Surviving a Power Outage in a Commercial Kitchen

This alone would be bad enough. But, as happens in extreme weather conditions, many areas are experiencing power outages. In times of severe heat, being without power is more than an inconvenience – it creates a potentially dangerous situation. This is particularly true in a commercial kitchen, where a loss of power can lead to spoiled food.

Here are a few guidelines to follow, should your kitchen lose power in the heat:

Be Careful of the Danger Zone

Bacteria thrive at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep a thermometer in your refrigeration unit and test it frequently to make sure it’s reporting accurately. It’s not a bad idea to have a few spares on hand. When power is restored, check the temperature. If it's below 40degrees Fahrenheit, food can be considered safe. However, perishable food that has thawed to above 40 should be disposed of.

Discard Any Partially Cooked Food

Hot food should not be returned to refrigeration units. It’s important to preserve as much cold air as possible, so keep the doors closed on your refrigerator and freezer. Be prepared for emergencies by ensuring that your door gaskets provide a tight seal with no leaks.

Have a Plan of Action

Make sure every member of your kitchen staff knows what they need to do when the power goes out. Decide who should be handling food, who should be communicating with customers and whose job it is to contact the power company. With appropriate team members responsible for specific tasks in case of power outage, your business can pivot to prevent wasted product and keep brand integrity intact.

In all, an establishment needs to keep a cool head to beat the heat. Whether there is an outage or you need equipment running at full strength during the summer, Parts Town has you covered with a wide variety of restaurant equipment parts to ensure your commercial kitchen runs smoothly.