Education
What is Liftgate Service and Do You Need It?
Typically, heavy equipment is shipped on a pallet and arrives on a semi-truck. If you have access to a loading dock, that’s great! The truck will pull up, and you should be good to go. However, what if your business doesn’t have access to a dock? That’s where liftgate service comes into play.
What to Know About Front of House Layout and Design
Set the stage for an engaging front of house aesthetic for an unbeatable dining experience, covering key principles such as lighting and decor, furniture, flatware, glassware, dinnerware, and tabletop accessories.
The Six Principles of Back of House Layout and Design
Before opening your dream restaurant, to ensure efficient operation, you must factor in these six principles into your back of house, commercial kitchen design.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cotton Candy
Cotton candy’s history dates back to the 1904 World Fair. Learn about its history, how its made, and what makes it so good!
Cast Iron Tips and Tricks: The How-Tos of Cast Iron Care and Maintenance
When it comes to cookware, few construction materials evoke as much passion as cast iron. Experienced cooks agree that cast iron creates a better finished product. However, though cast iron delivers delicious results, it does require a bit of extra care and maintenance. That’s where our cast iron tips and tricks come in.
What is a Dunnage Rack: Get to Know This Restaurant Storage Solution
The contents of an average foodservice business’s pantry or walk-in refrigerator can seem overwhelming. There are so many food products, and so few places to store and organize them. Enter dunnage racks: one of the industry’s favorite storage solutions.
Tips for Professional Knife Maintenance—From Sharpening to Storage
Knives are some of the most essential tools needed in a commercial kitchen. Professional cutlery allows chefs and kitchen staff to make cleaner cuts, increase prep-time productivity, and stay safe—after all, a dull knife is much more dangerous to use than a sharp one. That’s why learning and practicing proper knife maintenance is vital for any foodservice business.
Commercial Convection Oven Cleaning: A Complete How-To Guide
Without proper care, crumbs, grease, and other debris can accumulate and cause issues with flavor profiles, increase the risk of smoke and fire, or cause heating inefficiencies. With these simple guidelines for commercial convection oven cleaning, foods will taste better, kitchen staff will be safer, and equipment will last longer.
How to Clean a Dishwasher in a Commercial Kitchen
Professional chefs and their crews churn through hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of cookware and dinnerware in a single shift. That’s why the commercial dishwasher is one of the foodservice world’s most essential tools. It’s also why it’s so important to properly clean and maintain your dishwasher to optimize its efficacy and prolong its lifespan. That said, it’s crucial to understand how to clean a dishwasher the right way—especially when the unit is subject to constant, high-volume use.
Commercial Refrigerator Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist
By following the simple steps for commercial refrigerator cleaning and maintenance outlined in this article, you’ll be sure to get the most out of your appliances.
What is a Ghost Kitchen (a.k.a Delivery-Only Kitchen)?
Though ghost restaurants started becoming trendy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was only during 2020 when these delivery-only restaurants really started to skyrocket in popularity. According to a recent report by CBRE, ghost kitchens could account for as much as 21% of the restaurant industry’s total profits by 2025. That’s big business. So what is a ghost kitchen exactly? Let’s take a closer look at what they are, how they operate, and what their impact will be on the industry going forward.
How Scratch and Dent Restaurant Equipment Can Save You Money
Scratch and dent restaurant equipment may not always look pretty, but it works just like new equipment, and can save you a lot of money!
Plant-Based Restaurants: The Future of Sustainability (and Profitability)
Sustainable cooking and kitchen practices are major factors influencing the recent proliferation of plant-based restaurants, but they’re not the only ones. From vegan fast food options designed to attract new customers, to a heightened focus on catering to diners with food sensitivities, there are a variety of reasons why vegan options should be on your restaurant’s radar.
How to Sanitize your Restaurant to Meet New Customer Expectations
If you find yourself dreaming of a simpler life from the Before Times, you’re not alone.
While we may all wish for things to be like they were before the pandemic, the fact is that restaurant sanitation has been fundamentally changed for the foreseeable future. We’re getting a feel for what a lot of people are calling “the new normal” and it’s important to keep ourselves aware of current trends and our customers’ new expectations as well as educated on the science behind it all. In this article, you’ll find links to FDA guidelines by state and up-to-date guidance from the CDC, as well as checklists and practical advice on staying safe and staying open for business in today’s post-pandemic foodservice industry.
