Events are times for merrymaking and moments that last a lifetime. Even as all this happens, food is at the center stage of these moments. When we talk about food, we do not just mean any food, but great food. Good food is one that has been handled and prepared with the highest levels of hygiene, storage, and handling. Unlike you, a caterer is the best to be entrusted with maximum food safety for your guests so that you do not compromise on the health of your guests. This article looks at reasons why it is important to hire a caterer that ensures maximum food safety.
- Sophisticated Equipment
A good caterer has some sophisticated equipment like boilers and refrigerators that are used to produce the highest quality food. Such equipment is very critical when it comes to the production of quality food for a big number of people. For example, a boiler is used to heat food at super high temperatures that ensure that the foods meant to be hot are indeed hot. Since cold foods are meant to be cold, such equipment has the exact temperature readings to cool the foods; otherwise, they spoil and poison your guests.
- Proper Food Handling
Food handling is very important when it comes to food safety; hence the need for it to be as professional as possible. This is what a caterer guarantees you since they have the necessary skills required, unlike you, who lack the proper training to handle food. Food handling entails the process of transporting it from the point of purchase to storing it, preparation and cooking it. All types of foods have to be transported and stored in different compartments of the freezer to avoid cross-contamination. Some other types of foods like potatoes must never be prepared too early before the event because the starch will react with the air to form harmful compounds.
- Specialized Food Preparation
When it comes to cooking the food, a caterer is the best since they have been trained mainly to do this; besides, it is what they do for their living. To ensure maximum safety, they cook all foods paying attention to detail, temperatures and time. They do this because there are foods that should and should not be cooked at higher temperatures. Should low-temperature foods be cooked beyond the recommended temperatures, they change in chemical composition, in which case they are considered poisonous and should never be consumed. Some types of foods should never be mixed with others; otherwise, they also change in terms of chemical composition. This where a caterer comes in – preparing food for your guests in the safest process as possible to avoid food poisoning.
- Enhanced Food Hygiene
It does not matter how good a caterer is; but if they are not hygienic enough, their expertise is all up to nothing. Food hygiene is the most critical aspect of food handling. A caterer who is conscious of food safety should always clean their hands thoroughly before touching any food. They also change gloves regularly if they are handling food using some. They clean the chopping board to avoid picking up bacteria and germs from such surfaces. They also clean the cooking pots, boilers, and the fridge in the best way possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and germs that would otherwise compromise the food. Furthermore, they also adhere to hygienic professional service when catering to your guests at the venue. Since a caterer spends most of their training period doing this, trust them to deliver on hygiene when handling food for your guests.
- Clothing and Footwear
On top of bringing the aspect of professionalism to your event, the attire that caterers wear is not just meant for show; it is also meant to add to the hygiene of the whole process. The hat worn on the head is meant to protect food from possible hairs falling off and contaminating the food, while the clothing is meant to keep the food at bay with body fluids such as sweat. Clothing can pick up germs and bacteria from anything, especially from public transport. Catering clothing and footwear is also meant to ensure that such contamination does not get to the food, hence keeping your guests safe and healthy.
Although it is important to hire a caterer that ensures maximum food safety, this, however, does not mean that just any caterer out there can guarantee this much-needed food safety as an under qualified or unlicensed caterer will not. They will handle the food unprofessionally and in an unhygienic way and this will compromise the health of your guests. Since you do not want any of this to happen, only pick the best caterer out there.