Food Storage Containers

Safe Food Storage: What You Need to Know

Storing food safely can be challenging. Certain foods are safe to store for long periods of time when protected from potential contaminants, but other foods must be served within a few days of receiving them or they'll go bad and become unusable. Unsafe food storage presents a significant hazard to any foodservice operation as one case of food poisoning can generate enough negative press to shut down a business – not to mention the danger of the illness itself.

KaTom carries a wide variety of commercial food storage containers to ensure you have the tools necessary to store your food safely. Storage labels, ingredient bins, and food containers can all be found here, as well as advice on their proper use. This category contains some items, such as scoops and crocks, that aid in transitioning food from storage to a usable form.

Common Questions About Commercial Food Storage Containers

Why do I need special equipment to store food?

All the food you buy is going to come in some sort of packaging, so why pay more for added packaging? For one thing, you can't rely on the packaging of your food to be airtight or watertight unless the seller can guarantee it. If your packaging isn't resistant to air and water, your food will not last as long as it would in airtight packaging. Product that turns bad before you can use it is money out the door, but food storage containers prevent such waste by keeping food safe for extended periods of time. Well-organized storage areas also increase productivity because operators can find and access needed ingredients without sorting through a mess of boxes and bags.

Food storage labels contribute to both of these benefits. Beyond ensuring operators get exactly what they need from storage the first time, labels inform users of how long the food has been in storage and whether or not it is safe to eat. Food labels prompt staff to use the oldest ingredients first, ensuring nothing spoils. They are a key component of safe food storage and reduce the chance of a customer contracting a foodborne illness. Safety is the foremost reason to invest in commercial bulk food storage containers and associated items. The marginal cost of storing items properly is dwarfed by the potential loss of business that comes with customers eating food that isn't safe.

How should I use commercial food storage containers?

Drippage is one of the biggest dangers when it comes to safe food storage. If meat drips onto the veggies you use for salad (which will never be cooked), you'll be serving a tiny portion of raw meat to your customers. When organizing food storage, place your food items from the ground up in order of necessary cook time for safety. Poultry should be on the bottom, followed by ground red meat, and then whole cuts of beef or pork, followed by seafood; ready-to-eat food – such as vegetables – should be on top. This way, even if something does drip onto the food below it, the residue will be cooked beyond the necessary temperature for safety. Commercial food storage containers can prevent cross-contamination altogether, but if someone is careless, proper organization can provide another layer of protection.