You can easily avoid food-borne illness through proper food handling. There are three stages when food is at the highest risk of developing pathogens. During preparation, during cooling, and during storage. Proper freezing techniques can help to avoid foodborne illness. Learn how now.
Check Equipment for the Proper Temperature
Freezer temperatures can range in accuracy from two to four degrees. It is essential that freezer equipment is checked frequently to assure an accurate temperature. The proper temperature for your freezer should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure that all microbes become inactive.
Proper Packaging
Proper packaging is another essential step in freezing food to avoid foodborne illness. The packaging that meat and other foods arrive in is permeable, it is safe to use to freeze the food in, but it is not the safest way to freeze food. The safer way to freeze and preserve food is to use non-permeable protective wrapping.
Cool Down Period
You shouldn’t transfer hot food immediately to the freezer. There should be a cool-down period with regular temperature checks. Placing hot food trays in an ice water bath can help to quickly cool down the food, making it safer to freeze. Freezer paddles can also help to quickly cool down food. There are ways to manage safe cooling periods that can help.
Proper Training
According to the CDC, foodborne illnesses are one of the largest threats. You can avoid foodborne illness with the right freezer protocol and the proper training of employees. There can be a lot of confusion about how to properly freeze food and how long frozen food can be safely stored without spoiling it. According to the Food and Drug Administration, most foods can be frozen without the risk of spoilage for up to 12 months. However, that guideline may not be an accurate guideline for the food service industry.
Keeping food safe in a restaurant, café, or other food service location takes on a different meaning. ServSafe training can help you to avoid foodborne illness in your food service business by training your employees in safe handling procedures for freezing protocols. Learn more about registering your staff to learn how to properly manage freezing protocols and avoid foodborne illnesses that can develop with improper storage. Give us a call today.
