Food Handing & Sanitation // SOP KItchen

SOP for Food Handling and Sanitation in the Hotel Kitchen

While doing food handling & preparation, chefs have to be free from all kind of bacterial infections. The kitchen staff should pay attention to these two critical points; 1) Cross Contamination: the transfer of bacteria from another food, equipment, or from work surface. and 2) Food Danger Zone: the temperature for food work area should be maintained in-between 45-140º F since at this range most bacteria cannot grow.

The Executive Chef and the Sous Chef should be responsible to ensure that proper food handling and sanitation practices are followed by the kitchen staff. The hotel training and HRD department should develop and implement proper written Kitchen SOP's to ensure the same is implemented correctly throughout all the food preparation outlets.

Food Handling and Sanitation Standard Procedures:

1. Ensure the cleanliness of wholesome foods and make sure to only buy from reputable purveyors.
2. Whenever applicable, buy only government-approved or certified meats, poultry, fish, dairy and egg product.
3. Handle food directly with as little contact as possible: make use of tongs, spatulas, or other utensils instead of hand whenever possible.
4. Use clean sanitized cutting equipment and work tables.
5. Clean and sanitize cutting surfaces & equipment after handling raw, poultry, meats, fish, or eggs before working on another food.
6. Follow the 'Clean as you go' method ie do not wait until the end of work day.
7. Always wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly before processing.
8. When bringing food out of the refrigerator, do not bring out more than you can process in an hour.
9. Keep food covered whenever possible unless it is used immediately.
10. Do not let any perishable food's remain in the temperature danger zone for more than one hour.
11. Boil left-over gravies, sauces, soup, and vegetables before serving.
12. Don’t mix left-over with freshly prepared food.
13. Chill all ingredients for protein salads & potatoes salad before combining.
14. Chill custard, cream fillings, and other hazardous food as quickly as possible by pouring them into shallow, sanitised pans.
15. Always cover the food items and put them into a refrigerator without any delay.
16. Do not stack the pans when keeping in the refrigerator.
17. Cook all pork products to an internal temperature of at least 150º F (65º C).