Proper Handling of Restaurant Dinnerware

The dinnerware in your restaurant, like any restaurant equipment item, requires proper care and maintenance in order to fully maximize the return on your investment. Commercial china dinnerware is constantly put to the test under demanding conditions such as bussing, scraping, racking, warewashing and storage. Below are some tips on how to combat the three most common problems with restaurant dinnerware – breakage or chipping; scratches, metal marking and excessive glaze wear; and stains or discoloration.

Breakage and chipping are the result of mechanical shock caused by improper use. Overloading of bus boxes and dish racks, as well as piling heavy items on lighter items, stacking china dinnerware too high, nesting cups, and using other china or metal utensils to scrape dishes can all cause strain on restaurant dinnerware.

Scratches and metal marking on your china dinnerware can result from many of the same causes as breakage and chipping. Scratches and excessive glaze wear can also occur by scouring china with metal pads, steel wool or abrasive cleansers; stacking hot, wet china; infrequent cleaning of stainless steel dish table; and overworking china because of inadequate inventory.

Unattractive stains and discolorations to restaurant dinnerware can be caused by inattention to cleaning procedures such as allowing china to remain unwashed after use, pre-soaking in water over 160 degrees, improper detergent concentrations, hard water or iron content, lime content in old equipment, and clogged or eroded spray nozzles.

Below are some tips on how to extend the life of your commerical dinnerware:

• Never stack china cups.
• Never carry more restaurant dinnerware than you can safely handle.
• Never stack china dinnerware more than 16 inches high.
• Always store china cups in racks.
• Never overload bus trays with restaurant dinnerware.
• Always make sure you have an adequate supply of china dinnerware for rush periods.
• Never use abrasive pads or other dishes to remove scraps from commercial dinnerware.
• Always remove scraps carefully with a rubber scraper or a pre-rinse sprayer.