Flatware Cleaning & Storage

Common Questions About Silverware Storage

What utensil and flatware cleaning supplies do I need?

Because soaking is an important step in cleaning silverware, soak sinks are commonly used in the foodservice industry. These stand-alone units don't take up much room and free up washing space in your compartment sinks. Most soak sinks are portable and have casters, so you can conveniently reconfigure your dishroom.

Utensil cleaners combine scrapping, washing, sanitizing, and drying in a single piece of equipment. Typically, these units can sit on the countertop or be hung on rails in product prep spaces and tray assembly lines.

How should I store flatware?

Cutlery bins, which are flat, rectangular units with multiple compartments, are one of the most popular silverware storage options. With several sections, these holders can accommodate different types of silverware and utensils in one compact unit. Their flat, rectangular design fits into bus boxes, so they can be moved around the dining room and into the dishroom.

Silverware is commonly stored in cylindrical-shaped caddies that are popular because they are usually dishwasher safe, meaning flatware can be cleaned and stored in the same unit. Some of these caddies are solid to keep contaminants out, while others have perforations. With uniformly spaced holes around the caddy, air can flow in and out, drying silverware quickly and preventing dust from building up while they are stored.

Silverware organizers hold multiple caddies in a single unit, so the caddies are less likely to get lost. You can use organizers like this for utensil storage almost anywhere in foodservice facilities, from dishrooms and tray assembly lines to self-serve counters and serving areas.

Where would I use a tray and flatware cart?

Because these carts consolidate tray and silverware storage to a single mobile unit, they prevent you from having to take multiple trips from dishrooms to wherever these items are needed. They are typically used in healthcare facilitates, buffets, cafeterias, banquet halls, and other establishments that go through flatware quickly, and most are designed with aesthetics in mind so they can be moved through customer-facing areas when necessary.

Flatware carts include a variety of configurations, accommodating different tray sizes on the platform. These platforms come in different sizes that suit various operations and can be stationary or have a cantilever design. With a lever on these specialized units, you can raise the stack of trays as they are depleted to ensure they are always within reach.

Different utensil storage options in these carts fit low-volume and high-volume situations, and cutlery bins are generally integrated above the stacked trays. The number of bins you need depends on the amounts and types of silverware you need to store.