Posted by Chris Collins on Fri, Sep 04, 2009 @ 03:45 PM
Executive chefs, sous chefs, line cooks, culinary students, housewives, and just about anyone that’s ever prepared a meal all have something in common: the tools they use in the kitchen. Most novices, at-home cooks, and even respected chefs don’t need the expensive specialty tools sold at high end outlets to whip-up a meal. If every executive chef in the US were asked to pick the three tools they use most often during the course of their work day I’d be willing to bet one tool would find itself on every single list: a knife. Obviously, the shape and size of the knives would vary, but the fact is kitchen knives are one of the most essential culinary tools. That being said, it’s important to pick the right knife for the job.
FORGED KNIVES VS STAMPED KNIVES:
Forging is a method that involves heating steel or steel alloy at extremely high temperatures then setting and hammering the steel into a desired blade shape. Once the steel is forged into a blade it’s heat-treated, ground, polished and sharpened. The end result is generally a thicker and heavier blade that’s able to retain its sharpness longer while remaining properly balanced.
Stamped knives are “stamped” or cut out of sheets of rolled steel. Although stamped knives are lighter and more affordable, they lack the quality and balance of forged blades and usually need to be sharpened more frequently.
DIFFERENT STYLES:
 |
CHEF'S AND COOK'S KNIVES:
• All-purpose knife
• Vary in size (6-12 inches in length), 8 inch being the most popular
• Wide, curved edge ideal for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing |
 |
PARING KNIVES:
• All-purpose knife
• Vary in size (usually 2-4 inches in length) and style (sheep’s foot, spear point, chef’s style, clip point, tourné)
• Smaller size ideal for garnishing and peeling
|
 |
UTILITY KNIVES:
• All-purpose knife
• Between paring and chef’s knives in size (6-7 inches generally most popular)
• Useful when cutting non-solid fruits and vegetables, like oranges and tomatoes
|
 |
SANTOKUS:
• Commonly referred to as the “Asian Chef’s Knife”
• All-purpose knife generally lighter, shorter (5-7 inches in length), and thinner than chef’s knives
• Straighter, more blunted edge ideal for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing
|
 |
SLICERS:
• Primarily used for cutting and slicing meats
• Long and narrow knife (usually 8-14 inches in length), often has a rounded tip
• Long, flexible blade makes it easy to cut meat into thin slices
|
 |
BONING KNIVES:
• Used to separate bones from meat
• Narrow blade (4 to 8 inches in length), either flexible or stiff
• Flexible boning knives are great for fish and poultry, while stiff boning knives are better suited for beef and pork
|
 |
BREAD KNIVES:
• Serrated knife used to slice loafed bread or food with a hard outer surface and a soft center
• Shorter and heavier than a slicer (6 to 12 inches in length)
|
 |
BUTCHER KNIVES AND CIMETERS:
• Suitable for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing meats, as well as trimming and cutting joints
• Long, wide knife with a breaking blade (8 to 12 inches in length)
|
 |
OYSTER KNIVES:
• Used to pry open oysters
• Short knife (3 to 4 inches) with blunted edge and tip
|
 |
CLEAVERS:
• Used to cut through and split bones
• Thick, heavy blade is rectangular in shape and very stiff
• Light-duty “Chinese Cleavers” are similar in shape but aren’t intended for the same use
|
Choosing the correct knife for different culinary duties usually isn’t difficult. Obviously, it makes more sense to use a large chef’s knife to slice a watermelon than it does to use a small paring knife! There are other things to consider when choosing the right knife, though. The blade of a knife is extremely important, but the handle can’t be overlooked when deciding which knife to purchase.
Food-borne illness is a genuine scare in the food service industry so cleanliness keeps the doors of restaurants, bars, hotels, and other eateries open for business. An easy way to avoid contamination and keep the health department happy is to use knives with anti-microbial handles. These handles act as a safeguard against the growth and spread of microorganisms. Although there are a number of materials used for knife handles, in the food service industry it’s absolutely necessary to use a handle that’s going to reduce the risk of food related infection.
