What Type of Refrigerators Are Best To Buy?

August 10th, 2009

It’s really a big decision for you if you need to replace your broken and damaged refrigerator. You need to consider a lot of things when making your purchase. Always consider that the refrigerator you are going to buy will have to last for a longer time. Picking the wrong refrigerator can cost you loads of money because refrigerators are one of the more expensive home appliances that each home needs.

Refrigerators have changed through times to meet the demands of clients. One of the important things to consider when buying a refrigerator is the storage cabinet. Make sure that it has enough space for the foods that you are going to stock and that will depend on the size of the household. Check on the items that you usually put on the cold storage. The cold storage should be able to hold all items that your family is going to consume. Household that has two to three kids needs more space to store milk and some leftovers. Checking on how many foods you are going to store in your refrigerator will be a good start to identify what type you are going to buy.

One of the most important things to consider in buying a new refrigerator is the freezer room. You have to check how much frozen good you need to store in your freezer. Try to decide if you need to buy a separate freezer or not.

Refrigerators have two combination sizes; one is the 42”combination while the other is the 48”combination. The size of your refrigerator will depend on what you really need. Before buying your new refrigerator, check your kitchen space first for it might eat lots of space.

Over the years, different design of refrigerators had been made. Top freezer refrigerators are the most usual designs. If you want refrigerators that require less space you can opt to buying the bottom freezer refrigerators. If you want a separate freezer and a refrigerator you can buy the side by side refrigerator. If you want a stylish refrigerator, you can buy the built-in refrigerator. This refrigerator is both stylish and functional. If you just need small refrigerator, all you need is the drawer type refrigerator where you can store your snack and soda cans. These are some of the types of refrigerator that are available now in stores and online shops.

Lastly, the color is the most important thing to consider in buying a new refrigerator. The color of the kitchen should match the color of the refrigerator that you are going to buy. Today the most popular colors being manufactured are black and stainless steel.

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Buy Wholesale Kitchenware for Cheap

June 29th, 2009

One of the best-kept secrets that food service establishments and businesses have known and used over the years is bulk-buying. Startup expenses, particularly in the purchase of equipment, can crank up the budget. To minimize the cost, restaurants and food services frequently turn to companies to buy essential items such as kitchenware in bulk. If budget is a concern, lionsdeal.com can offer you solutions if you are considering buying your wholesale kitchenware.

Advantages of wholesale purchases

Depending on their quantity, size, design, make and brand, kitchenware purchases can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Since wholesale prices are significantly discounted, food service establishments can save a lot of money not just on single purchases but also on multiple or repeated buys. These savings not only help the company’s bottom line but can also be passed on to their customers, who can ultimately take advantage of the low prices.

Which items are best purchased wholesale?

Items that are frequently used en masse are ideal for wholesale purchases. These include smallwares, forks, spoons, knives, plates, bowls and service platters. These also require frequent replacement due to wear and tear, damage, breakage or even loss.

There are several advantages to buying kitchenware wholesale at lionsdeal.com. Here are just some of them:

Convenient search function for items and current deals

One major feature on the lionsdeal.com website is its search function. Although products are arranged by category and are easy to search, you can go straight to the available items by using the search box. Once you’ve typed in the keywords, the site will bring up available choices from their product lines.

If you want to purchase kitchenware in bulk, for example, you can type words such as ‘fryer baskets’, ‘plastic baskets’ or ‘melamine plates’ and the site will present items in your chosen category. This helps cut your shopping time significantly.

Shopping by brand

Most of the time, people prefer to purchase wholesale kitchenware from a single brand. This is to ensure that quality and appearance are maintained. Lionsdeal.com can recommend the best brands for a particular category of kitchenware that you are looking for — very convenient if you wish to consider only the leading brands. If you wish to compare brands side by side, you could also check out available products in a specific category of kitchenware.

Special deals

People looking for great deals on wholesale kitchenware can take advantage of lionsdeal.com’s weekly special offers. Huge discounts on featured items are frequently offered, excellent for more savings for bulk purchases.

