As a caterer, having a reliable and properly functioning catering fridge is essential to the success of your business. A catering fridge is specifically designed to store food and drinks at safe temperatures, ensuring that they remain fresh and ready to serve. However, it’s essential to know what to store in your catering fridge to maintain food safety and avoid cross-contamination. In this blog, we’ll discuss what you should store in your commercial fridge.
Raw Meats
Raw meat, especially poultry, beef, and pork, can contain pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which can cause foodborne illness if not handled and stored properly.Commercial refrigerators are designed to maintain a temperature below 40°F (4°C), which is the recommended temperature for storing raw meat. This temperature slows down the growth of bacteria, which helps to keep the meat fresh and safe to consume.
To prevent any juices from dripping onto other foods, raw meat should be stored in the bottom shelf of your catering fridge and in airtight containers or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap to prevent cross-contamination with other foods.
Dairy Products
Dairy products should be stored in a commercial fridge to maintain their quality and prevent spoilage. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt are perishable and can spoil quickly if not stored properly.
Commercial refrigerators are designed to maintain a consistent temperature, which is typically between 33°F (0.5°C) and 41°F (5°C) for dairy products. This helps to keep the dairy products fresh and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause spoilage and foodborne illness.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are an essential component of any catering operation. They should be stored in your fridge to keep them fresh and prevent them from spoiling. Most fruits and vegetables should be kept at a temperature of 40°F or below, but some items, such as bananas, avocados, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and potatoes should not be stored in a catering fridge. Storing these fruits and vegetables in a commercial fridge can actually accelerate their rate of spoilage and affect their flavour and texture.
Desserts
Desserts should be stored in a commercial fridge to maintain their quality and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Desserts, especially those that contain dairy products, are susceptible to spoilage when left at room temperature for an extended period of time.Commercial refrigerators are designed to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level, which helps to keep desserts fresh and prevent them from becoming too soft or too hard.
When storing desserts in a commercial fridge, it’s important to use airtight containers or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap or aluminium foil to prevent air and moisture from entering. This will help to prevent freezer burn, which can damage the texture and flavour of the dessert.
Mitchell’s – Catering Fridges in Gloucester
If you need a reliable commercial fridge in Gloucester or a trustworthy catering fridge near Gloucester, then get in touch today with Mitchell’s. We are a Gloucester based company that specialises in commercial refrigeration, working with businesses in the restaurant and retail industry for the installation and upkeep of refrigeration systems. Get in touch with us today by calling 01452 302206 or fill in our contact form via our website.