Ensuring the food at your company is fresh and safe is imperative to a well-run business in the food service industry. The best way to be certain of this is to ensure that your cold storage is up to par for various types of cuisine. Check out the guide below for more information on proper food storing techniques.

Basic Cold Food Storage Principles

When storing any food that requires refrigeration, the temperature should be at 41 F or below, while frozen food should be stored in a freezer with a consistent temperature below 5 F. Items kept in cold storage should be dairy products, ready-to-eat foods, produce, meats, seafood, and condiments. Foods like meat and seafood should be kept on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to avoid any juice dripping onto other foods. This could cause cross-contamination and lead to unsafe food consumption for customers.

Temperature Monitoring

Monitor food temperatures regularly by taking temperature samples. You can also consider cold curtains and use open shelving to keep temperatures more consistent. When freezing foods, remember that food-poisoning bacteria can grow in frozen food while it’s thawing. Finally, never refreeze thawed food. This puts the food at high-risk for bacteria contamination.

Avoiding Cross-Contamination

Cooked and raw products should never be stocked near or on top of each other when in cold storage. No matter how thorough the packaging is, you run the risk of cross-contamination, which can lead to food poisoning for customers. This issue is more prevalent with cold food because lower temperatures act as a breeding ground for bacterial growth and are more likely to cause leakage.

 

 

If your business is in need of a cold storage solution, reach out to the experts at EuroFreezer Cold Storage in Hialeah, FL. Offering more than 14,000 square feet of refrigerated storage space, this facility has two temperature zones, 29-foot ceilings, and 2,000 additional square feet of dry storage. With affordable payment options and high-quality customer service, they’re sure to meet your company’s needs. Call (305) 392-5555 to ask about a rental space or visit them online for more information.