Free shipping

Another great way to save when buying wholesale kitchenware is taking advantage of lionsdeal.com’s free shipping offer. For most purchases over $195, orders are not charged any shipping fees. Free shipping applies on standard shipments that can be shipped via UPS Ground.

Online purchase

Lionsdeal.com offers the convenience of making purchases online. Items are displayed based on a search keyword or category so it’s easy to compare prices, brands, models and sizes. You can choose items and view product details on the website prior to purchase. Once you’ve completed the transaction, you only need to wait for the items to be delivered to you.

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Flatware Gauges Explained

June 26th, 2009

Now that dining has not only become a science but also an artform, you might probably be wishing for the days when life was so much simpler. But progress has done us good in a lot of cases, particularly in the appreciation of food and cuisine. So much so that we even have standards for flatware, those steel extensions of our hands and fingers that we hardly think about when we dine. Can’t understand what the numbers are all about? Here is an explanation of the different gauges for flatware to help you get a better perspective the next time you dine out or set the table:

What, exactly, is a gauge and why is it important?

In general, gauge refers to thickness of the flatware. More specifically, the thickness of the raw material’s used in its creation. Thickness is usually associated with the quality of the flatware, in that we generally consider good flatware thicker than low quality flatware. Thick flatware, for one, tends to be more durable and resistant to bending and breakage than thinner flatware.

Flatware with higher gauges are also generally more expensive than those with lower gauges because more raw materials are used in creating them. You can see this difference if you compare pricier flatware to cheaper flatware — the more expensive types are thicker and heavier.

Flatware gauge is also an important basis to determine the usage of a particular utensil. Soup spoons, for example, have lower gauges than dinner spoons while salad forks are thinner than dinner forks. Flatware gauges are generally indicated in millimeters (range starts at 1mm and thicker) or as percentages.

The gauge of the flatware is also a good reference to use when determining its weight. High quality flatware are generally heavier than low quality utensils. With higher gauges, users can expect durability and stability, two characteristics that ensure the usefulness of the flatware. Heavier flatware does not bend easily when used, which makes them a practical choice for most types of cuisine. Pieces are also well-balanced due to their weight, which makes them comfortable to use. Heavy-gauge flatware is also more flexible due to their make, regardless of whether you’re eating North American style or European style.

What do the different grades in stainless steel flatware mean?

Majority of flatware is made from stainless steel. Stainless steel is made from steel alloy, which contains a minimum of 11.5 % chromium metal. The higher the quality of the flatware, the higher the chromium content. Some high quality flatware may even contain as much as 18%. This is often the chromium content found in the best flatware.

Flatware gauges indicated as percentages are usually presented as the number ‘18′ over another number, the most common of which are 10, 8 and 0. Eighteen is used to refer to the amount of chrome found in the flatware, the same metal that ensures the material its strength. The other number refers to the amount of nickel found in the flatware. A higher nickel content produces hard flatware which can maintain its shine for a long time and resists corrosion.

How do you know you’re using good quality flatware? Check the backside of the utensil and look for a stamp that indicates its steel alloy percentage. Flatware with 18/8 and 18/10 stamps are considered high quality or premium steel. These are the same combinations used to produce the more expensive brands. Check the thickness or gauge of the flatware, 1 mm indicates a medium weight flatware and 2.5 mm and above indicates extra-heavy weight.

Posted in Dinnerware | 1 Comment »

Melamine for Dinnerware? Pros and Cons You Need to Know

June 11th, 2009

Melamine dinnerware has been used for a good number of years.Some of the earliest melamine tableware dates back to the late 50s and early 60s.Due to its flexibility and popularity as a product, it became, at least for a while, a threat to ceramics.Today, melamine is still popular for both residential and commercial use. Thinking of buying melamine for dinnerware? Here are the pros and cons you need to know:

Pros

Malamine durability

Melamine dinnerware probably won’t last forever but with proper care, it could last a good number of years. One advantage to this type of material is that it doesn’t break easily with normal use.

