Transporting food requires more considerations than transporting non-food items. You will need to think about sanitation, temperature, quality and other factors when transferring foods from one location to the next. In particular, high-risk foods are the ones that require the most preventative care as they are more prone to bacteria and contamination. These foods typically include, but are not limited to:
- Ready-to-eat meals
- Hot foods
- Salads
- Dairy products
- Cooked rice
Temperature Safety
Temperature safety is an important consideration when transporting food. When moving a cool cooked dish from one location to another, you will want to ensure that it is cooked, cooled, and refrigerated until it is time to be transferred. Meats can be frozen and later transferred to a cool box before transporting.
Be mindful of safe food temperatures so that you can know when a food item must be thrown away.
Cold Foods:
- Temperature – Cold foods should be stored below 8C
- Duration – Discard if left above 8C for more than 4 hours
Hot Foods:
- Temperature – Hot foods should be stored at above 63C
- Duration – Discard if left below 63 C for more than 2 hours
By shopping for shopping for heating and warming equipment you can be confident that your food items are being held are proper temperatures.
Food Quality
Temperature safety goes hand-in-hand with food quality. Maintaining the quality of your food has to do with a lot of factors such as protecting it from food contamination and dehydration. Keeping food covered at all times is a good way to maintain quality. Containers, foil, and wrap are some of the good ways to protect food items as these items don’t contain harmful chemicals.
Bacteria can multiply very quickly – all that is needed to nurture bacteria is protein, moisture, warmth, neutral ph conditions, and time. Knowing this, you should be mindful about protecting food and handling it appropriately from packaging to serving.
Food Presentation
Presentation is key because oftentimes, people take notice appearance before they have the chance to taste it. By following food temperatures and taking measures to maintain quality, you can avoid waxy looking, unappealing or dry foods.
Choosing the right chafing dishes and accessories can give you many great options for warming and showcasing your food. Choosing a sterno or induction ready chafing option after transporting will allow you to maintain proper serving temperatures.
If you want to present a meal that looks warm, appetizing, and attractive, you can shop chafers to help you get the job done. Chafers come in various styles to meet the needs of any size operation.
Affordability
Food transporting doesn’t have to break the bank. Cost efficient heating and warming equipment can make food transportation both easy and affordable. Used items can help you save while still reaping the benefits of purchasing new equipment. Insulated food carriers will allow you to move foods without letting cold air in.
Happy Food Happy Servings
Make your customers happy, by keeping them safe. Transporting food the right way is one of the most important steps for ensuring this safety. Avoiding contamination, cross contamination, and other toxins that can result in food borne illness will help you remain a trusted source for your patrons. Whether you run a full service restaurant, a self-serve or buffet establishment – you can be prepared and equip yourself for a great catering season.