Whether it’s preparing food, cooking, eating, or just hanging out, the kitchen is the hub of your household. And for every home-maker, hygiene is the main ingredient in the food safety recipe. That’s why it needs just as much of our attention when it comes to maintaining good kitchen hygiene. Simple carelessness in cleaning the kitchen environment or in preparing food can cause cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria, leading to food poisoning.
Here are a few must-follow rules that you must follow to maintain proper hygiene, and eventually lower the risks of food-borne illnesses.
TIP : Why not help the whole household remember this list of 10 rules for the kitchen by printing it out and sticking it on the fridge? You could even ask the kids to illustrate it with some colorful pens if they’re feeling creative.
Rule #1: Wash your hands frequently and maintain personal hygiene Microorganisms can be transferred from hands to food. Hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and hot water after touching food and before performing the next job function. Always dry hands on a clean towel. Hair can also carry germs so keep it tied back and wear a hairnet. Rule #2: Proper Clothing Clothes can carry germs from outside into the kitchen so it is important to change into work clothes. These should be light-colored so that stains are immediately visible. Rule #3: Thoroughly cook foods One of the most important food hygiene rules is to ensure food is cooked properly. If undercooked, harmful bacteria could lead to food poisoning.
Tips:
Cut into the food to check that it is cooked through.
Use a food probe thermometer to check meat is cooked to the correct temperature.
Make sure any reheated food is piping hot.
Serve cooked food at a minimum temperature of 70°C (the temperature range from 15°C to 55°C is when you get the most rapid multiplication of bacteria).
Rule #4: Ensure proper food storage Storing food items properly is just as important as thorough and attentive cooking. First off, clean the interior of your refrigerator every month or two to ensure the best hygiene and eliminate bad odor.
Make sure you cover all food items when storing them in your refrigerator. Always check storage instructions for packaged food items. And don’t forget to check the ‘use by date to avoid eating food items past their usage date.
Tips:
Make sure leftovers or open food packets are covered with cling film or kept in a sealed container.
You also need to use sealed containers for the type of food that’s kept on shelves or in the cupboard, like flour, rice and pasta.
Don’t put warm food into the fridge. It needs to have cooled first, but should be put in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible (within two hours). Keep this in mind when prepping family meals to freeze!
Don’t leave food out for more than two hours (that includes cut veg and fruit).
Place food packages on plates to avoid any juices dripping onto countertops or fridge shelves – store on the lowest shelf to further help avoid contamination.
Keep your fridge clear of any items that are out of date.
Don’t overstuff your fridge (there should be enough room for proper air circulation).
Get your chilled groceries into the fridge as soon as possible after you buy them (the same goes for frozen items and the freezer).
Rule #5: Chill food rapidly For the same reason, it is important to chill food rapidly: it should drop from 65° to 10° C in no more than two hours. Every professional kitchen should be equipped with adequate freezers and blast chillers like the air-o-chill blast chillers range by Electrolux Professional. With the combination of oven and blast chiller within the Cook&Chill system, a completely integrated, lean, and safe process is ensured. air-o-system, the innovative Electrolux Cook&Chill, is specifically designed to ensure food safety: the food is transferred directly from oven to blast chiller, increasing its shelf life and avoiding waste
Rule #6: Choose the right BIN
When shopping for your kitchen’s dust bin, choose one with a covering lid. Also, make sure that you empty and clean your dustbin on a regular basis. By doing this, you can prevent bacteria to breed in food wastes that start to decompose.
Rule #7: Use Dishwashers Dishwashers are essential for any professional kitchen: bacteria from food scraps can be prevented from spreading by properly washing dishes, cookware, and utensils. Use the right dishwashing detergents and temperatures or, even better, use dishwashers with a sanitizing function.
Install a modular layout to keep your kitchen clutter-free
By installing a modular layout, you can keep your kitchen clean and organized. Choose from the best modular kitchen designs at Lumba Modular Kitchen.
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