Food Storage in Restaurants

HOW TO STORE FOOD SAFELY

Selecting the right food containers and using the best storage not only extends the life and freshness of your food, but it will also save you money by reducing waste. Another major factor to consider is food safety. Improper handling and preparation routines are often seen as the biggest causes of foodborne illness, with food storage foolishly overlooked. However, incorrect storage is as much to blame for cross contamination as poor food preparation, so it is crucial for restaurants to plan and implement a proper storage strategy.

Stock Rotation

A crucial strategy for any professional kitchen, rotating stock by using food storage boxes and a 'first in, first out' (FIFO) system ensures that food closest to its use-by date is used before it goes off. Simple yet extremely effective, this FIFO procedure prevents older food from being left at the back of your shelves or at the bottom of your freezer. By helping you to use all your food and ingredients before they go off, it also helps to reduce your food waste costs.

Food Labelling

Labelling your stock as soon as it arrives is an excellent way of keeping all your kitchen staff aware of which food needs to be used first. Food labels are a simple and inexpensive way of displaying use-by dates, ensuring you and your team have full control and organisation of all stock in your FIFO system. Food labels can also be used to separate potentially hazardous foods, such as allergens.

Storing Meat

Meat should be stored at the bottom of fridges, or on the bottom shelves, in either these stainless steel gastronorms or these plastic gastronorms to ensure any juices are caught. Dripping meat juices can cause widespread contamination of all your foods if they are stored higher up. Dunnage racks can be used to make the most of floor space under shelves if you require more ground-level storage for meat. They raise the contents off the floor to prevent pests and damp too. Where possible, use separate fridges for storing raw meats and ready-to-eat foods to prevent any physical contamination.

Storage Temperatures

Keeping food out of direct sunlight and at the correct temperature in these bulk food storage containers will stop bacteria from growing. If food is stored above 8°C, the risk of bacteria growing increases greatly. Because of this, it is a legal requirement that your fridges are kept below 5°C, however it is recommended that they are kept between 1°C and 4°C.

Frozen food should be kept at around -18°C, and it is extremely important that you don't overstock your fridges or freezers. Overfilling your shelves can block the proper circulation of air, which can cause hot spots where bacteria can grow. You should always monitor the temperatures of any storage area, from fridges and freezers to cold rooms and racking, using a thermometer.

TYPES OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

Polycarbonate Gastronorm Pans

Practical, versatile and incredibly tough, polycarbonate gastronorm trays are transparent pans which can store a huge variety of foods. The see-through plastic makes it easy to identify contents instantly which helps to speed up stock checks or food preparation, while its shatterproof construction means they are extremely safe and durable.

These polycarbonate trays are available in all gastronorm sizes and are able to cope with temperatures from -40°C to 100°C. Brands such as Cambro make special high heat polycarbonate gastronorm pans that can withstand increased temperatures of up to 190°C. All these food storage containers are extremely space efficient, easily fitting into existing storage racks, fridges, freezers, food carts and cooking appliances. Some polycarbonate food boxes also have measurement marks to help you to accurately measure food and ingredients such as flour and sugar, and most are stackable to maximise your kitchen storage space.

Using compatible lids will help to preserve the flavour and texture of foods by creating an air tight seal to lock in the freshness. Because of the clear design, you don't even need to lift the lid unnecessarily to identify the contents of the pan. This is vital when storing foods that need to stay dry or foods that go stale if left out, while also reducing the risk of contamination and helping you to maintain impeccable food hygiene.

Polypropylene Gastronorm Pans

An economical alternative to polycarbonate, polypropylene gastronorm trays are available in all gastronorm sizes and are resistant to temperatures between -40°C and 70°C. They are easy to clean and will fit into your existing storage and food preparation areas, making them a space-efficient storage solution for a wide variety of foods.

Polypropylene containers are translucent which allows you to see inside without needing to open them. Air-tight lids are available which allow these pans to be stacked on top of each other, making them perfect for storing all foods or ingredients in any kitchen environment from restaurants to homes.

Stainless Steel Gastronorm Pans

Not only do stainless steel gastronorm trays provide practical and versatile storage, but they can also be used at every stage of food preparation. From cold storage to the oven to service, these long-lasting and easy-to-clean containers are an essential item for any catering establishment. Available in nine sizes and six depths, steel gastronorm pans help you to store any and all foods in an efficient and hygienic way.

Steel gastronorm pans come in a choice of styles. Normal pans, perforated pans, with or without handles and in deep or shallow designs. Choosing the right pans for your venue will depend on what type of foods you’ll be storing and cooking. A shallow pan is great for serving potatoes as part of a self-service buffet display, while a deep gastronorm pan is far better for sauces or beans.

A variety of lids are available that will help lock in heat and make the GN pans stackable. Some lids have holes in the corner for utensils, these are called notched lids and help to lock in heat during food service. All lids have handles and are also shaped to allow other gastronorm pans to be stacked on top.

