Category: Safe Food Training MN

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ServSafe Food Safety and the Dangers of Undercooked Shellfish

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Shellfish selections tend to be plentiful on summer happy hour and appetizer menus for their versatility and fresh taste, but, with the heat of spring and summer warming the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coast and waters in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, serving shellfish during the summer months creates a rise in the risk of spreading a food-borne illnesses due to Vibrio infections. This week, we’ll briefly discuss how to cook and store shellfish according to ServSafe food safety guidelines.

 ServSafe Food Safety and the Dangers of Undercooked Shellfish

ServSafe Food Safety and Vibrio Infections

Two closely related bacteria cause Vibrio infections. These bacteria thrive in shellfish from warmer waters and most frequently sickens people who consume contaminated raw and undercooked shellfish. The symptoms of infection include:

    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea
    • Chills and fever
    • Skin rashes

While consuming undercooked shellfish increases the potential for spreading an infection, Vibrio bacterium also potentially spreads through contact with bare skin. These rare cases most commonly occur when raw shellfish comes into contact with a sore or open wound. Raw clams, oysters, scallops and mussels need to be handled in a hands-free manner.

When cooking shellfish, they must achieve an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Your cooked shellfish need to remain out of the danger zone after cooking, and we suggest that you serve them as soon as possible after they are prepared.

Proper storage also reduces the risk of spreading food-borne illness. ServeSafe food safety rules require shellfish to be stored below 41 degrees, and no two batches of shellfish should be stored in the same container. For example, scallops and clams cannot be stocked in the same containers prior to cooking. The same holds true with shellfish received on different dates. Combining two batches of shellfish increases the risk of spreading bacteria from one to the other.

The Minnesota Food Code also requires that tags from fresh shellfish be saved for 90 days. This requirement is in place to track down the source should an outbreak of Vibrio poisoning occur.

We love sampling shellfish from some of our talented local chefs. What are your favorite shellfish dishes?

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Food Training to Prevent Knife Injuries from Avocado Prep

Food Training to Prevent Knife Injuries from Avocado Prep

It recently came to our attention that an increased number of people are injuring themselves while cutting avocados. With summer upon us, avocados are frequenting menu items such as salads, and guacamole production is in full swing at local restaurants. We feel that food training should go beyond keeping your food safe, but also keeping your staff safe as well, so this week we explore the proper way to prepare this popular ingredient.

Food Training to Prevent Knife Injuries from Avocado Prep
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Safe Food Training on the Way to Cut an Avocado

The way many professionals cut and prepare an avocado poses a great risk for a sliced finger or even a puncture wound to the hand. The main reason for injury is due to the fact that most people cut an avocado while cradling it in their palm. This can cause the tip of the knife to slip through the avocado skin and slice a finger or a thumb when cutting it in half.

The most serious injuries occur when removing the pit. The common method for this procedure is holding the avocado face up and slamming the blade into the pit in order to twist it out of the center. The pit cracks if it is overripe or if too much force is used and the knife can go directly through the entire avocado and create a potentially gruesome cut.

The safe food training solution takes a few seconds more per avocado, but a few seconds versus time at the emergency room can be the best decision. It is important to rest the avocado on a cutting board rather than the palm of your hand, this way a slip up with the knife results in no physical damage to yourself. With the avocado resting on the board, grip it firmly from the side and slice from the top to bottom until you have reached the pit. Remove the knife and repeat with the other side.

Now, simply twist the two halves apart and use a paring knife to cut around the pit and take it out with a spoon. Next, remove the flesh with a spoon, and slice or dice as you see fit.

At Safe Food Training, we endeavor to provide information that keeps your food and staff safe. Are there any kitchen safety issues you’d like to see us cover?

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Blogs and the ServSafe Food Manager

Blogs and the ServSafe Food Manager

We cover all sorts of food safety topics in our ServSafe food manager training courses, but occasionally we come across a topic that strays from our standard instruction. We already know that businesses rely on social media for free marketing opportunities, and we recently discussed how using a regular blog can help keep your business on potential customers’ minds.

Blogs and the ServSafe Food Manager
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How a Blog can Help the ServSafe Food Manager

Facebook and Twitter hold people’s attention numerous times a day, and as they scroll through their feeds posts from your business will appear. Getting them to click on your post and look further into what your food preparation outlet has to offer can be accomplished, but you need to have something to offer them.

When considering a blog, make sure that you don’t attempt to use it as a sales pitch. Yes, the purpose of a marketing blog is to help the ServSafe food manager attract customers, but consumers are bombarded with online ads and suggested posts that are nothing more than thinly veiled advertisements. While you benefit from informing potential customers about your restaurant, it is key to expand your blog beyond what is on your menu or what product you sell.

It’s also important to keep you material fresh. If your blog covers the same material time after time, potential customers will keep scrolling or even unlike your business’ page. Expand beyond your niche. purpose of a marketing blogon the fringe of your industry, or display your involvement in community events. Whatever direction you take, keep it interesting and engaging for your readers.

Finally, make sure that you regularly update your material. Readers may check in from time to time to see if you have any new articles available. There is no set rule, but keeping your site updated weekly, bi-weekly or monthly reminds readers that you’re still out there.

We feel that blogs work as a marketing tool. Do you have any special marketing tools to keep your social media fresh?

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Food Safety Certified Professionals and Microwave Use

food safety certified professionals and microwave use

Many restaurants employ a secret weapon that some food safety certified professionals call their digital chef. The digital chef refers to a facility’s microwave, and while most restaurants and food producers prefer to cook everything as fresh as possible, instances occur when microwave cooking becomes unavoidable.

food safety certified professionals and microwave use
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Proper Microwave Use for Food Safety Certified Workers

All food cooked in a microwave needs to maintain an internal temperature of 165 degrees before being served. No food cooked any lower than well-done can be served if cooked in a microwave, and reheated precooked food must meet the 165-degree requirement. Once food reaches the temperature requirement, the Minnesota Food Code states that cooked product needs to stand for two minutes before serving in order to maintain temperature.

The method used for microwave cooking depends on what type of food your digital chef must prepare. The following guide shows specific rules that the food code requires you to adhere to.

  • Rotate all product must halfway through cooking
  • Stir liquid foods such as soup periodically to achieve an even temperature
  • Cover raw product to maintain moisture

When we discuss the thawing of raw proteins in ServeSafe training courses, we recommend that food safety certified professionals use a microwave as a last resort. Any frozen item thawed in a microwave needs to be cooked and served immediately. Product thawed in a microwave cannot be stored for later use.

Microwaves can sometimes be a lifesaver in the kitchen, but every food service worker should be aware of safe procedures to prevent food-borne illness as a result. Do you rely on your digital chef, or do you prefer to cook 100 percent of your product from scratch?