Choice in color and design

Melamine was once a strong contender as a replacement for ceramics because it was so easy for production companies to come up with different designs and colors using this material. This made melamine a favorite among customers who like to have choices. The possibilities in melamine dinnerware run the gamut from classic plain monochromes to the most popular patterns to Asian melamine styles to the funkiest melamine, craziest, or loudest designs and colors.

Excellent flexibility

Because of the nature of the material, melamine can be turned into almost anything in terms of dinnerware or tableware. From plates and bowls to cups, saucers, spoons, ladles and various types of food containers. It could also vary in thickness, depending on the intended use of the specific type of dinnerware.

Melamine dinnerware is also excellent for use in both homes and public facilities such as restaurants and cafes because it’s easy to clean. Unlike earthenware, melamine is light and easy to carry, a stand-out quality when it comes to serving with ease.

Melamine is Recyclable

Another advantage to melamine dinnerware is that it can be recycled, something that eco-friendly homes and restaurants are quite happy about. In fact, there is much melamine dinnerware being sold today that is made from 100% recycled melamine.

Price, cheap dinnerware

Melamine dinnerware are some of the most affordable in the market, making them popular among starter homes, small restaurants and cafes, high-traffic cafeterias, diners, Asian restaurants, and anyone who prefers a more cost-friendly way to serve food.

Cons

Will stain and scratch

Melamine would probably have become the king of dinnerware, effectively bulldozing ceramics, plastics and glass had it not been for its weaknesses. Because it’s made from resin, its surface can be scratched by commonly used objects such as spoons, forks and knives. Rough handling can also result in chipped edges. Another disadvantage to melamine is that it tends to stain over time. The problem is that once the stain appears, it’s next to impossible to remove.

Cannot resist high heat

Melamine dinnerware can be used with most warm foods and even hot soups and entrees. It could withstand heat but only up to a certain point. This type of resin cannot be trusted in high heat. As such, melamine dinnerware are neither microwave-safe or oven-safe. They are also not recommended for sustained exposure to heat, even at temperatures they can handle.

Source material

Some people are wary of using melamine. After all, this organic compound is made with formaldehyde, a chemical used not just in the production of fertilizers and resins but also in the preservation of organic materials. However, many commercial melamine dishes have the NSF approval, the food service safety standard in the US, reassuring consumers about the safety of the particular melamine they are purchasing.

Read the rest of this entry »

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3 Ways Restaurants Can Ensure Visitor’s Health and Safety

June 9th, 2009

For many years, restaurants have played a major role in promoting healthy diets and lifestyle choices for millions of families around the world. But with the increasing demand to implement and maintain food safety standards, it has become mandatory for restaurants to continuously improve their food quality procedures not just to keep up with competition but also to promote safer food preparation. Here are the top 3 ways that restaurants can ensure their customer’s health and safety:

Provide regular training to employees regarding food safety

The key to ensuring that food is kept safe and sanitary for customers to enjoy is correct knowledge among restaurant employees. This includes the food production crew, food service staff and even employees whose work is not related to food or food handling. Inadequate training is one of the top 5 reasons why employees in the food service industry fail to meet food safety standards.

It is also important to educate restaurant staff and employees regarding the negative consequences of unhygienic food handling and food preparation within unsanitary premises. With proper training, employees become aware of what they are expected to do in order to perform their job well and keep their customers healthy and safe.

Make food safety a priority

Other than food taste, choice and presentation, another way that restaurants can promote food safety and customer’s health is to ensure that food safety becomes a primary concern of food workers. Currently, there are over 13 million workers employed by the restaurant and food service industry. Sadly, over 55% of illnesses that are caused by food can be traced to restaurants. In most cases, these incidents are caused by improper or erroneous food handling.

To encourage the implementation of food safety standards in restaurants, it would help if signs are put up in places such as the food preparation and food delivery areas, washrooms and toilets. These will serve as a reminder not just to restaurant employees but also to customers that a high standard of food safety practices is in place.

Use products that promote food safety

Another way that restaurants can promote customer health and food safety is by using facilities and equipment that are considered safe and hygienic. A few recommended products include:

Safety gloves – food handlers are required to wear safety gloves to keep food safe and prevent spoilage. Safety gloves serve a double purpose — they protect the servers hands and ensure that food contamination does not occur.

