It’s a classic restaurateur dilemma: serving up fresh food without breaking the bank. Not only do fresh ingredients taste better (and keep customers coming back for more) but they also play an important part in staying compliant with food safety regulations.
At the same time, the brief shelf life of these ingredients often complicates inventory management. Traditional methods like freezing can compromise the taste and nutritional integrity of food, prompting a closer look into alternative preservation techniques.
For restaurateurs grappling with the dual pressures of escalating food prices and the demand for quality, join us as we consider how to keep food fresh in a restaurant.
Introduction to food freshness in restaurants
Surveys show that nearly 70% of customers are willing to pay a premium for fresh food. Far from a nice-to-have, diners expect delicious, safe, and high-quality meals every time they eat out.
Meeting these expectations brings many benefits:
• Healthier, higher-quality ingredients free from the saturated fats and sodium that often accompany commercial frozen foods.
• Reduced environmental impact from sourcing fresh ingredients, which limits the need for extensive food packaging and commercial shipping.
• Alignment with consumer expectations amidst growing awareness about the health benefits of fresh, minimally processed foods.
Key factors affecting food freshness
The first line of defense against spoiled food: your refrigerator. When properly cleaned and maintained, fridges can increase the shelf life of certain foods by days and even weeks.
Preserving freshness is about more than keeping food cool, though. Several factors can impact the freshness of your ingredients, including:
• Temperature – Proper temperature control is essential for preventing bacterial growth and food spoilage.
• Humidity – Excessive moisture can lead to mold and accelerate decay.
• Air exposure – Prolonged exposure to air can cause oxidation and deterioration of food quality.
• Cross-contamination – Improper storage or handling can result in the transfer of harmful bacteria between ingredients.
Innovative storage solutions
Fresh food is certainly in fashion, but so is affordability. That’s why, when it comes to maximizing freshness and minimizing costs, you’ll need to store food effectively.
Since external factors tend to have the most impact on food freshness, the right storage solutions can go a long way in preserving food quality and freshness.
Enter: vacuum sealing.
Vacuum sealing can maintain and, in some cases, lengthen the freshness of both cooked and non-cooked foods. This is why vacuum sealers are a critical component of any commercial kitchen equipment list.
Guidelines for vacuum sealing
Vacuum sealing is a culinary marvel. To ensure food safety, however, packagers and operators do need to keep a few stringent rules in mind.
First, the FDA’s food storage guidelines for vacuum-sealed foods depend on whether the food is cooked or non-cooked:
• Non-cooked – Food that hasn’t been heat-treated as well as food that was cooked and then vacuum sealed.
• Cooked – Food that was heat-treated while in a vacuum-sealed container, also known as sous vide.
All non-cooked, vacuum-sealed items must be stored at or below 41°F for a maximum of 14 days.
There are general FDA guidelines for cooked or sous vide products, but certain regions may choose to enforce stricter rules. Notable areas include Florida, DC, and New York.
Here are the FDA’s sous vide storage guidelines, effective from the date and time of packaging:
• 48 hours at 41°F
• 72 hours at 38°F
• 30 days at 34°F
• Indefinite if frozen
Note that these rules are contingent on following the FDA’s cooking and cooling guidelines for sous vide foods. A common exception is for fish, shellfish, and other aquatic foods, which must be stored immediately in the freezer after packaging.
Reducing waste with smart inventory management
Smart inventory management begins with a food storage chart. A food storage chart tells you how long you can store every food product you use, and in what conditions.3 Plan your shopping around this information, considering how much of each product you use and how long it’ll stay fresh in storage.
By adhering to your chart, you’ll only buy what you need, and you’ll use all of what you buy, ensuring safe food storage. Not only will you waste less—you’ll save more.
Implementing a First-In, First-Out (FIFO) system
After you’ve sorted out your inventory, bring the same level of organization to your fridge with a FIFO system. Here’s how it works:
• Before adding an item to the fridge, label it with the current date.
• Shift items around so that the items with older dates are at the front, and ones with newer dates are at the back.
• Use items with the oldest dates before using any others.
Not only does a FIFO system preserve the freshness of your food products, but it also prevents you from buying duplicates of items that are hiding in the back of your fridge—again, cutting food waste and cutting costs.
Leverage Breville Commercial technology for first-rate freshness
Breville Commercial specializes in advanced restaurant kitchen equipment that operates with the ease of a home appliance.
For a powerful and intuitive vacuum-sealing experience, choose the MX2™ Infuser. This multifaceted machine can do it all: infuse, extract, marinate, seal, and expand. Its generously accommodating chamber and convenient disposable seal bar ensure maximum time and cost efficiency.
Prepare food faster and preserve it longer in your commercial kitchen with industry-leading technology from Breville Commercial.
Sources:
- Deloitte. Fresh food at the intersection of trust and transparency. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/retail-distribution/fresh-food-trends-produce-traceability-concerns.html?trk=article-ssr-frontend-pulse_little-text-block
- Healthline. 21 Reasons to Eat Real Food. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/21-reasons-to-eat-real-food#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
- FoodDocs. Proper Food Storage Chart. https://www.fooddocs.com/food-safety-templates/proper-food-storage-chart
- Utah State University. 7 Factors That Prolong Your Food Storage Supply. https://extension.usu.edu/news_sections/home_family_and_food/foodstorage