For more information on knives
for your food service establishment, visit Mission Restaurant Supply!
Posted by Chris Collins on Mon, Aug 17, 2009 @ 04:34 PM
Although most restaurants have become more conscious of
adding healthy menu items or offering fewer dishes perceived as unhealthy,
you’ll still find deep fried entrees on the carte du jour. It’s hard to resist
a heaping mound of crispy, golden french fries or beer-battered southern fried
chicken! If you have a hamburger on the menu more often than not it’s
accompanied by some form of deep fried goodness. It doesn’t take a lot to make
fried fish or onion rings taste delicious but it also doesn’t take much for
them to taste inedible either.
The number one priority of restaurant owners and operators
is to make sure the customer is satisfied with their meal when they leave.
Their second priority is keeping food and operating costs low. The oil used in
deep fryers is not only responsible for making fried food mouthwatering, it’s
also a HUGE operating expense. To ensure the flavor of fried food is never
compromised and the cost of shortening remains low, it’s absolutely necessary
to filter your oil!
We’ve already established the importance of filtering your
fryer oil: assuring food quality and reducing operating costs. But what choices
are there for filtering?
The least expensive way to filter oil is to use a grease filter cone rack. These are
perfect for restaurants and bars that only have a few fried items on their
menu. All that’s needed is a grease filter cone rack, grease filter cones, and
a large stock pot. To filter the oil, insert a grease filter cone into the rack
and then place the rack on top of the stock pot. Fryers have a drain valve in
front of the unit. Attach a separate hose or over-flow pipe to the drain valve
and gradually let the oil run through the filter cone into the stock pot. The
paper filter cone will collect crumbs and food particles that can cause
unwanted taste transfers. By reducing the number of contaminants in your
shortening you’ll also maximize the life of your oil. Not only will your fried
food taste better, you’ll also get more use out of your expensive oil!
For high volume restaurants that primarily offer fried menu
items it’s probably necessary to buy a portable fryer filter machine. When using a fryer filter machine you simply roll the
low-profile, portable unit under the fryer’s drain valve and slowly drain the
oil from the fryer into the filter. Once the oil has been filtered, a return
hose pumps the oil from the filter back into the fryer’s vat. There are also
fryers that have built-in filtration systems installed by the manufacturer but
they are often expensive and unnecessary for Mom and Pop restaurants.
Of course, oil has to be replaced regularly; but to enhance the taste of your fried food and reduce operating expenses it’s important to filter your oil weekly if not daily. For more information about fryers, portable fryer filter machines, and grease filter cone racks visit Mission Restaurant Supply!
Posted by Chris Collins on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 @ 11:24 AM
If you live in North America you’ve undoubtedly become accustom to having ice in most, if not all, of your beverages. Nobody wants to drink hot tea, or any other hot beverage for that matter, when it’s reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside! A cold glass of just about anything on a blistering summer day is what patrons expect when they enter a bar or restaurant. That being said, it’s important to know how much ice your foodservice establishment should have on hand. Below is an Ice Usage Guide from Hoshizaki America’s website that will give you a better idea of your ice needs:
Restaurant: 2 lbs. per person
Cocktails: 3 lbs. per seat
Water Glass: 4 oz. per 10 oz. glass
Salad Bar: 30 lbs. per cubic foot
Quick Service:
5 oz. per 7-12 oz. cup
8 oz. per 12-16 oz. cup
12 oz. per 16-24 oz. cup
Buying the right ice maker for your bar or restaurant doesn’t have to be frustrating. Of course, you don’t want to choose an ice maker that’s too small; but most places won’t require 1000 pounds of ice each day either. Hoshizaki America’s Ice Usage Guide makes it easy to select the right commercial ice machine for your application.
For information about Hoshizaki commercial ice machines visit Mission Restaurant Supply!
