Running a hotel kitchen can be complex, but things can go a lot smoother if your kitchen is tidy. Don’t know how to keep your kitchen nice and clean especially during rush hour? Here are a few things you can do to keep your hotel kitchen cleaner.
Daily Tasks
Having a daily task list is essential for running your hotel kitchen. It is important to list each task and to give specific and detailed instructions on how to complete them. Some of these can be emptying trash bins, switching out towels and cutting boards, or preparing the grill, range, and flattops to be used. Being repetitive is key. The more your employees get into the habit of checking the task list and fulfilling the daily routine, the better they will become at accomplishing each task.
Time Charts
Some tasks should be done more than once a day. Having a time chart is a great way to keep track of when each task has been completed. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner shifts should share this responsibility. When each person starts their shift, they should be in charge of repeating some of the daily tasks that should be fulfilled again. These tasks can be emptying and sanitizing buckets, sweeping and mopping floors, and washing and sanitizing all surfaces. If everyone shares repetitive tasks, this will allow each employee to be familiarized with the cleaning routine.
Proper Storage
Research shows that 73% of food safety issues go unresolved. That is why it is so important to store food properly. This will not only keep your customers safe, but it will also help keep your kitchen clean. You can achieve this by training employees to recognize where each type of food should be stored. This can be the freezer, refrigerator, or pantry. It is also important to know at what temperature the fridge and freezer should be kept. Being organized is important as well. Consider keeping food in labeled, airtight containers. This will help your staff to be more organized and avoid making a mess when looking for food.
Other Helpful Tips
Keeping a daily task list is great to implement, but having a weekly and monthly task list is helpful as well. There are areas in your kitchen that do not need daily attention. Some weekly tasks can include cleaning the oven and refrigerator and removing lime buildup from sinks and faucets, and some monthly tasks can be cleaning the freezer and sanitizing ice machines. These tasks can be overlooked but they are important to enforce so that you can maintain an A+ rating. You can also use a time chart and schedule to keep track of when these tasks should be done. This will help you always be prepared for audits.
Running a hotel kitchen is no easy task, but it can be a lot easier if things are neat and organized, so remember, make a daily task list so that your employees may become familiar with the daily routine. Make sure each employee shares this responsibility and keep track by using a time chart and also remember to keep your food stored properly. This will save you from violating safety hazards and it will also keep your kitchen clean and organized.
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