Good hygiene practice is essential for any restaurant. No customer wants to eat from an unclean kitchen. And of course you don’t want your customers to get sick and ruin your reputation! Here are some Golden Rules you should follow to ensure a high standard of hygiene.
1. Wash your hands
Of course, one of the most basic, yet important rules. Bacteria can easily spread from item to item and surface to surface. Washing your hands often easily reduces this bacteria spread, keeping your kitchen healthy. Make sure you provide a separate, hand-wash only sink for staff to wash their hands and paper towels for easy drying without added risk of bacteria spread.
2. Avoid cross contamination
Always use different chopping boards and utensils for meat, fish, vegetables, dairy and bread. Different coloured chopping boards are a great way for you and your staff to know which board should be used for what type of food.
3. Thoroughly cook foods
You might be tempted to cut a few corners during rush hours. Don’t be! Undercooked food can lead to food poisoning. And that can ruin your reputation and your business.
4. Proper food storage
Proper food storage is another way to prevent cross contamination. Always store food in air-tight containers. Use lids or a plastic wrap around the container to ensure the food stays fresher for longer. Also, avoid putting hot food in the fridge as it can increase the temperature of the fridge.
5. Clean the fridge at least once a week
Take everything out before you start cleaning. Don’t just clean the shelves. A lot of dirt and bacteria accumulate in the creeks of the rubber around the door.
6. Clean countertops after every use
Countertops are consistently used for food preparation, making them a haven for bacteria. These hard surfaces need to be cleaned regulatory throughout the day to keep bacteria from growing and spreading. Spray a disinfectant about 15 – 20 centimeters from the surface and let it rest for at least 10 seconds before wiping. Always let surfaces air dry to avoid recontaminating the area.
7. Disinfect the sink every day
Did you know that the highest levels of contamination are found in damp areas? Thoroughly clean all sinks at the end of every day. When using a cloth or sponge to clean surfaces, spray a disinfectant first to kill bacteria.
8. Use different towels for different purposes
Towels are incredibly handy for cleaning up spills. But did you know that different towels serve different purposes? For example, dish towels are perfect for removing moisture from the dishes, while staying relatively dry so you don’t have to change them frequently. Cooking is messy and chef towels are an ideal solution for wiping away oil and sauces. Towels should always only be used for the purpose they serve.
9. Clean the bin
Empty the trash daily and when necessary to do so. Leaving dirty bin bags lying overnight can cause bacteria to grow. It’s also important to wipe down the cover of the bin regularly to keep it clean.
10. Create a cleaning checklist
Cleaning checklists are a great way to ensure that your staff thoroughly clean the kitchen. It is also a handy reminder on what needs to be cleaned daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.