NSF food storage containers – NSF is the safety standard seal in the food industry. Products with this seal are considered food grade, safe for use in the kitchen and in the dining area and are hygienic.

Food dispensers – food dispensers are ideal for storage. They are air-tight and made with strong material that keep away contaminants such as dust, dirt, smoke, oil and bugs. They are also useful for cursory visual checks of food items for spoilage.

Sneezeguards – these are designed to prevent food contamination for displays and buffets. Made of clear, sturdy material such as glass or fiberglass, sneezegards provide ample visual of and access to the food and ensure that food is protected from foreign material.

Soap dispensers – are considered more hygienic than soap bars. Since users’ hands do not touch the soap itself, contamination is kept to a minimum.

Hand dryers – may either be push button or automatic. Hand dryers are a must in restaurants because they replace soiled, used towels. They are recommended both for food preparation areas and washrooms. In lieu of hand dryers, paper towels and paper towel dispensers may also be used.

Toilet seat covers and dispensers – bacteria from human waste such as E. coli and salmonella are notorious for contaminating food and jeopardizing food safety standards. By using disposable seat covers, restaurants can ensure that hygienic practices are in place.

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How to Choose Dinnerware for Your Restaurant

June 3rd, 2009

It may not seem like a lot but dinnerware does play a major role in ensuring the palatability of the food in restaurants. We eat with our eyes, it is said and the use of dinnerware is key to food presentation. Just imagine what a 5-star restaurant would be like if it served its best steaks on styrofoam or paper plates. That could still work with a little creativity but there’s a high likelihood customers won’t be as pleased. Choosing dinnerware for your restaurant? Here are tips on the kind of factors you need to consider:

The ambience and look you want in your restaurant
Fast food restaurants generally do not have the same concerns as fine dining restaurants regarding dinnerware. Where fast food restaurants would probably do well with melamine, woven wood, plastics, and glass, restaurants offering finer fare may want to consider using porcelain or china plates. However, there are very economical china choices for casual dining as well.

Consider the kind of ambiance or look you’re trying to promote in your restaurant. Is it classic and formal? High-brow and fine? Funky and playful? Keep these in mind when choosing dinnerware. Square plates are trendy and stylish, while colorful plates like the Concentrix pattern by Tuxton dinnerware could even be mixed and matched with one another . Italian glass plates make beautiful serving pieces as well as dinner plates for an elegant setting.

Intended use of dinnerware
If your restaurant’s menu includes entrees on hotplates, you might want to consider choosing dinnerware that can withstand high heat. Microwave-safe and oven-safe dinnerware are practical choices. They are also reusable and are quite durable. Barring any accidental breakages, these types of dinnerware should last for a good number of years. Sizzle platters that include aluminum/steel plates on top of Bakelite or wooden under liners are an outstanding way to serve steaks and other dishes that should be served sizzling hot to the table.

Color and design
Color and design are very important factors to consider when choosing dinnerware for your restaurant. It usually has a lot to do with the type of service you’re offering, the ambiance you’re going for, the kind of customers you have, the color scheme of the establishment and of course, your menu.

A classic restaurant with basic family-friendly menu, for example, will do well with the basic white porcelain dinnerware. There are typically two types of white: Bright white/Super white or American white. American white is an off-white / beige color, where the bright white is a much purer white. If your restaurant serves more flavorful fare such as Chinese, Italian, Mexican or Spanish, adding color and design inspired by the cuisine will enhance the dining experience of your customers. There is a wide array of ethnic and Asian-inspired melamine platters and dinnerware perfect for serving family-style or large portions. Melamine is break-proof and economical. High-end restaurants serving gourmet cuisine should very carefully consider their dinnerware. Chef & Sommelier china has won awards due to its special design and ability to preserve the chef’s original presentation from kitchen to dining room.

A good third option is having your restaurant dinnerware customized to your specified design. Some of the most popular restaurants have their plates, bowls and utensils printed or designed to reflect their logo, for example, color or theme.