Posted by Chris Collins on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 @ 06:08 PM
Buying restaurant equipment is no different than buying a new car. Once you drive off the lot there are certain things that need to be done regularly to keep your car from breaking down. Every 3,000 miles the oil needs to be changed. Tire pressure should be checked frequently. The air filter needs to be cleaned or replaced after a while. Although commercial refrigerators don’t have radiators to flush or windshield wiper blades to replace, there is a certain amount of preventative maintenance that needs to be done to ensure they don’t fail. Service companies are more than happy to stop by your restaurant and “fix” the problem. They’re also more than happy to give you the bill for their service. To avoid product loss, lost sales, and staggering service bills the condenser must be cleaned regularly!
• Unplug your commercial refrigerator so there isn’t any electrical power.
• Depending on whether the condenser is mounted on the bottom or top of the refrigerator, remove any protective housing or louvered grills. You’ll need a screw driver for this step.
• You’ll probably see dirt and dust on the condenser coil. Using a brush or a vacuum, remove any visible debris. Compressed air can also be used to blow out debris.
• Once all of the debris has been removed replace the protective housing or louvered grill and plug the unit back in.
No matter how clean your commercial kitchen is your condenser will inevitably accumulate dirt and dust particles. If too much debris from the air is pulled through the condenser it can lead to a failed compressor. By cleaning the condenser monthly you’ll be able to avoid those expensive service bills and even lower your electric bill!
For more information about True Manufacturing commercial refrigeration visit Mission Restaurant Supply!
Posted by Chris Collins on Thu, Aug 06, 2009 @ 05:58 PM
Proper food handling and preparation play a major role in preventing the spread of foodborne illness. Bacteria and microbes are often introduced to food by human contact and cross contamination. In order to avoid the dangers of food infection, the following food safety steps should be implemented and practiced in every commercial kitchen:
With the help of San Jamar’s original Kolor–Cut® system, food preparation of different types of food can be monitored safely. And when each cutting board is coupled with a matching knife the possibility of cross-contamination is significantly reduced! Below is an informative video from San Jamar explaining the benefits of their Cut-N-Carry® Cutting Board Systems:
For great deals on San Jamar Cut-N-Carry® Cutting Boards and matching anti-microbial chef’s and cook’s knives visit Mission Restaurant Supply!
Posted by Chris Collins on Mon, Jun 08, 2009 @ 10:27 AM
Storing food and other food products at the correct temperature may prevent food-borne illness but it can also increase the shelf life of certain items. Here’s a useful guide for properly storing food so it stays fresher for longer!
32 DEGREES IDEAL — STORE IN BACK OF COOLER:
| ITEM |
TEMP. |
STORAGE |
| Apples* |
31-32 |
Avoid excess movement. Do not rinse. |
| Broccoli |
32-35 |
Store in covered box with drain shelf. |
| Cabbage |
32-35 |
Leave wrapper leaves on. Store covered. |
| Cantaloupe* |
38-42 |
Ripen at room temperature. |
| Carrots |
32-35 |
Do not wash until ready to serve. |
| Cauliflower |
32-35 |
Briefly store in single layers. |
| Celery |
32-35 |
Keep covered and sprinkle with water. |
| Corn |
32-34 |
Allow good air flow. |
| Grapes* |
32-40 |
Air circulation causes wrinkling. Store only briefly. |
| Lettuce |
32-35 |
Store tightly with drain shelf or colander. |
| Mushrooms* |
34-40 |
Put in cooler immediately. Keep dry. |
| Oranges*(FL) |
32-35 |
Need good air circulation. |
| Peaches |
32 |
Store at 65-70 until ripened. |
| Pears* |
32-35 |
Store at 60-65 until ripened. |
| Radishes |
32 |
