Importance of Using Serving Utensils

Serving utensils are a vital part of food safety.

Serving utensils may not be the first thing you think of when considering food quality and good hygiene, but their importance extends into several aspects of service in locations ranging from the family dinner table to the cafeteria.

Considerations

Serving utensils are made to serve a variety of foods to make plating possible without spilling food. Specific serving utensils also may be paired with the cookware or serving dishes in use to prevent damage to nonstick coatings and to present food items at their best.

Hygiene

Serving utensils prevent the spread of germs and bacteria among those sharing a meal because no one uses a utensil that has been in contact with saliva to dish up a second helping. Serving utensils should be washed or replaced with a fresh tool if they come in contact with the table or a dirty plate.

Efficiency

Serving utensils enable servers to quickly and efficiently serve a large number of people, so food maintains an appropriate level of quality and temperature. Proper utensils also allow servers to access food from cookware or containers of unusual size or shape, such as using long-handled ladles for deep stockpots.

Function

Serving utensils allow you to correctly assess the amount of food in a serving, making portion control easier and more efficient. Proper serving utensils also are an important part of the accuracy of a cafeteria's nutrient analysis.

Benefits

Differently marked or colored serving utensils help prevent cross-contamination during service, including contact between vegetarian dishes and those containing meat. Separate utensils also are a vital step in maintaining the rules for keeping kosher.

References

• Cordon Vert School: Hygiene
• University of Mississippi: Using a Nutrient-Based Menu Planning Approach
• Anne Arundel County Department of Health: The Cafeteria Connection: An Inside Look at School Lunches
• National Food Service Management Institute: Standardized Recipes and Portion Control
• Judaism 101: Kashrut--Jewish Dietary Laws

Resources

• Summit County Government-Colorado: Environmental Health Department