As a restaurateur, a walk-in cooler is an essential piece of equipment that preserves valuable ingredients. Keeping it clean not only helps your business's productivity but also protects the health of your customers. Here are a few tips for maintaining a tidy and efficient space.

How to Organize a Walk-In Cooler

1. Store Meat & Produce Carefully  

Raw meats should go on the lowest shelves of the walk-in cooler. Doing so ensures dripping liquids will not mix with other ingredients, leading to contamination. However, you can place cooked and cured meats at higher levels, as they do not pose the same risk. Fruits and vegetables are prone to contamination, rot, and freezer burn, so avoid placing them in the path of fans.

2. Keep the Floor Clear

Leaving food too close to the floor can attract pests. Therefore, ensure there is at least 6 inches of space between the lowest shelves and the bottom of the cooler to keep critters away. Not only does this measure minimize loss, but it also makes it easier to clean up if food drops or liquid leaks from the containers.

3. Use the FIFO Method

The first-in, first-out (FIFO) food rotation technique minimizes food waste and ensures you use products before their expiration dates. It also makes it easier to discard expired items quickly to reduce clutter and determine what ingredients are not being used.

Bring the oldest items to the front and place newer ingredients at the back when stocking or performing inventory. You should also position containers so that the expiration date is visible.

4. Add Labels 

Labeling can help you recognize items quickly if they are not in their original containers or indicate expiration dates. For a thorough identification, include the food name, whether it's raw or cooked when you prepared or received it, and the date by which you must use it. If you arrange sections of the walk-in cooler by product type, label the shelves as well. 

You can also preserve food by ensuring the equipment remains in top shape with the help of Refrigeration & Food Equipment in Anchorage, AK. This locally owned and operated company has provided reliable kitchen equipment, from coolers and dishwashers to pizza ovens, to restaurants throughout the area since 1964. They also offer commercial appliance installations and repairs to ensure your business runs smoothly. Call (907) 248-2525 to schedule an appointment, or visit the website to learn more about their services.