The thickness of the steel is known as the gauge. The smaller the gauge, the thicker the metal. Gauge determines how strong and durable the pans are, meaning thicker pans are more appropriate for constant use in demanding kitchens. The standard gauge for the catering industry is 22.

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TIP: Wrapping your food and containers with tin foil or cling film can extend the freshness of your food. Foils thicker than 0.0254mm are impermeable to oxygen and water, making them perfect for preserving food.

Ingredient Bins

If you require bulk storage for dry foods such as grains, rice or flour, food bins provide a tidy and compact solution that will save space while being efficient and easy to use. Depending on your available space and size requirements, you can choose countertop models or larger ingredient bins with castor wheels for easy transport. They are made from extremely strong and durable plastic materials for continued use and they are easy to clean, ensuring effortless food hygiene.

Preserving Jars

From jams and preserves to biscuits and sweets, preserving jars keep contents fresh and tasting delicious. The lid design features a rubber ring to guarantee an air tight seal, and these rings can be replaced when they get worn out. Made from tough glass and using metal clips, these jars are durable too. A popular food storage choice for domestic kitchens, the unique appearance of these jars can also make front-of-house storage more decorative and creative at cafes, cake shops, bistros or bars.

WHAT SIZE FOOD CONTAINER DO YOU NEED?

Food containers come in a variety of sizes to suit different foods, venues and purposes. Choosing the right sizes will help you maintain efficient storage and practical food service. Gastronorms are available in nine different sizes, from 2/1 GN to 1/9 GN, with each size having up to six different depths. The below chart shows the length and width of each size, as well as the capacity each one can hold at each depth. For example, a 1/1 GN with a depth of 100mm has a 13.5Ltr capacity.

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Gastronorm sizing also allows smaller sizes to fit into larger sizes, creating a versatile system that allows for multiple food types to be stored, cooked or served together. 1/1 GN is the most common size of gastronorm, as most freezers, fridges, storage unit and cooking appliances have 1/1 GN sized shelves or racking. The below diagrams demonstrate and compare the size differences and how they fit together.

POPULAR FOOD STORAGE BRANDS

Vogue

With a huge range of kitchenware to choose from, Vogue is a fantastic choice for any professional kitchen looking to combine durability and reliability with great value prices. An extensive collection of Vogue gastronorm pans features stainless steel, polycarbonate and polypropylene trays in all GN sizes, as well as compatible gastronorm pan lids. You'll also find a huge choice of Vogue food storage containers with lids and food labels to successfully manage your entire food storage strategy.

Cambro

American brand Cambro has come a long way since designing its first meal tray in the 1950s, and has firmly established itself as a worldwide leader in food storage equipment. The Cambro gastronorm tray range features professional quality polycarbonate and polypropylene pans in all GN sizes along with a full selection of compatible gastronorm tray lids and drain shelves.

You can also assemble your own custom Cambro kitchen shelving unit in a variety of shapes and sizes to best suit your available space, allowing you to keep all your food storage containers safely while maintaining a well organised and tidy kitchen.

SHELVING AND STORAGE

Once you’ve got your food in appropriate containers, you’ll need somewhere to store it. There are a few options available and some may suit you more than others. Fridges, freezers, cold rooms and shelving, finding the right store solution for your food will help you to manage your stock more efficiently and speed up food preparation.

Shelving

Any form of food storage which is properly organised helps business owners run a more productive, efficient and safer operation. Kitchen and stock room shelving is available in a variety of sizes and materials, yet not every set is appropriate for use as commercial food shelving. Food storage racks need to be made of durable material that is easy to keep clean. Normally, they come in both plastic and metal. Although metal racks are more expensive than plastic, they are highly durable, easy to assemble and generally require less maintenance.

Fridges and Freezers

Commercial fridges are designed to keep food fresh. They keep food at food safe temperatures so they last longer in comparison to ambient storage (cupboards). Commercial fridges keep food cool even when the door is opened often. Commercial freezers are designed for long term storage of meats and other food and ingredients. Many fridges and freezers are also gastronorm compatible, so you can efficiently store your food.

Guide: There are many factors to consider when purchasing a fridge or freezer, such as size, capacity and brand. Our buying guides Buying a Commercial Fridge and Picking a Commercial Freezer help you to find the perfect unit for you.

Kitchen Cupboards

Cupboards in your kitchen can provide easy access to your most used foods and ingredients. Made from robust and hygienic stainless steel, they’re easy to fit and maintain. If you’re short on space, choose a cupboard with sliding doors.

You also have the option of wall mounted cupboards or free standing cupboards. Free standing cupboards double up as counter-top space, giving you area to store food, appliances and cookware. However, if you’re kitchen has limited floor space, you can opt for a wall mounted cupboard. These allow you to utilise your walls to create practical storage.