Tomorrow is Independence Day and over half of the people in the country will be celebrating with their families, close friends and good food. There are many potential dangers surrounding this holiday from firework injuries and sunburn to hangovers from simply drinking too much. But one of the most prominent hazards that people just don’t think about is food safety. Incidences of food poisoning spike in the summer due to the increased amount of outdoor cooking, grilling and picnicking. It is estimated that approximately 128,000 people will need hospitalization this year due to food borne illness according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

According to recent census results, public school attendance rates have been increasing steadily since the turn of the millennium. As such, school kitchens are beginning to build and expand to support ever growing numbers of incoming students. With many students relying on the school cafeteria for their daily lunch, it is important that public schools be well-equipped to provide a variety of nutritious and sustaining foods to their students. However, because school kitchens differ from restaurants in that they are not necessarily profit or marketing oriented, the equipment requirements can often be somewhat different from typical commercial kitchens.

The ice machine is one of the most important pieces of equipment in any restaurant or commercial kitchen. Whether it be for chilling beverages, packing around food, making smoothies and frozen drinks, or even soothing the wound when an employee burns his or her hand on the stove, ice serves a multitude of purposes in every foodservice establishment.

Manufacturers that make food service equipment invite certification agencies to visit their facilities and test their equipment for safety and sanitation. A seal of approval from a respected certification board lends legitimacy to a product and guarantees that it will be safe to use in a commercial setting after it leaves the factory. It won’t catch fire. It won’t rust. It’s safe.

In our last post we began to discuss cleaning food-contact surfaces, but found it extensive, and decided to make two shorter blogs. Today, we’re getting it to more detail about the correct and safe usage of chemical sanitizers. The proper method of cleaning dishes in three compartment sinks has been previously covered in our blog Wash, Rinse, Sanitize-How to Clean Equipment and Utensils in a Compartment Sink , so in this post, we’ll look at dish machines and cleaning food-contact surfaces which can’t be fitted into either a sink or a dish machine.

Although the concept of induction cooking was first developed back in the early 1900’s, induction cooking equipment has just recently started to catch the attention of the foodservice industry. With the refinement of the technology came lower prices and greater ease of use, and as such this effective and energy-efficient method of cooking is being integrated with increasing regularity into both commercial and residential cooking equipment. Induction cooktops feature a unique suite of benefits that are universally enjoyed by those who invest in the technology, but the cooking mechanism is rather different from most conventional methods, and knowing how it works can help you get the most out of your induction cooker.

In my early years as a restaurant manager, I encountered a well-intended 18 year old dish washer (the employee, not the machine) who voiced a misconception that’s uncomfortably present. Having skipped pre-rinsing dishes before they were run through the dish machine , he now found himself facing my instruction to hand-wash dishes which came through the washing cycle with small bits of food stuck on them. He asked why, and I explained that the presence of food on a dish indicated that it was a dirty dish to which he responded, “But it’s clean dirt!” Well now…

Never.

Well, that is to say, almost never. If the blade’s rivets have come loose or its handle has fallen off, then yes, you should buy a new knife—this time, one with a single-piece construction . But if you’re thinking about tossing out your old, trusty knife just because its blade has gone dull, you need to think again. Almost any blade can be sharpened. You just need the right tools.

June is right around the corner and being that it is the sixth month of the year its a perfect time to do a little preventative maintenance on your commercial ice machine . The things that I’m going to outline here will only take a few minutes to accomplish and will help keep the ice flowing during the busy summer months ahead.

If you are a food service operator and own a steam table food warmer , then chances are you will find yourself having to remove water from the food warmer. The best way to remove water from a steam table is to first turn off the steam table and allow the water to cool completely. Next place a cart with rollers next to the cooled steam table.

