To prevent pest infestations and bacteria growth, keep your food at least six inches off the floor. When storing your food on a shelf, store it away from the walls and avoid touching it. Clean surfaces after using them, and use airtight containers when storing raw meat or poultry. In addition to keeping food items six inches off the floor, make sure to store utensils properly.
Storage of food on shelves at least 6 inches above the floor
Store food containers at least 6 inches above the floor. This distance will prevent food from contacting the floor, which may be dirty. Keeping foods on shelves at this height also prevents contamination. Also, storing raw foods above cooked foods will keep them from being sucked out by babies. Lastly, storing foods on shelves at least six inches off the floor will help to keep foods at safe temperatures.
Store all foods in walk-in coolers on shelves at least six inches off the floor. Store the food at least three feet from the wall and away from windows and lights. Clean the shelves and walls regularly to prevent pests. Lastly, store meats and poultry on the lowest shelves. Follow the principle of “first in, first out” by marking the foods with the date of preparation. In this way, you can easily monitor whether or not your products are fresh or not.
Prevention of pest infestations
How high off the floor must food items be? This question is important to keep in mind since most of the pests that thrive in homes come from high moisture, and the larvae of these pests prefer dark, undisturbed areas. You can easily check your house for clogged floor drains and leaky pipes to prevent pest infestations. Also, it is important to keep food items away from rugs that collect moisture on the floor.
Always dispose of garbage properly. Pests can enter your home through cracks, gaps, and holes in containers. Keep containers and food items away from walls and at least six inches off the floor to avoid pest infestations. Never store food items in storage units, as this can attract ants, mice, and roaches. If you are unsure of what pests are infesting your home, contact a professional pest control company. They know which pesticides to use and which to avoid.
Proper utensil storage
Proper utensil storage off of the floor is an excellent way to keep small kitchen products out of the way and organized. Use an inset storage bin to keep utensils close to hand, or purchase custom utensil racks to house your utensils. Keep in mind that utensils with handles are best, as they offer additional safety features. If you’re worried about clutter, two shallow drawers are better than one deep pit. If you’re still unsure of where to place your utensils, consider using drawer dividers.
Cooking utensils aren’t the same as dining utensils, which tend to take up a lot of space. Rather than stacking them, arrange them in large containers on a shelf. Those that are frequently used are stored in their appropriate places, while lesser-used cooking utensils are put into other storage. Organizing these utensils can make your kitchen more organized and free from clutter.
Cleaning of surfaces after use
Disinfecting surfaces after using food items is a key element in preventing the spread of germs and bacteria. Disinfectants should be used for a variety of purposes, from removing visible debris to disinfecting surfaces. These products can be mixed with water and soap to provide an easy and quick clean. For best results, use bleach solutions mixed with clean water every day. Alcohol-based wipes and sprays can also disinfect surfaces, but you should always air dry them.
Besides hard surfaces, food preparation areas can also be sources of contamination. Often, these areas are not cleaned properly, and can harbor unseen germs. While rugs and drapes may appear clean, parts of large appliances can harbor germs that are impossible to remove with soap and water. Cleaning these parts is just as important as cleaning surfaces. You should also disinfect appliances, such as dishwashers and refrigerators, regularly.
Keeping dry ingredients organized
When storing dry ingredients, it’s important to keep them at low humidity – less than 15 percent is ideal. Using airtight containers to store food is essential for freshness, but square containers are not ideal for dry ingredients. The same applies to food boxes, large rectangular containers that are usually used for meat and bulk produce. These boxes can be clear or colored. Round containers are the preferred shape for dry ingredients, but they take up more space than square containers.
To keep dry ingredients from getting dirty, store them at least six inches off the floor. A height of six inches is also recommended to prevent contamination. Keeping food at this height will also reduce the risk of condensation, which can occur due to temperature differences. If the floor is too cold, this may cause mold and other contaminants to form. Keeping dry items at a low level will allow for easy access by staff members, while preventing the growth of bacteria.