Rinse, remove tops, and drain before storing in covered containers. |
| Strawberries |
32-35 |
Do not wash or trim before storing. Store only briefly. |
45-55 DEGREES IDEAL — STORE IN WARMEST PART OF COOLER OR COOLEST PART OF KITCHEN:
| ITEM |
TEMP. |
STORAGE |
| Avocados* |
40-45 |
Handle gently. Ripen at room temperature. |
| Cucumbers |
45-50 |
Do not wash or sprinkle with water. |
| Lemons* |
45-50 |
Absorbs odors easily. |
| Onions |
45-50 |
Keep cool, dry and ventilated. |
| Oranges*(CA) |
45-50 |
Proper rotation will maintain good fruit. |
| Peppers |
45-50 |
Very susceptible to chill damage. |
| Pineapple |
45-50 |
Won’t ripen after harvest. Handle gently. |
| Squash |
40-55 |
Soft shell cooler than hard shell. |
55-65 DEGREES IDEAL — STORE IN COOLEST PART OF KITCHEN. DO NOT REFRIGERATE.:
| ITEM |
TEMP. |
STORAGE |
| Bananas* |
56-60 |
Do not refrigerate. |
| Potatoes |
60-70 |
Store in dark area. Cooler temperatures cause accumulation of sugar. |
| Tomatoes* |
55-65 |
Keep out of direct sunlight. |
| Watermelons |
50-60 |
Store green side up. Cut pieces should be stored in the cooler. |
REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE RANGE:
DOOR(FRONT) — 40-45 DEGREES
Melons
Citrus
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
Green Beans
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Avocados
Red potatoes
Peppers
Summer Squash
MIDDLE — 35-39 DEGREES
Squash
Zucchini
Sprouts
Green Onions
Herbs
Pears
Parsley
BACK — 33-35 DEGREES
Artichokes
Asparagus
Broccoli
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cherries
Grapes
Peaches
Radishes
Apples
Apricots
Blueberries
Cabbage
Corn
Kiwi
Leaf Lettuce
Mushrooms
Strawberries
******WHAT IS ETHYLENE GAS?******
Items marked with an asterisk (*) produce ethylene gas, an active plant hormone required for the ripening process. While this is good in certain quantities, some produce can be damaged by ethylene gas exposure, especially leafy vegetables. Be sure to arrange your produce carefully!
Posted by Chris Collins on Mon, Jun 01, 2009 @ 04:54 PM
Cleaning your commercial restaurant equipment is necessary if you want to keep your doors open for business. Not only are health inspectors constantly breathing down the necks of food service operators, but restaurant patrons also know when a kitchen isn’t meeting code thanks to local news reports and other inside sources. When it’s time to clean restaurant equipment more often than not people don’t use the correct cleaners or solvents for the job. Using abrasive, chlorine based cleaners can cause serious damage to equipment. Here’s a a few tips to ensure cleanliness while also avoiding premature deterioration of your stainless steel equipment!
CLEANING STAINLESS STEEL EQUIPMENT:
1. USE THE PROPER TOOLS: Make sure you use non-abrasive tools like soft towels and plastic scouring pads.
2. CLEAN WITH THE POLISH LINES: Always scrub in a motion that is parallel to the stainless steel grain.
3. USE ALKALINE, ALKALINE CHLORINATED OR NON-CHLORIDE CONTAINING CLEANERS: Chlorides can cause your stainless steel to pit and rust.
4. TREAT HARD WATER IF POSSIBLE: Softening hard water will reduce deposits that can be corrosive.
5. RINSE, RINSE, RINSE: Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry immediately.
***AVOID USING: STEEL PADS, WIRE BRUSHES AND SCRAPERS***
WHEN CLEANING VINYL CLAD, GALVANIZED, AND ALUMINUM SURFACES: Use soap and warm water to clean these sensitive surfaces.
Posted by David Limon on Thu, May 28, 2009 @ 11:07 AM
|  Buffets
are an easy and popular way to serve food at parties. However, if food
is left out for long periods, bacteria that cause foodborne illness can
become an issue. Bacteria are everywhere, and unlike microorganisms that
cause food to spoil, disease-causing bacteria cannot usually be smelled
or tasted. Prevention is key, and the best way to prevent foodborne illness
is to practice safe food handling.
1. Always wash your hands before and after handling food. Keep kitchen,
dishes and utensils clean as well.
