Gluten Free is growing and many
restaurants and food establishments will find
it advantageous to offer gluten free menu items.
But, does the kitchen staff
know what gluten is and how to prepare gluten
free food safely?
How do you make a commercial kitchen safe from gluten contamination when you are cooking
both gluten and gluten-free dishes?
Each kitchen is different but there are some general rules
that you can follow and some procedures that will
ensure that gluten-free food is safe. Some people
are extremely sensitive to gluten and even a crumb will make
them sick for days.
Below is a checklist of some of the things that must be considered:
Space. Make a space in your kitchen that is free of any airborne flour. -
Equipment. Equipment should be dedicated to gluten-free
use. It is often impossible to clean mixers from
all gluten particles. If needing to mix something,
it is better to mix by hand in a gluten-free dedicated
bowl.
-
Pots, Pans, Bowls, Utensils. It is best to have dedicated
gluten-free bowls, pots, pans, and utensils.
-
Grills. Grills that have been used for bread, buns,
pancakes that contain wheat, rye, or barley may
not be able to be cleaned adequately. A solution
for this problem is easy. Simply have a gluten-free
dedicated
cast iron grill that can be placed on your
commercial grill surface. This cast iron pan is
only used for gluten-free grilling. Remember it
not just the ingredients in what you are using
but also the cooking surface that can cause contamination.
Identification. Clearly identify all gluten-free utensils, pans, equipment. Color works well. Dipping
the pan handles or utensil handles in a rubber coating and marking equipment with the designated color will alert
all kitchen staff not to touch. Gluten Free Inspection. It is best to have a walk-thru with a gluten-free expert to make sure you
haven't missed anything or to help with kitchen procedures. Madwoman can provide that service as part of our
Gluten Free Consulting practice.
The biggest mistake most kitchens
make is not training their staff in proper gluten
free procedures. Does your staff know what gluten
is and how it hides in common ingredients? Does
your staff know what other kitchen ingredients
and items
may
contain gluten? Does your staff understand the
serious nature of gluten contamination?
Training and Kitchen
Procedures (not yet available)
Madwoman can help you with
staff training and written kitchen procedures.
Each employee attending our training will receive
a
certificate indicating they have Gluten Free Training.
In our course, we also provide knowledge of other
allergen sensitivities.
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