Proper food prep maintains the flavor of fresh produce and makes it safe for consumption. Give customers the highest-quality food and drinks with these smart restaurant prep tips for fruits and vegetables.
Wash Produce
Washing produce is important to remove dirt, bacteria, pesticides, and other contaminants that could potentially sicken customers or staff. Otherwise, cutting or peeling unwashed produce could leave dirt and bacteria on prep surfaces and equipment.
Wash produce in a designated, sanitized produce-washing station. You can wash fruits and vegetables efficiently using the soaking method. Soak produce in a sanitized sink filled with a vinegar solution or a produce-washing product for about 30 seconds. Do not use soap or detergents. After soaking, place the fruits and vegetables in a colander and rinse them with cold water. Then, let the ingredients air-dry before use.
Use Clean Equipment
Always clean food prep equipment after use to prevent cross-contamination. While dirty utensils are hard to ignore, it can be easy to overlook dirty appliances. Cleaning your equipment helps to keep your product clean and safe. It also prevents residue on the cutting blade from muddying flavors.
Fortunately, manufacturers design high-quality commercial kitchen equipment for simple daily cleaning. For example, Juicernet’s pineapple prep machines include stainless steel pineapple corers and self-serve pineapple coring machines. Both devices allow easy access to the cutting mechanism for regular cleaning and maintenance.
Organize Your Food Prep Station
One of the smartest restaurant tips for prepping fruits and vegetables is to have an organized prep station. A dedicated station will help restaurant staff follow best food safety practices. Plus, keeping materials on hand and organized will increase efficiency.
Your food prep station should include the following items:
- Knives
- Cutting boards
- Scrap bin
- Trash can
- Peelers
- Other specialized equipment
Specialized equipment helps you efficiently prepare time-consuming ingredients. If your restaurant frequently prepares pineapple, pineapple corers peel the whole pineapple and remove the tough, fibrous core. These machines slice the fruit evenly, giving you uniform pineapple pieces for cooking, juicing, or beautiful plated presentations.
Equip your food prep station with a tabletop or free-standing pineapple coring machine. Shop with Juicernet today to reduce labor and improve efficiency in your kitchen!