Durability
There are cheaper alternatives to the moderately-priced and more expensive dinnerware that you can use in your restaurants. Cheaper melamine, paper, plastic and bioplastics, for example, can be excellent choices. The only downside is that while economical, barring melamine, these materials do not last for too long. However, there are melamine plates that look almost exactly like porcelain, like the melamine serving pieces in Tablecraft’s Frostone Collection.

Budget
Dinnerware used in restaurants are generally priced higher than those used for homes, so be ready to spend. This is because they are manufactured specifically to fit the commercial setting. They are hard-wearing and are best for heavy-duty use.

When choosing dinnerware for your restaurant, have a budget in mind but make sure that you consider value above all. You might not have to spend more initially if you bought cheaper, less durable materials but in the long run, buying better dinnerware could save you more. You also want to take into account the smoothness of the bottom of the china. Better quality china will not scrape and scratch as much when stacked.

Posted in Restaurant Management | 1 Comment »

Protecting Your Restaurant Against Swine Flu and Other Deadly Viruses

May 28th, 2009

When disease-causing bacteria and viruses such as swine flu become a health threat, restaurants are on the alert. Very often, when health-related crises occur, the food business becomes risky — customers are more wary, food preparation procedures undergo revisions and the food service sector comes under strict scrutiny. However, protecting your restaurant against the risk of swine flu and other deadly viruses does not need to be costly or troublesome. Here are just a few practical solutions restaurant owners can implement at any time to save on cost and keep customers safe:

Promoting awareness

The most important asset of every restaurant and food service establishment is its staff. Staff must be aware of the risks presented by swine flu and other deadly viruses not just to themselves and their customers but also to the business. Restaurants should have a set of food preparation and handling procedures in place that staff must follow. These rules are meant not just to control how food is handled and prepared but also to ensure that good quality and safety is maintained.

Another advantage to having restaurant staff that is aware and educated about the risks of swine flu is that they can work independently and will not require close supervision in order to maintain the restaurant’s quality standards. This increases the restaurant’s efficiency and improves their service.

Minimizing physical contact with food during preparation and serving

Swine flu can be passed on through livestock-to-human and human-to-human transmissions. It is believed to be transmitted in the same manner that the common flu or cold is transmitted — by sneezing or coughing. It may also be possible for a person to become infected if he touches his hands or fingers to his nose, mouth or eyes after he has touched a surface that already has the virus on it.

Restaurants can minimize this risk by requiring their workers to wear food safety products such as food handler gloves, safety gloves and face masks. This should prevent food contamination and protect customers from food contamination caused by unhygienic practices.

Restaurants can also implement food safety standards by using products that are specifically designed to protect food and prevent or minimize contamination. Bulk food dispensers and food storage containers, for example, are excellent for this purpose. Dispensers keep food relatively fresh, prolonging their shelf life and preventing spoilage.

Ensuring food safety during serving

Restaurants can keep food safe and clean prior to serving by using products such as Saf-T ice scoops, sneezeguards and food wraps made of film or foil. Food should also be served on food pans that do not encourage bacterial growth. Food pans and serving plates must be made with materials such as stainless steel, glazed ceramic or even plastic/melamine. These materials are easy to clean and will not contaminate food. Food containers should also have the NSF food safety seal and can withstand the range of temperatures required for their use.

Prior to serving, chafer covers should also be used with food pans and containers. Chafer covers not just protect the food from foreign material, they also help maintain the ideal temperature before serving.

Keeping a clean environment

Restaurants are required by health and food safety laws to ensure cleanliness. Restaurant staff and customers should be provided by the means to maintain good hygiene. Helpful products in this department include soap dispensers, push button hand dryers, toilet seat covers, seat cover dispensers and paper towels. They provide the means with which people can keep their hands clean before and after a meal and can significantly minimize contamination by reducing the risks of bacteria and viruses such as swine flu within restaurant premises.