Celiac disease is not a fad. More commonly known as a gluten allergy, Celiac disease is activated when an ingested protein called gluten, found in all wheats, ryes, and barleys, attaches to the digestive tract and triggers a platoon of white blood cells to assault the intestinal lining. Celiac disease is a very real, objectively unsexy autoimmune disorder in which a person’s intestines inflame, causing symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, and frequent, unscheduled diarrhea. I cannot stress this enough—Celiac disease is not a fad. The only way to treat this unfortunate disorder is to avoid gluten in your diet altogether. No pasta or pizza or fried chicken. No cookies. No monosaccharides or polysaccharides. None of those delicious wheat carbohydrates that fuel and energize your body. None.

Cooking can be a real pain when you have rheumatoid arthritis, no pun intended. And it makes eating healthy even harder than it already is. You know you should bypass that take-out you’re thinking of picking up but the very thought of going home and chopping all those fruits and vegetables for a nutritious meal makes you cringe. It’s time to stop fighting and start considering some adaptive kitchen aids. Maintain your independence with these helpful tips and specialty cutlery items.

Stainless steel compartment sinks are a requirement in every commercial kitchen for food preparation and dish washing. Even if you have a commercial dishwasher you still need a stainless steel compartment sink to satisfy the health departments requirements.

Some say “yuck” and others say “yum,” but whether the prospect of eating sushi delights or disgusts you this Japanese delicacy has spread to restaurants all over the world and is here to stay. And with it’s exotic appeal, rich nutrients and low calorie count it’s no wonder its so popular. Sushi is a versatile and generally healthy food that can be served as an appetizer or the main course. Although sushi is traditionally Japanese its also commonly offered in Chinese buffets, Thai restaurants and other Asian food establishments. And because sushi is such a widely sought after delicacy that consumers are willing to pay top dollar for adding it to your restaurant’s menu could be a great investment.

We’re sharing the good news of one of our manufacturers.   On April 29, 2014, the EPA will honor Manitowoc  in Washington, DC.  They’ve been given a special Energy Star Award for 2014.  They were named Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence.   They’ve been Energy Star partners since 2001, and they’re being honored for their long-term dedication to the cause of energy-efficiency.    Currently, they have seven product lines participating in the Energy Star categories, and they are fryers, ice machines , refrigerators, freezers, steam cookers, griddles, and ovens. Manitowoc Foodservice has increased its Energy Star portfolio to 1,254 products in 2013, which is a 35% increase over 2012.

Earth Day is fast approaching. This coming Monday, April 22nd, volunteer groups and organizations around the world will come together to help do their part in keeping our environment clean and spreading the word about environmental awareness. But you don’t have to be a charity organization to take part in the day’s observances. There are plenty of ways for restaurants and other small businesses to get involved in reducing their carbon footprint. Here are a few suggestions.

Using a fryer filter prevents food particles from burning and ruining your oil. When oil is filtered daily, it lasts over twice as long, and you’ll save your restaurant a lot of money. Filtering makes food taste better too. Depending on your restaurant, you will want to filter your oil using one of a few methods. Find out which one below.

Most chefs who cook a lot of meat (especially fish) will likely already be familiar with fillet and boning knives, but those who do not spend their days carefully preparing fine cuts of meat may not have much exposure to this type of blade. These smaller kitchen knives are used to debone and break down fish, poultry, and other cuts of meat, and they feature a variety of distinctive qualities that make them perfect for the job. Although boning and filet knives are often used interchangeably, there are some important differences between the two.

In the commercial ice industry you have many choices, but as far as how your machine works you basically only have two; air-cooled or water-cooled. So which one is better? There is no straight answer to this question. The type of ice machine you want to buy all depends on your specific needs, your resources, your budget and the kind of environment in which you plan to use your machine. And just like with any question knowledge is power and the more you know about these types of commercial ice machines the better.

Voltage concerns are frequently voiced from our customers. It can be confusing, because there are several numbers mentioned, some more frequently than others, and while we may not know why, we’ve got the basic instinct that says we need to get this right.