2. Cook foods thoroughly. If cooking foods ahead of time, be sure to cook
them thoroughly to safe minimum internal temperatures:
Beef steaks & roasts should be cooked to 160° F (medium)
Pork chops & roasts should be cooked to 160° F (medium)
Poultry (turkey/chicken) should be cooked to at least 165° F
3. Keep food hot in the oven (set at 200° - 250° F) or cold in the refrigerator until just before serving.
4. If foods need to be warmed, reheat them to at least 165° F.
5. Hot foods should be held at 140° F or warmer. Use chafing dishes, slow
cookers, and warming trays on the buffet table to keep foods warm.
6. Cold foods should be held at 40° F or colder. Keep foods cold by nesting
dishes in bowls of ice.
7. Arrange and serve food on several small platters rather than on one
large platter.
8. Always serve food on clean plates. Replace empty platters rather than
adding fresh food to a dish that already had food in it.
9. Don’t let foods sit at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep
track of how long foods have been sitting on the buffet table and discard
any perishable foods that have been sitting out for two hours or more.
Post By:
NSF International
789 N. Dixboro Road, P.O. Box 130140, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140
Consumer Hotline: 1-888-99-SAFER Website: www.nsf.org
|
Posted by Chris Collins on Wed, May 06, 2009 @ 04:33 PM
Whether they want to admit it or not, even the most experienced chefs forget simple things like standard weights and measurement conversions from time to time. Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember how many tablespoons are in a cup or how many ounces are in a pound. You’re not alone! Below are a few useful tables that will ensure you don’t ruin any meals because you added too much salt or didn’t set the oven to the right temperature! Click on a link below to be directed to the correct table:
Basic Liquid Equivalents
Liquid Capacity
Dry Capacity
Household Capacity
Disher Capacity
Ice Cream Scoops
Boiling Temperatures of Water at Various Altitudes
Oven Temperatures
BASIC LIQUID EQUIVALENTS:
| Dash |
less than 1/8 teaspoon |
| 3 teaspoons |
1 tablespoon |
| 4 tablespoons |
1/4 cup |
| 5-1/3 tablespoons |
1/3 cup |
| 8 tablespoons |
1/2 cup |
| 10-2/3 tablespoons |
2/3 cup |
| 12 tablespoons |
3/4 cup |
| 14 tablespoons |
7/8 cup |
| 16 tablespoons |
1 cup |
| 1 cup |
1/2 pint (8 fl. ounces) |
| 2 cups |
1 pint (16 fl. ounces) |
| 2 pints |
1 quart (32 fl. ounces) |
| 4 quarts |
1 gallon (128 fl. ounces) |
| 16 oz. |
1 pound (dry weight) |
LIQUID CAPACITY:
|
|
|
LITER |
|
1 gill |
7.219 cu. in. |
0.1183 |
| 4 gills |
1 pint |
28.2875 cu. in. |
0.4732 |
| 2 pints |
1 quart |
57.75 cu. in. |
0.9463 |
| 4 quarts |
1 gallon |
231 cu. in. |
3.7853 |
| 31.5 gallons |
1 barrel liquid |
|
119.24 |
| 42 gallons |
1 barrel petrol |
|
158.98 |
DRY CAPACITY:
|
|
|
LITER |
|
1 pint |
33.6 cu. in. |
0.5506 |
| 2 pints |
1 quart |
67.2 cu. in. |
1.1012 |
| 8 quarts |
1 peck |
537.6 cu. in. |
8.8096 |
| 4 pecks |
1 bushel |
2150.4 cu. in. |
35.238 |
|
1 barrel |
7056 cu. in. |
115.62 |
HOUSEHOLD CAPACITY:
|
1 teaspoon |
1/8 fl. oz. |
| 3 teaspoons |
1 tablespoon |
1/2 fl. oz. |
| 16 tablespoons |
1 cup |
8 fl. oz. |
| 2 cups |
1 pint |
16 fl. oz. |
| 2 pints |
1 quart |
32 fl. oz. |
| 4 quarts |
1 gallon |
128 fl. oz. |
DISHER CAPACITY:
Find great deals on serving dishers at Mission Restaurant Supply!
