Caring for Glassware

Glassware may be an item bought in large quantities for a bar or restaurant, but that doesn’t mean that care shouldn’t be taken to with the glasses. Glass is fragile and can break if not handled or cared for properly. In a busy restaurant or bar, accidents can happen; sometimes breakages are unavoidable, but some can be minimised by following simple instructions to care for glasses.

The Life of Glassware

As well as being prepared if glassware does break or there’s a run of customers by having supplies in stock, there are several other measures to take to ensure that glasses last as long as they should.

Mechanical Impact on Glasses

Where possible, never stack glasses; this causes unwanted friction which isn’t good for glasses and can cause them to break over time. Plus, think about the fact that if stacked glasses are being carried and they tip, that is the whole stack gone. We know that only carrying a couple of glasses at one time isn’t time efficient, so why not try a glass carrier or stacker instead to protect the glasses and stay time efficient.

The same can be said for carry glasses in bunches. While this seems like a sensible option, carrying more glasses can cause damage as the clinking of the glasses against each other makes them weaker and prone to breakage.

Thermal Shock on Glasses

There is nothing worse than drinking an ice cold drink out of a warm glass, but did you know it’s actually bad for a glass? Adding ice to a hot glass will be a temperature shock for the glass making it more likely to crack or break, so make sure that glasses have cooled down before use.

Avoid Breakages with Glassware

If an ice scoop has been misplaced in a bar, it could be tempting just to use a glass as an ice scoop, which isn’t a good idea. Doing this can cause the glass to break in the ice bucket – not only would a glass be lost, but a supply of ice will be lost too; glass can’t be taken out of the ice bucket and the remaining ice served to customers is unsafe.

When pouring a schooner, be sure to never let the glass come into contact with the tap; the constant clinking of the glass against the beer tap causes strain on the glass, making it prone to breakage.

Further Care Tips for Glassware

Preventing Etching

No matter how much care is taken over glasses, over time they can develop a cloudy texture known as etching where they are constantly in the dishwasher. There are a few steps that can be taken to avoid this happening so that glasses stay looking as good as new. Glassware should also be cleaned immediately after use to avoid stubborn residues.

Steps for Washing Glassware

Poor hygiene routines will result in a build-up of residues on glassware. This causes problems such as flat drinks, lack of head retention on beers, drinks contaminated by unwanted flavours and toxins that could pose a health risk for customers.

Whatever method of washing you use, whether glasswasher, by hand or using a brush machine, make sure you use a detergent that has been formulated for glassware and don't wash with other items such as cutlery or crockery.

• Selecting a suitable wash program when washing glasses – this can prolong the life of glassware and slow the etching process down.
• Use a liquid detergent as this can also slow this process down. Liquid is not as abrasive as a powder or tablet detergent is.
• Check the water hardness is set at the right level for the area as sometimes lime scale deposits can be seen on the glassware making them appear etched.
• Ensure that you tip away any remaining drink from the glasses before they are placed in the glasswasher and wash them as quickly as possible to avoid residue drying onto the glass.
• Allow glasses to air dry - using a cloth will leave lint on the glass or even contaminate it with germs and unwanted smells.