, and when the integrity of your fresh produce and ingredients is at stake, you can’t afford to rely on cheaper options.
Once you are equipped with your proper storage containers such as food boxes or bratt pans with appropriate lids (flip options involve no contact with contents for greater food safety), make sure your staff are labelling them with best-by dates. Utilising drain shelves to lift contents out of liquids when stored is also a good way to ensure your food tastes fresh and is safe to eat.
Moreover, by investing in proper commercial storage solutions, the life of produce is greatly lengthened, meaning your food, delivery and labour costs will be greatly reduced.
Cambro’s high-quality polycarbonate containers are commercial dishwasher safe and are also NSF approved. Designed to endure temperatures from 99 degrees Celsius all the way down to -40 degrees Celsius, they are suitable for coolers or freezers. As they are made from only food-grade materials (meaning the container won’t smell or taint in any way), Cambro’s containers are virtually indestructible, so you’ll only need to buy them once!
The polycarbonate not only makes for a durable product, but it also makes identifying the contents easier. Stain and odour resistant, Cambro’s storage solutions are a mainstay in any busy kitchen, with snap-tight covers that remain secured in place even during transport. And since the lid remains on the box, it also helps to minimise the risk of cross-contamination.
If you’re ready to say goodbye to your old food storage and invest in products that will stand the test of time, you can either shop Cambro online or fill in the form on this page to get in contact with us.