How Home Meal Kit Service Can Boost Your Restaurant’s Bottom Line
The Covid-19 pandemic inspired an unprecedented wave of innovation and creativity throughout the restaurant industry, as businesses struggled to stay afloat while reducing capacity limits and practicing social distancing. Now that the world is starting to open back up again, industry experts have been speculating about how many of these Covid-era innovations will stick around for the long haul. Home meal kits and grab-and-go options are two of the most popular trends of 2020, but will they continue to be viable in 2021 and beyond?
Prep School: A buying guide to Commercial Refrigerated Prep Tables
Which refrigerated prep unit is right for you? Does your kitchen have enough space? If you have questions, you’re in luck, because Prep School is now in session.
Worktables — The Unsung Hero of Commercial Kitchens
When you add a new worktable to your space, you’re adding valuable storage space and prep space, but all worktables are not created equal. There are a few factors to consider when choosing the worktable that most effectively meets your needs, and we’re going to talk about them all.
Now Steaming: How to choose the right steamer for your kitchen
Take an in-depth look at the factors to consider when choosing a steamer and the various types of steamers available on the market.
What is the Best Oil for Deep Frying?
Don’t toil over oil: Central Restaurant Product’s oil guide for deep frying. Featuring frequently asked questions about the different types of deep frying oil, and a handy guide for which oil is best for different types of food.
Insulated vs. Non-Insulated Holding and Proofing Cabinets
Holding cabinets keep food in the perfect environment until ready to be served. But does your kitchen need an insulated or non-insulated model? Let’s take a look.
Food Safety 101: What is Cross-Contamination and How to Prevent It
Cross-contamination is a significant cause of foodborne illness. There are different types of contamination that can occur in your commercial foodservice, from biological, chemical, and physical. Learn how it occurs and how to prevent cross-contamination from harming your guests and business.
How Clean is Your Water? A Water Filter Buying Guide
Normal tap water contains a number of suspended and dissolved solids, such as chlorine, bacteria, sediment, chemicals, and other harmful elements. These solids can cause water to look cloudy, smell bad or taste funny, and can also affect any menu item that is prepared with water. Luckily, a water filter can help.
How to Clean an Ice Machine: A step-by-step guide
Whether you have an undercounter ice machine, a countertop ice machine, or a cuber head and bin setup, this article provides a basic overview of the essential steps for cleaning and sanitizing your ice machine.
Ventless Hoods and How They Can Help Your Foodservice Thrive
Ventless hoods enable you to take your cooking operation anywhere, providing portability, flexibility, and resolving space constraints. Learn all the pros and best use situations, and how they’ve helped operations flourish during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to Clean, Care For, and Maintain Your Commercial Mixer
Cleaning and maintaining your commercial mixer is the best way to protect and ensure longevity of your investment. Here are some tried and true dos and don’ts for operating, cleaning, and lubricating your mixer for optimal performance.
Clean, Sanitize, or Disinfect: Which Do I Do?
Keep every area of your commercial kitchen, restaurant, or home safe. What is the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting? Let’s review.
Profiting with Pizza: An Easy Way to Drive Revenue
Adding pizza to your menu is a great way to drive revenue, especially in down times. Due to high demand and low production costs to lend themselves to high profit markups, offering pizza is an ideal way to boost sales and keep your business on track. Learn all the pros to adding pizza to your menu, how to equip for such an operation, and tips for sustainable success.
Efficient Sanitizing Solutions for the Bar and Beyond
As the foodservice industry continues to adapt to stricter sanitizing guidelines, new innovations are hitting the market to enhance efficiencies and help operators to prioritize the health and wellbeing of patrons and staff.
Disinfecting Solutions: Should You Be Using Bleach?
Though bleach can be used as a powerful disinfectant, it’s not without its cons. The concentrated Q.A. disinfectant solution is EPA-approved for killing viruses similar to the coronavirus, and less corrosive. Read for more benefits.
How Holding Cabinets Have Been Helping Foodservices Adapt to the New Normal
Holding cabinets keep food at safe temperatures and limit contact before service. We discuss benefits of holding cabinets.
Adapting the School Cafeteria to Safely Serve Lunch in the Age of COVID-19
As schools begin reopening after a prolonged shutdown in light of a pandemic, traditional cafeteria lunchtime must adapt for the wellbeing of students and staff. There are many options and solutions for what the new, not-so-traditional lunchtime (and school year) could look like, including serving lunch in the classroom, remote service, or limited cafeteria serving. Here are the solutions you’ll need to pull it off.
Schools & COVID-19: Placing Hand Sanitizing Stations
Central laid out the best places in your school to set up sanitizing stations. Keep everyone safe when reopening schools and public places.
Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum: Which is Better?
