Serving your customers thin shavings of smoked turkey breast
and savory slices of roast beef is key to the success of your restaurant or
delicatessen. Equally important is having the highest quality commercial food
prep equipment well-maintained in your kitchen. Making the cut is not possible
without a quality meat slicer and proper meat slicer maintenance.
Serv-U offers a great
selection of commercial food prep equipment from top industry brands including Berkel
meat slicers and Hobart
meat slicers. Refer to this Restaurant Guru blog
for guidance in selecting a slicer.
Just like any equipment in your commercial kitchen, meat
slicers require proper care and maintenance. Meats are perishable foods that
easily breed many forms of bacteria. Small pieces of meat can easily collect
between the blade and the slicing machine of a meat slicer. If left for a
period of time, microorganisms will grow in and around the meat particles,
posing a health risk.
Follow your machine's instructions on how to operate the
meat slicer. Protect your hands from injury by wearing gloves
that resist cutting. During active use of a meat slicer, the machine must be
cleaned at least every four hours, and after each use if the machine is used
only on occasion. Do not leave a great deal of time between meat slicing
without sanitizing your slicer.
Pay special attention to
cleaning the entire surface area of the meat slicer, as well as underneath it
and the entire counter that it rests on. Some parts of the meat slicer may have
to be disassembled for proper cleaning. Clean all of the meat slicer parts,
including the handles, sides and underneath, with very warm or hot water and a food-grade
detergent and rinse the machine well.
When storing your commercial meat slicer, be sure to lock
the blade! The food prep equipment may also be stored disassembled, as long as
the blade is protected and secured. Cover the commercial meat slicer to protect
it from airborne dust in your kitchen and store in a safe and dry place away
from the high-traffic areas.
