Proper food storage adds to your bottom line (2024)

Proper food storage is a critical way to protect the safety of food as well as your bottom line. We're all looking for ways to protect our food and profit. With that in mind, let's review some key food storage points.

  • Check temperatures of all storage areas and equipment at least once a day.
  • Refrigerated storage needs to maintain food at 41 degrees F or below. That means the air temp of the cooler needs to be between 36-38 F to insure the internal temp of the food is kept at 41or less.
  • Frozen storage areas should be maintained at 0 to -10 F.
  • Dry storage should be maintained at 50-70 F.
  • Record the temperatures and the time they were taken.
  • Keep storage areas clean.
  • Store all food and supplies at least 6 inches off the floor.
  • Keep food in original containers or labeled containers approved for food storage.
  • Use the First In, First Out (FIFO) method of inventory rotation. Dating products and storing new products behind old products will make FIFO easy to follow.
  • To prevent cross contamination store food in a cooler in the following order:
    • Cooked and ready-to-eat foods on the top or highest shelf.
    • Whole meat on the shelf below the ready-to-eat items.
    • Ground meat below the whole meat.
    • Poultry items on the lowest shelf.

Kathy Brandt, Extension educator andDeb Botzek-Linn, former Extension educator

Reviewed in 2021

Page survey

Proper food storage adds to your bottom line (2024)

FAQs

Proper food storage adds to your bottom line? ›

It should also be stored in the following top-to-bottom order: ready-to-eat food, whole fish, whole cuts of beef and pork, ground meats and fish, and whole ground poultry. 2. What's Wrong with This Picture? The raw turkey, lettuce, and the food stored in the four hotel pans have all been stored incorrectly.

What is proper food storage from top to bottom? ›

It should also be stored in the following top-to-bottom order: ready-to-eat food, whole fish, whole cuts of beef and pork, ground meats and fish, and whole ground poultry. 2. What's Wrong with This Picture? The raw turkey, lettuce, and the food stored in the four hotel pans have all been stored incorrectly.

What does proper food storage do? ›

Storing food properly can help prevent foodborne illnesses. Here are tips for safely storing food in your refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards. Whether putting food in the refrigerator, the freezer, or the cupboard, you have plenty of opportunities to prevent foodborne illnesses.

Which of the following is the proper food storage order top to bottom? ›

From top to bottom, store food in this order: ready-to-eat food, seafood, whole cuts of beef and pork, ground meat and seafood, and whole and ground poultry. CHECK THE TEMPERATURE OF FOODS STORED IN COOLERS AND FREEZERS REGULARLY. Consult with your manager regarding the proper storage temperature for various foods.

What is the proper food storage hierarchy? ›

Store cooked and ready-to-eat foods ABOVE raw meats, poultry, shell eggs, and seafood. Cover food in storage to protect from contamination. Raw foods which require higher cooking temperatures must be stored BELOW or separately from foods requiring lower cooking temperatures to prevent cross- contamination!

What is the correct order for storing food? ›

Store raw food separately from cooked food

Always store raw food in sealed or covered containers at the bottom of the fridge. Keep raw foods below cooked foods, to avoid liquid such as meat juices dripping down and contaminating the cooked food.

What is the recommended top to bottom order for storing? ›

To prevent cross contamination store food in a cooler in the following order:
  • Cooked and ready-to-eat foods on the top or highest shelf.
  • Whole meat on the shelf below the ready-to-eat items.
  • Ground meat below the whole meat.
  • Poultry items on the lowest shelf.

What are three benefits of proper food storage? ›

Proper food storage helps to preserve the quality and nutritional value of the foods you purchase, and also helps make the most of your food dollar by preventing spoilage. Additionally, proper food storage can help prevent foodborne illnesses caused by harmful bacteria.

Why is proper storage important? ›

proper storage and handling are crucial to the safety and preservation of goods. Failure to store or handle goods properly could result in loss, damage, or even injury. It is essential to take all necessary precautions and implement best practices to ensure the safety and security of goods.

What does the correct storage of food reduce? ›

Food safety involves storing, handling, and preparing of food carefully to reduce the spread of bacteria and minimises your risk of becoming sick, or causing illness in people who eat the foods you prepare. Preparing and cooking food properly and to the right temperature reduces the risk of food poisoning.

What is the first rule of food storage? ›

Basic Food Storage Rules

The first rule in handling food is to keep it clean. Before preparing food for storage, wash your hands well and make sure utensils are absolutely clean.

What foods should be stored on the bottom shelf? ›

The bottom shelf should hold foods with the highest cooking temperatures. This includes all poultry (turkey, duck, chicken, or fowl); stuffing that contains foods that require temperature control; dishes with previously cooked foods, such as casseroles.

Which food should be stored on top? ›

On the top shelf of your fridge you should store ready-to-eat foods, such as packaged foods, leftovers, cooked meats and prepared salads. These should all be covered or kept in sealed containers to prevent contamination.

What are high risk foods? ›

Foods that are ready to eat, foods that don't need any further cooking, and foods that provide a place for bacteria to live, grow and thrive are described as high-risk foods. Examples of high-risk foods include: cooked meat and fish. gravy, stock, sauces and soup.

What are the 4 main storage areas for food? ›

Generally speaking, there are four main types of food storage to mix-and-match in your supply: dry staples, freeze dried, dehydrated and canned. Each has pros and cons, but here are the basics. Dry staples are the base necessities of your food storage.

What are the five methods in proper storage of food? ›

The main methods of storing food
  • Refrigeration. It is temporary storage method to slow down bacterial proliferation and the alteration of the food. ...
  • Freezing. It consists in bringing the food to a low (-5, -12 ° C) or very low (-30, -40 ° C) temperature. ...
  • Drying. ...
  • Vacuum. ...
  • In oil. ...
  • Pickle. ...
  • Under sale.

Which is the correct order top to bottom to store these foods in a cooler? ›

Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood in coolers in the following top-to-bottom order, as shown below: seafood, whole cuts of beef and pork, ground meat and ground fish, whole and ground poultry. This order is based on the minimum internal cooking temperature of each food.

What is the basic rule of food storage? ›

The most basic rule must be always followed: store raw products below, never above, your cooked or ready-to-eat products. Keep foods 4°C (39°F) or colder, the safe temperature for refrigerated storage.

What is the hierarchy for stacking food on shelves? ›

As much as possible, keep raw and cooked foods separate from each other. Place cooked and ready-to-eat items on the top shelf, always higher than the raw food, to avoid the chance of the latter dripping or falling on to cooked food and contaminating it. Be vigilant with meat.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 6202

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.