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Promoting Food Safety Practices in Restaurants

May 26th, 2009

Implement proper food handling and preparation

Most incidents of food contamination occur during handling and preparation. This is why restaurants should impose strict procedures to ensure that food, including raw materials, is kept clean and free of contaminants. Raw food items such as fresh produce, meat, poultry, eggs, fish and seafood should also be kept at recommended temperatures.

To maintain the freshness of raw food products, restaurants should also ensure that proper food storage is performed. Raw food, for example, has to be kept at specific temperatures to prevent the growth of bacteria. Once processed or cooked, certain dishes should also be stored at certain temperatures prior to serving. Restaurants should also be aware of the recommended shelf life of food products to avoid serving expired or spoiled food.

Another way to keep food safe and clean is by using food dispensers. Food dispensers can store large amounts of food that are frequently bought and used in bulk, such as rice, cereals and other grains, flour, sugar, powdered milk and the like.

Ensure hygienic food preparation and service

One of the most common ways food contamination can occur is through touch. Bacteria and other organisms can easily transfer from the server’s hands to the food, especially if he works barehanded. To prevent this from happening, staff that are in charge of food preparation and service should use products that are designed to keep food safe, such as safety gloves and masks.

Minimize airborne contamination

Many of disease-causing bacteria can survive outside of the carrier’s body. They can be released through coughing, sneezing or spitting. Restaurants can minimize this route of contamination by requiring servers to use face masks and gloves. Safety gloves are also recommended for knife handlers. These gloves have reinforced surfaces that protect the palms of the user from cuts.

When food is displayed, such as in a buffet-style restaurant, food safety can be jeopardized either by deliberate or accidental contamination. This can be prevented by installing a sneezeguard over the table where food is served. Sneezegards are made of clear glass, fiberglass or plastic. They serve as a barrier between the customer and the food to prevent contamination in case a customer coughs or sneezes. The sneezegard can also prevent stray hairs and falling items such as keys, IDs, pens and articles of clothing from touching the food.

Keep a clean environment

Restaurant washrooms and toilets are sources of organisms such as salmonella and E.coli which are common causes of gastrointestinal diseases. To ensure food safety in restaurants, these areas should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

There are also products that could be installed to ensure proper hygiene among users. Washrooms should have running water, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers or push-button hand dryers. Dispensers are very effective in promoting hygiene because they minimize actual contact while hand dryers prevent the sharing of hand towels among multiple users.

You can keep your restaurant clean, safe, and healthy for your guests and do your part in helping prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the swine flu through utilizing the proper equipment and supplies.  If you need any help or have questions about food service safety products don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Great Spring Time Kitchenware Discounts

April 20th, 2009

Great Spring Time Kitchenware Discounts
Get ready for spring parties, bbq, and get togethers. We have a few products that carry some great discounts for April including a New York Chafer, a Juice Dispenser and a pack of 12 Sheet Pans. You can view a complete list of sale items on our website as well.

New Restaurant Equipment Product Lines
We have added some new products for your selection at usual low-markup prices to help those who are hurting from the recession. We now carry NEMCO products which includes slicers, dicers, and other food preparation items.

If you are in need new preparation tables you need to check out our new line of VICTORY prep tables and fridges. They range from sandwich stations to pizza stations and fridges. Of course all of them are priced aggressively for your convenience of not having to shop around.

Get Free Shipping!
Did you know if you order $195 worth of items you will be able to save big time with free shipping? Sometimes the extra shipping that you would normally spend can get you those extra products you were trying to save up for.

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Save Kitchen Energy Costs

April 20th, 2009

Save Kitchen Energy Costs

Want to save energy costs by using green and eco-friendly products? Here are a few example items you can save money with:

1. Look into getting an electric hand dryer for your bathroom to save on recurring paper towel costs.

2. Get an energy efficient soup warmer to help reduce wasted soup or costs of keeping it warm through a stove.

3. In your bar use a hand citrus juicer instead of an energy consuming electric one. This will also add to the experience for your customer by adding a personal touch.

Save with Free Shipping too!
Did you know if you order $195 worth of items you will be able to save big time with free shipping? Sometimes the extra shipping that you would normally spend can get you those extra products you were trying to save up for.

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