It's important to prepare any type of food safely, but it's paramount when dealing with any dish that involves serving raw meat. This includes tartar, carpaccio and, you guessed it, sushi (among others). If your establishment serves sushi or raw protein, here are some food preparation tips that can help keep your patrons safe.
Handle Raw Ingredients Properly
For starters, make sure you’re handling the raw fish appropriately, That means using clean equipment, gloves and following proper hygiene practices. Wash your hands every time you switch tasks, before you handle the raw ingredient and after you complete another task.
Avoid Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is important to avoid. This is one of the biggest food safety concerns when it comes to sushi. Don’t store raw fish next to other ingredients and use separate cutting boards as well. You also want to serve the sushi immediately after it’s prepared and use separate utensils during the preparation process.
Don’t Forget About the Rice
Storing rice is another food safety concern with sushi. To avoid the growth of harmful bacteria, you want to store it at room temperature. Always serve sushi rice within a few hours of preparing it and avoid using metal utensils when handling it, as it could interact negatively with the rice or any vinegar used in the dish.
Label Containers Clearly
Make sure expiration dates and ingredients are clearly labeled on any containers. The fish must be fresh and properly stored, in addition to being sourced from a reputable seller. Cross-contamination, using old ingredients and foodborne illnesses are always a higher risk if you don’t have proper labels on storage containers.
Clean and Sanitize After Handling
Be sure to regularly clean and sanitize all utensils, surface areas, containers, cutting boards and any other tools and equipment involved in the sushi-preparation process. Do this every time you use them, even if it seems like you’re being overly proactive. The last thing you want is a patron suffering from food poisoning or another illness, so do your due diligence from start to finish.
Whether you’re preparing raw or cooked foods, a food handlers certification will give you the knowledge you need to handle it safely. Consider signing up for a Food Handler Certification Course from American Course Academy today.
