New Year’s Eve is coming, and that means that most restaurants, ballrooms, and catering companies will be at their busiest. The certified food manager must be extra vigilant in keeping every item served safe for their New Year’s Eve guests.
MN Certified Food Manager’s Guide to Surviving New Year’s Eve
As a certified food manager of any outlet, it’s essential to remain in control during a busy day like New Year’s Eve. Three crucial steps must be taken to guarantee that the food you serve is safe and of the highest possible quality.
- Be prepared
- Take time to monitor food production
- Remain calm
Our first tip will help keep the food at your New Year’s Eve party safe and delicious. Ensure you have your line refrigerators fully stocked before service even begins. Most New Year’s events will last long into the night. Change hot-held sauces and buffet items after a maximum of four hours at 140 degrees. Adhering to this guideline is essential for ensuring food safety. Have your backup items staged and prepared for reheating before service to optimize efficiency. Having extra cold items ready can be a lifesaver during busy evenings. Change hot-held sauces and buffet items after a maximum of four hours at 140 degrees.
Proper temperature control is crucial during holiday events and should always be a priority. For buffet service, consider having your front-of-house manager or server monitor the temperatures of hot and cold items. Set a timer alert for every hour to check the temperatures of hot-held sauces and sides from your kitchen.
Remain Calm And In Control
Finally, stay calm and in control at all times. Mistakes happen when you’re in a hurry, and when it comes to food production, not taking the time to wash your hands or sanitize a cutting board properly can lead to dire consequences. Take the time to ensure that you cook all foods to the proper temperature, change your disposable gloves after every use, and follow all health code regulations throughout the night.
While days like New Year’s Eve can be stressful, they can also be fun with the right mindset and a lot of preparation. Remember to thank your staff for a job well done at the end of the night and reward them for their hard work. At Safe Food Training, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for following us throughout 2024 and wish you the best in the upcoming year.