Apart from providing superb, high-quality food to customers, one of the most important tasks of a restaurant kitchen is to make sure the food is safe to eat. There are many factors that contribute to food safety, with fridge temperature one of the most vital.
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Don’t forget the freezer
When considering fridge temperature, it is important to remember that freezer temperature is equally important. Food deteriorates over time and over-full freezers cause the temperature to rise. Temperatures have to be particularly closely monitored if your catering establishment has a display freezer for the efficient serving of a range of ice-creams. This is made more complex by the fact that these will be most popular in the summer months when the ambient temperature of the restaurant could be very high if you do not have air conditioning.
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Keeping within the law
To ensure you keep within the law and food hygiene regulations, check out the government website. It is really important that all your staff are fully trained and have achieved a level two hygiene certificate.
For top-quality, reliable fridges and freezers, check out specialists such as https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/glass-door-refrigeration/single-glass-door-freezers.
Why is temperature important?
In the home, it is possible to be more relaxed about fridge temperature; however, this is not the case in a professional kitchen. Food poisoning caused by meat going off is a serious business and will always result in your restaurant being closed, even if only on a temporary basis. This could have a detrimental effect on your business, with members of the public keen to share their experiences on social media.
In terms of adhering to food regulations, temperatures must be recorded. Restaurants can get a low hygiene rating as a result of inadequate paperwork.
A fridge should be maintained between 3°C and 5°C. Anything above this means the food is considered to be in the danger zone, whereas food kept below this temperature may start to freeze and can therefore deteriorate. Salad goods are particularly susceptible to this deterioration. This is an example of the temperature affecting the quality of your food, with quality as important as safety in this business.
A digital thermometer is needed, as it is more accurate than a standard fridge thermometer. The latter will show variations when the door is opened, leading to inaccurate information being recorded.