Along with the chef’s knife, paring knives are one of the most commonly used pieces of cutlery in most home and professional kitchens. Although small, the paring knife is one of the most versatile food preparation tools in the chef’s arsenal, allowing one to chop, peel, slice, and carve foods with higher degrees of accuracy than larger knives. As such, paring knives are most commonly used for tasks that require careful detail, such as removing seeds from peppers, de-veining shrimp, cutting garnishes, and more. The smaller size of a paring knife allows it to be more carefully manipulated to achieve precise or intricate cuts that would normally be difficult with a larger blade.

Increasingly busy lifestyles have changed the landscape of dinner time. Family celebrations which were once a clustered in a large dining room are now commemorated at our favorite restaurants. We spend time with our friends, conduct business, date, and sometimes even meet our spouses there. (I have friends who were married in the restaurant where they met.) The foodservice industry is more than an industry. It’s part of our daily existence

Any professional or home chef can attest to the importance of a sturdy, dependable chef’s knife. Also known as a French knife or a cook’s knife, the chef’s knife is one of the most common cutting tools used in food preparation, particularly in Western kitchens. A good chef’s knife can be used to cut meat, slice vegetables, and chop herbs, among a variety of other uses. But with this versatility comes the inevitable confusion of choosing which knife to buy when shopping through all of the options and variations that the industry has to offer, especially if this is your first big knife investment. But don’t let that scare you away to a land of low-quality “budget” knives. Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge about exactly what a chef’s knife is and how it is used is a quick and easy way to narrow the search.

Cleavers are rugged, rectangular-bladed knives that are most commonly used for quickly chopping through bone in large cuts of meat. Although the term “meat cleaver” has come to be used almost universally in reference to the knife, they are also used for quickly chopping up large fruits and vegetables (such as squash or various melons) that would otherwise be unwieldy with regular kitchen knives. The broad side of the knife also makes it ideal for crushing ingredients like garlic or ginger during food preparation, and the blunt, flat edge on the back of the blade can sometimes be used to tenderize meats in the absence of a traditional meat tenderizer. But despite some of its more versatile uses, the cleaver is designed to do one thing better than any other hand tool: break large, difficult pieces of food into smaller, more manageable pieces of food.

It was 72 degrees in South Carolina yesterday. The tulips are coming up in my wife’s flowerbed, Bradford pear trees are ready to bloom, and I am calling my customers asking them if they want to spend the best $ 350 they’ll spend all year. In these hard times, $ 350 is a lot when it comes to the bottom line but as the old adage goes “Pay me now or pay me later”.

Health inspections for commercial dining venues are a fact of owning such a business, and thank goodness for them, because we’d never want to eat out if there weren’t any guidelines.  The experience can, however, be unnerving to the point of downright terror if you allow it to be.  There are some common sense ideas in preparing for a health inspection that can make it less painful and more successful.

One of the biggest concerns when using deep fryers in your restaurant or commercial kitchen is the quality of the oil. If you want your fried foods to taste fresh and appetizing, you need to make sure that your oil is always as clean and as close to new as possible. But constantly replacing the oil in your fryers is costly, and it can often be a huge, messy hassle for you and your kitchen staff.

Oyster Roasts have become one of the biggest low country traditions along the southern coast line. Where as in many other areas oysters are consumed raw or on the half shell, indoors, people in Charelston and the surrounding region gather outside to shuck these little roasted mollusks, drink beer and have a good time until they are spent. If you’ve been invited to one of these festive gatherings your in for a treat, but to someone who’s never attended an event like this the do’s and dont’s of such an eccentric tradition can seem a bit overwhelming. Here’s a little bit of info and a few tips to help any newcomer be prepared for their first shucking experience.

When the Cambro Healthcare Products catalog landed on my desk earlier this week I took one look and was blown away by the beautiful meal delivery ware that was inside.  I had become briefly familiar with the Cambro Healthcare line when I sold a couple meal delivery carts and some of the meal delivery ware to the television show “Mercy” for use in the first season of the new show.  Cambro Healthcare has made it simple to design the meal delivery system that will fit your budget and food service needs.  Its as easy as 1,2,3,4… in four easy steps you will build your traytop and pick yor delivery method.

