Rubbermaid Goes Green on Container Discoloration

By Lee Davis

Below is a photo I took myself. I’m no professional photographer, but what you can see from this picture is that these two Rubbermaid BPA free food containers bare no sign of food stains or discoloration. I photographed them on a white café table, so if they did, you’d be able to see it.

So what, right? Soooooo, I’ve personally been using these two food containers in a non-profit coffee house and café where I volunteer on weekends. These two containers have been filled with either strawberries or a mix of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, pretty much 24/7 for the last nine months. The berries are kept in a cooler below the bar where we store ingredients for smoothies and frozen drinks.

These containers have been stacked one atop the other and slid in and out of that cooler thousands of times, and yet they show no sign of scratches or wear. At least three or four times a week, we run them through a dishwasher, and yet they show no signs of cloudiness or milky discoloration. Because we only have two of them, we immediately refill them with berries after each washing, yet there are no signs of red or blue berry stains on either the containers or the lids.

I’m impressed with the way these two Rubbermaid BPA free food containers have held up. There are no chips or cracks on either of them and the bright red and blue capacity markings have not faded a bit. We look forward to using them for years to come and plan to buy more.

Rubbermaid began moving away from polycarbonate plastic and introducing an all BPA free line of products in 2011. Go to our Jean's Restaurant Supply Rubbermaid section to see our full line of Rubbmaid products. 

How do you store your food product?

Storing dry, raw, cooked, or fresh food product correctly is a vital step in the food preparation process. If it is not done correctly, your customers and business may suffer as a result. Take time to read on about food storage containers and the benefits they provide, when used properly and consistently.

There is an array of food storage containers to choose from. How do you know which one is right for certain food products?


Ingredient Bins:

Ingredient bins are mainly used to store bulk dry foods such as; flour, sugar, oats, and nuts. The top clear sliding lids allow for ease of use and product identification. Various volume capacity sizes are available to accommodate your specific food storage needs. Mobility feature allows for transport of these dry goods to storage rooms or other kitchen areas without being spilled or contaminated.
To ensure safety, bins are required to be stored 6" above the floor. Bins must be stored in a dry, well ventilated area or room and away from direct sunlight for maximum product life and freshness. To be in compliance with this safety guideline, bins are designed to fit snug on the bottom shelf of standard size work tables.

Therefore, If you own a bakery, deli, or coffee shop, you may want to invest in this type of food storage container.


Food Box/Totes

Food boxes and totes are popular among all food service businesses. They are used to store fresh fruits, vegetables, and cold or frozen food products such as; chicken, fish, and raw meats. Date label panel is provided on container for easy inventory control. Standard industrial sizes are available to accommodate existing storage racks and refrigerated shelving. Food boxes and totes are dishwasher and freezer safe. USDA Meat & Poultry Equipment Group Listed. Made of FDA compliant materials.

The most common food service establishments that use these particular food boxes are school cafeterias, high volume restaurants, meat & fish markets, and butcher shops.


Round Storage Containers

Round food storage containers are very high in demand. Their durable and versatile construction make them popular among a wide selection of food service establishments. Whether you need to store dry goods, fresh vegetables, frozen meats, or hot cooked foods, these containers will suite your needs.

Stores food with temperatures ranging from -20ºF-212ºF. Containers are commercial dishwasher safe. They are made with FDA compliant materials and certified NSF #2.

Several food service establishments that are in demand of these versatile food containers are convenience stores, restaurants, and buffet style or catering businesses.

Choose wisely when searching for food storage containers. Here at Jean's Restaurant Supply we offer you only the best in food service equipment and supplies. Check out our selection of food storage containers, janitorial supplies, and cleaning supplies by Rubbermaid.

Can't find what you are looking for on our website, then call us toll free at 1-866-618-4999 and speak to one of our experienced food service equipment & supplies expert to assist you. We are here to help you.

Please Wait to be Seated!

Finding the perfect furniture to match your food service establishment can be a huge task. Don't be discouraged though. Here are a couple of questions you may need to ask yourself before you even start your search.

Price
What can you afford to purchase? Create a budget, and consider all the pieces of furniture you will need. For instance, dining chairs, booths, high chairs, and tables should be at the top of your list. Be careful though, you don't want to sacrifice quality for low priced items.

Atmosphere
What type of establishment do you have or plan on opening? Is it a casual or formal dining restaurant? What kind of atmosphere or decor are you going to portray? If it's casual, then you may consider solid wood dining chairs or booths. If it's formal, then you would most likely go with upholstered chairs and wood tables with a shiny mahogany finish.

