The Fret Shop

Critical food safety temperatures: Cold holding — 40°F (4°C) or below for refrigeration; freezer 0°F (-18°C) or below. Hot holding — 140°F (60°C) or above for steam tables and food warmers. Cooking temperatures vary by food type (145°F-165°F). Dishwasher final rinse — 180°F (82°C) for high-temp machines. Any equipment consistently failing to maintain these temperatures is both a safety risk and a health code violation.

A compliant hood cleaning includes: complete degreasing of the hood canopy, all grease filters, the entire ductwork system from hood to exhaust fan discharge, and the exhaust fan and housing. Areas that cannot be thoroughly cleaned must be documented. Cleaning must be performed by a qualified company and documented with service report and before/after photos. The technician should leave a dated sticker on the equipment and provide a compliance certificate.

Ice quality issues often indicate water system or refrigeration problems: cloudy ice suggests poor water quality or mineral content; soft ice indicates inadequate freeze cycle time or refrigerant issues; small or misshapen cubes typically point to low water flow, scale buildup on evaporator plates, or refrigerant problems. All of these issues affect the safety and quality of ice used in beverages and food service.