Price, ease of cleaning, strength, and more all vary greatly between different types of metals.
Improve Sustainability in The Kitchen
With increases in the millennial generation’s spending share, there is also an observable demand for sustainable offerings. Nielsen reports approximately 75% of millennials are willing to pay more for products and services that make an effort to positively impact and preserve the environment. Likewise, more than half of the Baby Boomer generation are also willing to support companies in this endeavor.
How to Keep Wrought Iron Furniture Rust-Free
Wrought Iron furniture can be perfect for outdoor use due to the durability and attractive look. Restaurants, bars, and cafes often furnish their outdoor patios with wrought iron because of the look and sturdiness. This material is known for its longevity, making it perfect for commercial and residential use. We discuss how to keep this furniture looking and performing its best and go through refinishing those pieces that aren’t well maintained.
How to Develop a HACCP Plan and Implement Active Managerial Control
Developing a HACCP plan is important to proactively identify risk areas and working out resolutions ahead of time. This is part of active managerial control, an important system of food safety practices to prevent foodborne illness and ensure your operation stays on track.
Guide to Reopening K-12 Schools Amid COVID-19
As schools prepare for the return of staff and students, it’s important that safety precautions are impletemented to protect against the threat of COVID-19. Our guide outlines cleaning and disinfecting procedures, adapting the classroom to accommodate social distancing practices, and extra steps to protect those at a higher risk of severe illness. Is your school ready to reopen?
Keep High-Risk Students & Faculty Safe When Reopening Your School
The country is beginning to open in phases from medical offices and restaurants to schools and parks. Every industry is taking precautions to safely reopen to the public. This means that facilities are more focused than ever on the health and safety of their guests, including schools.
Top Coronavirus Safety Products and Why You Need Them
As restaurants across dine-in services, there are essential products that must be kept readily on hand to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patrons and staff is top priority. These include personal protection gear, cleaners and disinfectants, hands-free solutions, sanitizing stations, and more. See our top products for safe reopening here.
Reopening Your Restaurant Amid COVID-19
As state-mandated restrictions regarding COVID-19 begin to lift around the country, many restaurants will be resuming dine-in service. Precautions must be taken to protect your staff and patrons. Learn what steps to take to safely reopening your restaurant with our how-to guide.
A Day in the Life of a Food Truck Operator
Have you ever dreamed of starting your own food truck? Learn what an average day in the life looks like from the view of two successful food truck operators.
Handwashing Best Practices: When & How You Should Wash Your Hands to Protect Against Illness
Frequent and thorough handwashing is the best preventative measure to reduce the threat of illness. Learn when you should wash your hands, and how to effectively do so to kill bacteria and viruses to protect yourself, your staff, and your patrons against illness.
How to Properly Disinfect Your Stainless Steel Equipment
The COVID-19 coronavirus can live on a stainless steel work surface for up to three days. Cleaning and polishing aren’t enough. Step by step instructions for thoroughly killing bacteria and viruses on stainless steel work surfaces.
Foodservice Resources for Navigating COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, we’re committed to developing updated resources to help the foodservice community navigate these uncharted and uncertain times. See best practices for restaurants and government resources.
Legal Resources for Restaurants During the Coronavirus Outbreak
COVID-19 is the latest coronavirus that’s currently spreading across the globe. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that commonly circulate among humans, causing mild illnesses such as the common cold. COVID-19 is the latest strain that’s having a wide-ranging...
Closing Up Shop in the Face of the Coronavirus
We are living in uncertain times. The outbreak of COVID-19, better known as coronavirus, has brought normal life to a halt around the world. Each day, new guidelines are being put forth by state and federal governments in order to help stunt the growth of this highly...
Shared Kitchens: What They Are and How They Can Help Your Operation
Shared kitchens are rising in popularity, providing sanitary commercial spaces to expand your operation, great for catering and delivery services.
Is Opening a Restaurant Right for You? The Types of Restaurants to Consider
Whether you’ve always dreamed of opening a restaurant or you’re searching for an opportunity to be your own boss, knowing all the types of restaurants and what’s required to operate will go a long way in helping you make the right decision for your goals.
How to Start a Food Truck Business
Before you run out and buy a food truck, you need to give your idea all the careful scrutiny you’d give a restaurant or any other business. That means doing some research and making a plan.
How to Open a Restaurant: Your Complete Guide
Many dream of opening their own restaurant. If you’re interested in making your dream a reality, we’re here to help with this definitvie guide to opening a restaurant, which explores restaurant concept development, seeking expert advice, writing a business plan, securing funding, site selection, operations and staffing up, and training and startup.
