Safe Catering: How to Prepare and Cook Food Safely

Food safety is important for everyone, especially those who run a business. If you are selling your product to other people, you have an even bigger moral responsibility to make sure you do so safely. When you are just cooking at home, you only have yourself to blame if the food makes you sick. However, if you own a self-catering business, you must stay on top of health and safety procedures.

Here’s our guide on making food safely.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and often. This is the most important thing you can do to prevent food poisoning. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and wash your hands before and after handling food and using the bathroom.
2. Separate raw and cooked foods. Don’t mix raw and cooked foods on the same cutting board, in the same containers or the same refrigerator space. You should have two separate areas for raw and cooked foods.
3. Cook food thoroughly. Make sure all food is cooked to a safe internal temperature. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of meat, poultry, and fish.
4. Refrigerate or freeze food promptly. Don’t leave food out at room temperature for more than two hours.
5. Defrost food safely. Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or the microwave. Don’t thaw food at room temperature.
6. Use clean utensils and dishes. Wash utensils and dishes thoroughly after each use. This helps to avoid cross-contamination.
7. Store food properly. Store food in containers that are clean and airtight.
8. Avoid cross-contamination. Don’t use the same cutting board or utensils for raw and cooked foods.
9. Be aware of food allergies and intolerances. Make sure to label all food with any allergens or intolerances and avoid using the same containers or cookware.
10. Practice safe food handling habits. These habits include washing your hands, cooking food thoroughly, and storing food properly.

You should always use the correct appliances such as a catering fridge or restaurant fridge as these can help you keep track of your food and keep it organised as well as maintain the optimum temperature. Mitchell’s services and maintains catering fridges, restaurant fridges and retail fridges for a variety of businesses. For catering fridge services in Gloucester, visit our website today.