| COLOR |
DISHER SIZE |
BOWL DIA. |
FLUID OZ. |
WT. OZ. |
PATTIES/
LB. |
SCOOPS/
GAL. |
EQUIV. |
| White |
6 |
3″ |
4.66 |
4.86 |
3 |
16 |
2/3 Cup |
| Grey |
8 |
2-3/4″ |
3.64 |
3.80 |
3-1/2 |
22 |
1/2 Cup |
| Ivory |
10 |
2-5/8″ |
3.19 |
3.33 |
4 |
24 |
5/8 Cup |
| Green |
12 |
2-1/2″ |
2.78 |
2.90 |
5 |
26 |
1/3 Cup |
| Blue |
16 |
2-1/4″ |
2.07 |
2.16 |
6-8 |
35 |
1/4 Cup |
| Yellow |
20 |
2-1/8″ |
1.77 |
1.84 |
9-10 |
42 |
3+ Tbsp. |
| Red |
24 |
2″ |
1.49 |
1.56 |
11-12 |
51 |
2-2/3 Tbsp. |
| Black |
30 |
1-3/4″ |
1.03 |
1.07 |
13-14 |
62 |
2+ Tbsp. |
| Orchid |
40 |
1-1/2″ |
.68 |
.70 |
15-16 |
70 |
1-1/2 Tbsp. |
ICE CREAM SCOOPS:
Find great deals on ice cream scoops at Mission Restaurant Supply!
| SIZE |
EQUIVALENT |
SCOOPS/QUART |
| No. 6 |
2/3 Cup |
3-5 |
| No. 8 |
1/2 Cup |
5-7 |
| No. 10 |
5/8 Cup |
7-8 |
| No. 12 |
1/3 Cup |
7-10 |
| No. 16 |
1/4 Cup |
10-13 |
| No. 20 |
3+ Tbsp. |
14-17 |
| No. 24 |
2-2/3 Tbsp. |
17-20 |
| No. 30 |
2+ Tbsp. |
21-25 |
| No. 40 |
1-1/2 Tbsp. |
25-28 |
BOILING TEMPERATURES OF WATER AT VARIOUS ALTITUDES:
| Sea Level |
212 degrees F |
100 degrees C |
| 2,000 ft. |
208.4 degrees F |
98.4 degrees C |
| 5,000 ft. |
203 degrees F |
95 degrees C |
| 7,500 ft. |
198.4 degrees F |
92.4 degrees C |
OVEN TEMPERATURES:
Find great deals on oven thermometers at Mission Restaurant Supply!
| Slow |
250-300 degrees F |
| Slow-Moderate |
325 degrees F |
| Moderate |
350-375 degrees F |
| Moderately Hot |
400 degrees F |
| Hot |
425-450 degrees F |
Posted by Chris Collins on Thu, Apr 30, 2009 @ 12:02 PM
Have you ever wondered what differentiated 18/0, 18/8, and 18/10 stainless steel flatware? Flatware is just flatware and stainless steel is just stainless steel, right? Actually, the decor of your food service establishment, the price of your menu items, and most importantly your budget will determine the quality of the stainless steel flatware you purchase. You may never serve French cuisine at a chic bistro but it’s still important to know the grade of your stainless steel flatware.
18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware:
The 18 stands for 18% chrome and the 10 stands for 10% nickel. 18/10 stainless steel flatware is the standard in Europe and represents the heaviest and usually most expensive flatware available. The higher nickel content adds a luster similar to silver and helps resist corrosion and staining.
18/8 Stainless Steel Flatware:
Similar to 18/10 stainless steel flatware, 18/8 stainless steel flatware has slightly less nickel and is very popular in the United States. 18/8 stainless steel flatware feels great in your hand but doesn’t cost quite as much as 18/10 stainless steel flatware.
18/0 Stainless Steel Flatware:
18/0 stainless steel flatware doesn’t contain any nickel, making it the lightest and least expensive. You’ll be able to use a magnetic retrieval system with 18/0 stainless steel flatware because all 18% chrome patterns are magnetic, but your pocket book won’t hurt too bad if some of your flatware gets thrown away! Although 18/0 stainless steel flatware is the most economical choice, there are still heavier patterns available.
For great deals on stainless steel flatware shop at Mission Restaurant Supply!