A Pizza Maker’s Guide to Food Safety

Whether you’re running a restaurant, catering an event, or simply making food for family and friends, food safety should always be a top priority. Here’s how you can protect those you serve from illness.

Use the Freshest Possible Ingredients

Everyone knows that if perishable products are left to sit, they will eventually begin to spoil. If you purchase your ingredients too far in advance, they could be in poor shape by the time they get used. Not only are older ingredients likely to have poor texture and flavor, but they can also make people sick. If you’re running a restaurant business, buying fresh ingredients is key to producing quality food and preventing a public health crisis.

Make Sure Food Is Cooked Thoroughly

In addition to a crunchy crust and well-melted cheeses, you should also make sure that all of the toppings on a pizza have been cooked throughout to kill off any harmful bacteria or other pathogens. To make sure nothing comes out underdone, it’s a good idea to pre-cook any meat, poultry, and fish ingredients before you place them on a pizza.

Prevent Cross-Contamination with Proper Hygiene

Provide protective gear and hygiene supplies such as gloves, hairnets, hand soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer. Make sure that employees are always wearing gloves when they are touching food and that they use fresh gloves and clean utensils when they begin a new dish. Hands should be washed and food prep areas should be thoroughly sanitized between tasks.

Store Foods Appropriately

Another important piece of preventing spoilage and cross-contamination is to make sure all ingredients and prepared foods are stored in the appropriate places at the right temperature. Follow all guidelines for refrigeration and freezing, and never store raw meats near cooked foods. Regularly clean food storage areas and properly dispose of any food that has passed its expiration date.

Clean and Maintain Your Commercial Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

The food you serve is only as clean as the equipment you use to prepare it, and pizza ovens are no exception to the rule. Always make sure you properly clean your oven after use and keep it properly maintained over time. If areas of the oven begin to show signs of damage or buildup, it’s important to have it repaired or cleaned to prevent temperature control problems or contamination of food.

When shopping for a pizza oven, consider the level of maintenance required. Fontana Forni’s stainless steel commercial pizza ovens are designed to be stain-resistant and easy to clean. By choosing a product that is easy to maintain and which can be more easily sanitized between uses, you can practice good food safety without adding much time or effort to your workload.

Explore our selection of commercial mobile and portable pizza ovens ovens online, or call (877) 842-9822 for more information.