Everything You Need to Know About Safe Food Storage

If you work in the restaurant industry, you simply can't risk serving spoiled food. And if you're storing ingredients incorrectly, they may expire way before the printed date. Proper food storage will help keep your food fresh for as long as possible.

That said, here's (almost) everything you need to know about safe food storage:

Keep appliances at the right temperature. Commercial refrigerators should be kept between 35-38 degrees. If you set it too cold, things will freeze. Any warmer, and bacteria is more likely to grow. Your commercial freezer should be kept at about 0 degrees.

Put groceries in the fridge ASAP. Whether you've just received a delivery or stopped by the store for a few things, get all food items into your commercial refrigerator as fast as possible. On hot days, it will only take one hour for meat and dairy products to become unsafe.

Refer to labels for storage instructions. You may be refrigerating items that don't need to be chilled, which is a waste of space and energy. You could also be putting some foods in the pantry when they actually need to be refrigerated. Pay close attention for best taste!

If after taking these steps your food still spoils quickly, then your commercial refrigerator may need to be serviced. East Coast Refrigeration can repair your refrigeration unit, and fast! Dial (631) 249-4556 for 24-hour emergency service.

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