Storing Food to Prevent Deterioration

1. Storing Food to Prevent
Deterioration

2. Where should non-perishable foods be stored?
Pantry
What are the ideal storage conditions?
Clean and well ventilated and at room temperature between
10°C and 20°C.
Where can you store canned foods and for how long?
In the pantry for many months.
What is cold storage? What temperatures should it be?
It includes refrigerated and frozen storage areas. Refrigeration
should be operated below 5°C while freezers usually keep foods
below -18°C.
Food Storage

3. How should you store food in cold storage? All refrigerated
foods should be well covered and organised to avoid cross-
contamination. Poultry and red meats should be stored and
wrapped separately and cooked foods stored on higher
shelves. Food should never be placed directly on refrigerator
shelves.
What happens to frozen foods if they are not stored properly?
How can this be prevented? They can suffer ‘freezer burn’.
Packaging them properly and removing as much air as possible
will help prevent this.
Food Storage

4. Environmental Factors
Insect spray being used in the kitchen when food is
uncovered
Foods being exposed to air
Damaged packaging
Unprotected hands of food handlers
Rough handling of the food
Table decorations or display labels coming in
contact with food
Food being stored in the temperature danger zone
Careless wait staff touching the plate or food
Use of dirty crockery