Author: Kate

Even though running small businesses is profitable, sometimes I have to compromise on factors like having fresh food. The rush times will face more flawed cooking and one thing I am doing really mindful is  reheating the food properly.  Since many of you are asking about my reheating habits and safe methods, I thought about sharing some information that I learned in the past few years about reheating and what is the maximum amount of time allowed for safely reheating food. Whether it’s a leftover of your favorite dish or any extra portion that was made in advance. What is…

When running a food establishment, I used to think about everything from food prep, cleanliness, and customer satisfaction to storing sanitizing chemicals. My experience tells me how important it is to keep these chemicals in the right place and use them. In this blog, let us look into where you should keep those must-need cleaning agents in your kitchen or café. Here are a handful of tips from my personal experience. Where Should Sanitizing Chemicals Be Stored in a Food Establishment? Sanitizing chemicals should be stored in a utility closet on a shelf labeled cleaning supplies for a food establishment.…

I always believe that taking care of food is very important just like we do skin care. But it is quite easy if you know the characteristics of the food. Like, how to store it, cleaning and preventing bacteria etc. You may know my love towards cooking and finding time for new recipes since I left my corporate job and started business. My sister may dump all things I make fun of her, but in learning the fine details of food safety, she may get a doctorate degree.  That’s why today, I am stealing her better parts of the brain…

If you’re like me, you would love making a fresh batch of tuna salad for a quick meal or to wow your guests. As much as we love the convenience of tuna salad recipes for lunch or meal prep, nothing is more important than food safety! If you want to know the number one temperature for it to maintain its freshness and safety, here is what you need to remember. Never hold tuna salad at anything above 41°F (5°C).In this blog, I will share why that number is so meaningful and how to enjoy tuna salad safely every time. What…

The best thing I love about my current small business life is I am getting countless experiences in several fields. Among these, the kitchen experience is the best one. The main thing I have realized is I’m deeply connected to food and the kitchen, so I can also start something new in this field also. In the food industry, the most important thing is the proper cleaning and sanitization. Especially when it comes to the water in the wash sink of a three-compartment sink, I know, I know… it sounds technical, but stick with me, and I’ll break it down…

I was a person who was never excited about food storage or organizing the kitchen. Back in my corporate days, I was always focused on spreadsheets rather than the kitchen shelves. But the moment I started a business, I got more time myself and was flexible enough to observe all the things around me. And let me tell you, messing up with the storage can give you a lot of fun and not-fun situations. If I tell you one, I just forgot to store the raw meat in the freezer and ended up ordering pizza for one week. Let’s avoid…

I remember a time when I confidently reached for a ready-to-eat meal from the fridge, only to hesitate as I glanced at the packaging.  When did I last investigate the sell-by date? There is always that lingering question when I reach for TCS (Time/Temperature Control for Safety) foods. It is a reminder that these are convenient, but there is an important step I cannot bypass. This sign was more than just a good habit. It is a necessary one for my health and the quality of the meals that they deliver. Knowing the importance of these dates is half the…

I’ve learned that having the right tools can make all the difference when it comes to cleaning. I tried a few methods, and even after years of trial and error, I can tell you that the service sink is my mop water savior. We have all experienced dumping dirty water and the level of difficulty we face with not reaching for the paper towels because they did not get clean enough or the mug slipped off our hands. So today, I want to explain which type of sink is used for dumping mop water and why this sink has quickly…

Have you ever watched the ‘Baking with Julia’ TV show? That was one of my favorite shows, and I was eager to watch it in the 90s. More than the cooking, I am always eager to learn the plating done by the pastry chefs. My sister always asks me,  “Why are you so particular about plating?” I always think that cooking is an art, and plating adds more creativity to it. Even when I rush for a quick meal, I always care about how food is presented and the hygiene of the food contact surface. The top of the plate…

One rainy Saturday, while surfing the internet I came across some questions “How many inches does food need to be stored above the ground?”, “How far should food be stored off the floor?” and “Food should be stored at least which distance from the floor?” After doing a simple research, I discovered one of the best kitchen organization secrets: food should be at least 6 inches off the floor. As I cleaned and rearranged my pantry, I made a minor yet monumental adjustment to one shelf; nothing could have prepared me for the occurring leak. I had no idea this…