If you have been having trouble getting your deep frying right, don’t worry—it’s really not as simple as it looks. Deep frying is often depicted as a quick and easy method of cooking that only someone who was not paying attention could mess up. After all, you’re just dunking some food in some oil, right?

When opening and stocking a restaurant, one of your initial investments will have to be in flatware.  High quality flatware is well-worth the cost upfront, because it’s going to be used constantly and you aren’t going to want to be replacing it frequently.  With that idea in mind, we’ve put together a list of practical tips to extend the life of your commercial flatware.

Are you starting a new restaurant, convenience store, cafeteria, bar, or any other business that requires ice? Is your current commercial ice machine becoming a money pit due to excessive service calls and replacement parts? Are you looking to replace that old commercial ice machine with a newer more energy efficient model? Here are some thing to consider when buying a new commercial ice machine: what will I be using the ice for, what type of ice do I need, and how much ice do I need?

With the recent rise in interest of superfoods and fruit-based diet plans, smoothies have become more popular than ever. Once a risky business model at best, dedicated smoothie shops are now opening—and thriving—all over the country. With relatively straightforward lists of ingredients and lots of cross-over between menu offerings, running a smoothie shop requires little overhead and can bring in steady profits, if properly equipped. If you’re thinking about starting up a juice or smoothie shop of your own, here are a few of the necessary items to keep your operation running without a hitch.

Wooden utensils are standard kitchen fare, so caring for them properly is a topic that’s going to naturally arise.   I never expected it to be controversial, but in some ways, it is.  Here are some pointers about caring for them.

Chef Phil gives us a tip on how to properly sharpen your knives in the kitchen. This vid was shot in the showroom kitchen at J.E.S. Restaurant Equipment Also, follow us on Youtube for future vids.

Yes portion control is critical when trying to loose weight but its also a necessary evil in every kitchen.  If you aren’t “watching your weight”, food costs are sure to soar through the roof.

It’s an ugly topic, but if we want beautiful dining experiences, we have to address it.  A common cause of food borne illness is cross-contamination, which requires effort to combat.   Cross-contamination is the spreading of pathogens from one surface to another, whether from foods, containers, hands, or the very air breathed by a sick employee.  We’re at war with cross-contamination, and confront it on every side.  Unfortunately, our enemy is everything within and about your restaurant environment.

This is my first blog of the new year, so for that reason alone I felt the need to post a blog that might help everyone with their New Year’s Resolution. Since so many of us have losing weight at the top of our list of New Year’s Resolutions, I felt the need to share with you all a recipe on turkey spinach burgers. The initial thought of biting into a turkey and spinach burger may sound unappealing but mixed into patties and seasoned with garlic salt makes these burgers a delectable meal.

When shopping for a blender for your home kitchen, it is often tempting to simply run out and choose from the selection at your local department store. While most inexpensive home blenders will likely get the job done under most circumstances, those who use their blender on a regular basis – or for more intensive jobs like chopping hard vegetables or making smoothies – may want to consider upgrading to a more heavy-duty model.

Over the years, the oven has become practically synonymous with cooking of all kinds. Just about everyone has had some experience using an oven at some point, whether it be in their home or apartment, or while working in a restaurant or other commercial kitchen. Most of those who have experience using an oven would agree that operating the machine is about as straightforward as it gets: just set the temperature, position your food on the rack, and wait the appropriate amount of time.

Most restaurants are required to have a commercial sink consisting of three or more compartments to manually clean and sanitize utensils and equipment. But washing smallwares by hand is subject to health and safety standards just like everything else in the food service industry. Here’s a brief overview of how to properly wash, rinse and sanitize in your three-compartment sink:

We don't mean to worry you or anything, but your kitchen is trying to kill you. That's right. Every year millions of people are sent to the emergency room due to kitchen accidents. Here's an infographic to better explain.