Versatility
Will this furniture fit in the space provided? Ensuring a spacious dining room or waiting area for customers will make them feel more at ease. Also, is there going to be an outdoor dining area? Finding furniture that can be used both indoor and outdoor will be beneficial to your budget. How much maintenance will be involved? Vinyl seats, wooden chairs, and wooden tables can be easily wiped off and maintain their original appearance for years.

Whether you have a cafe, lounge, bar & grill, or restaurant, you will need to do your homework before acquiring furniture for your establishment. Click on the Jean's Furniture Buying Guide to find out more.

Jean's Restaurant Supply has a phenomenal selection of commercial restaurant furniture by American Tables & Seating. Discover the latest in custom styles and finishes in dining chairs, bar stools, outdoor furniture, and tables. Are you ready to take the ride of your life sitting down? Let us help. Call us toll free at 1-866-618-4999 and speak to one our experienced sales reps today!

Importance of Restaurant Atmosphere

Think back to one of your favorite places to eat when you were a child. What do you remember? The smell of the food? The engaging interactions with a favorite server? Perhaps it was the quality of a place that managed to take you away from normal, everyday life? Good food quality is only one of the important things needed to create a popular restaurant, but atmosphere is another huge factor that keeps people coming back to your venue. In a consumer survey, almost 80% of reasons customers gave about never going back to a restaurant again involved a bad restaurant atmosphere experience. This overwhelming number indicates that, regardless of food quality, the environment a food establishment produces is one of the reasons people keep coming back.

So what exactly are some elements of design that help create a good atmosphere?
1) Pleasant smells
2) Food displays
3) The need for personal space and security among multiple guests
4) Noise level
5) Staying power in aesthetic design

Jean's Restaurant Supply can can offer professional assistance and advice for any phase of the design process that you may be in, from the basic concepts of your restaurant to the renovation of an already established business. Call/visit us today!

Advertising Boards

If your restaurant is located somewhere that has a moderate amount of foot traffic, you may want to consider investing in an advertising board to bring in more customers. Advertising boards can be a great way to tell potential customers about what your restaurant has to offer, as well as adding a welcoming visage to the front of the establishment. Many ad boards also offer a backlit option to allow what you write to really stand out. Some ideas you may want to consider writing on the board:

1) Daily Specials

Because these change on a frequent basis, these are often asked about by customers. A sign can help to inform and even to sway people on what they want to order.

2) Happy Hour Specials
These also bring people in and should be advertised, especially if your restaurant has extended happy hour or something else of that nature.

3) Holiday Decor

Make the front of your store appropriate for any time of year by customizing what is drawn on your board.

4) Store Hours

How often have you wanted to go out to eat somewhere and thought "I wonder if this place is open"? Having store hours illuminated in brighter colors helps to keep your restaurant on the minds of potential customers looking for a bite to eat.

Update you Kitchen w/ Update International Cookware

There are several different factors to consider when purchasing cookware for your residential or commercial kitchen. Among the various types of cookware, Stainless steel is the most common choice among cooks. Checkout why......

Construction

• High tolerance durability
• Resists scratches, rust, stains, and corrosion
• Warp-free

Reactivity

• Contains no reactive metals
  
• Great tasting food without the extra metal absorbency
  

Maintenance

• Keeps luster and shine
• Very little upkeep involved

Price

• Moderately affordable

I know you must be saying "wait a minute, stainless steel cookware is not a good source for heat conductivity!". Well we are now an authorized dealer for Update International, which offers stainless steel cookware with a 3-ply base that consists of 2 layers of stainless surrounding a 5mm thick aluminum core. This aluminum core helps with extreme heat distribution, resulting in tasteful and evenly cooked food.

Therefore, based on all the aspects you need to consider when looking for quality cookware... Choose Stainless steel cookware by Update International. Shop with us online today at www.jeansrestaurantsupply.com.

Holiday Food Variations

A brisk breeze chilling the air, lights decorating every street, carols and festive music being played for all to be heard - the holiday season is here! The holiday mood can also be experienced in taste as well. Many foods and dessert items can easily be made more seasonal by adding a few simple ingredients such as mint, cinnamon, allspice, or nutmeg.

Restaurants can often increase sales by offering holiday variations of common menu items. Holiday variations on traditional foods such as nutmeg coffee cake, mint chocolate brownies, or minty variations of hot drinks are a big hit among consumers. Best of all, holiday spices often play well with most ingredients used in the kitchen. Spread some more warmth this season and try out a holiday recipe today!