As April arrives, it’s important to prepare for more than just pranks and jokes. Don’t be fooled by neglecting your food storage practices! But seriously, we have 5 essential strategies that will keep your ingredients fresh and your kitchen organized. Only a fool would let these crucial tips go to waste.
Only a fool would…
1. Use plastic wrap
Plastic wrap was created with convenience —not food safety—in mind. The problem with plastic wrap is that it often fails to tightly cling onto containers, leaving them exposed to air. This lax wrapping not only invites cross-contamination but also diminishes the quality of your food. Plus, using plastic wrap eliminates the ability to efficiently stack containers, resulting in wasted storage space. That’s no laughing matter!
Cambro has a smarter solution that will keep you from playing the fool with your food storage. Choose between Cambro’s variety of lid options to keep your food fresh.
- Camwear Food Pan Lids: Preserve freshness, flavor, and quality while reducing cross-contamination risks with options including Flat Cover, Cover with Handle and Notched Cover with Handle.
- Camwear FlipLid®: Easily access contents while minimizing the risk of contamination.
- Camwear GripLids®: Perfect for sealing in soups and sauces, featuring a molded-in polyurethane gasket that securely grips the food pan to maintain freshness, flavor and quality.
- Seal Cover: Extend shelf life by up to 3 days thanks to an inner seal with Seal Covers! Available for both food pans and CamSquares.
- CamSquare® Lids: Ensure lasting freshness with snap-tight lids.
2. Keep produce in cardboard boxes
Holding produce in cardboard is a practice that’s all too common in commercial kitchens. While cardboard boxes are designed for transportation, they compromise your operation when they’re brought inside. Before cardboard boxes land on your doorstep, they’ve been transported in trucks that contain dirt and the possibility of critters. Storing cardboard boxes in your walk-in or cooler increases the risk of cross-contamination because moisture makes cardboard soggy and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
Avoid the pitfalls of cardboard and opt for safer storage solutions. Upon delivery, have an employee transfer the produce from cardboard boxes to NSF-listed food containers like Camwear Boxes that protect food and provide secure stacking. Use a Camwear SlidingLid™ to ensure food remains covered while still allowing employees to easily access what’s inside.
3. Let their food sit in liquids
Don’t fall into the trap of wasting your valuable time prepping food that ends up spoiling. It’s no joke when your carefully prepped ingredients end up sitting in liquids, turning into a soggy mess. Instead of falling for the disappointment of wasted food, invest in a Camwear Food Pan with a Drain Shelf or Colander Pan and Lid. These clever solutions keep delicate foods like berries and tomatoes safe from draining liquids, preserving freshness and saving you from foolish mishaps.
4. Cross contaminate ingredients
5. Use dented metal pans
Don’t let dented metal pans play an April Fools’ joke on your kitchen! Those sneaky dents can sabotage temperature control in steam tables and cause stacking chaos in storage. But fear not, Cambro’s High Heat H-Pans™ are here to save the day! Safe for use in temperatures from -40°F to 375°F, these pans won’t dent, chip or warp, no matter how mischievous your chefs might be. Unlike their metal counterparts that quickly lose their luster, High Heat H-Pans maintain food temperatures and stack effortlessly. Say goodbye to dented disasters and hello to durable, and efficient storage.
As you navigate food storage, remember a thriving kitchen isn’t just about dodging pranks, you must navigate your kitchen with wisdom. Click here to contact your local Cambro sales rep to learn how to foolproof your food safety and storage!
