Kitchen Essentials
Kitchen Essentials
Kitchen Essentials
In the larger Philippine food and beverage sector, the kitchen is the heart of any
establishment. It is the foundation for a great meal and is the reason why customers keep
coming back. For employees, this is their source of living which employs more than a
hundred thousand Filipinos. It is, therefore, a must to become familiarized in the different
areas of operations of a kitchen. Just like any sector, the kitchen shows a challenge when it
comes to different changes it poses. The taste of customers changes from time to time, and this
is one main reason why a kitchen employee should adapt and be trained. In the past years,
there had already been many trends going around the culinary and gastronomy field,
specifically, the rejuvenation of slow food and the introduction of higher sciences in cooking,
better known as molecular gastronomy. Many great chefs have been trained in this area, but
one thing all of them have in common is this: they all started from the basics.
This is what this worktext is all about--kitchen essentials. With the contents of this
book, the students will be familiarized with basic knowledge and demonstrate practical
skills in basic culinary tasks, food preparation, and food presentation in a commercial food
service establishment.
The contents of the book signify the technical know-how a starting or aspiring
cook or chef needs to achieve before he/she advances his/her culinary skills.
The chapters in this book cover a wide array of topics a culinary student needs
to know. There are also many recipes provided to start off the cooking
adventure of the students.The book will come in handy in the kitchen essentials
and basic food preparation subject under the Hospitality Professional course as
mandated by CHED Memorandum Order No. 62, Series of 2017. It is the hope
of the authors that through the aid of class instruction of Kitchen Essentials and
Basic Food Preparation, aspiring culinary students will become responsible,
highly skilled, and world-class chefs and restaurateurs of the future!
Sanitation and Safety in Culinary Operations LESSON 1
Globalization has contributed to significant changes in consumers' eating habits. With
easy access to transportation, there is an increased demand for food prepared in public
places. Global food chain becomes complex due to diverse people and demand for a wider
variety of food.
With the growing population and high demand for food, the food industry faces great
challenges on food safety as food can be contaminated at any point in production and
distribution. These challenges put greater responsibility on food producers and handlers to
ensure that their products comply with the existing requirements under the food law and
are safe for human consumption.
In the Philippines, consumers are protected by law under Republic Act (R.A.) 10611 or
commonly known as the Food Safety Act of 2013.
Sanitation came from the Latin word sanitas, meaning "health." It is "the
creation and maintenance of hygienic and healthful conditions!
Sanitation is more than just cleanliness. It can improve the hygienic conditions
of commercial operations, public facilities, and aesthetic qualities. Also, applied
sanitary science can improve waste disposal, which results in less pollution and an
improved ecological balance. Therefore, when effectively applied, food sanitation
and general sanitary practices have a beneficial effect on our environment.
Food Handler
Those whose work involves food are considered food handlers. An employee,
an owner, or anyone who works in a food business where food is processed,
prepared, stored, distributed, or exposed for sale could compromise the safety of
Role of the Food Handler
The responsibility of a food handler is to ensure that the food produced is
safe. Improper handling of food carries a higher risk of contamination that can
cause severe illnesses, and worse, even death.
Wash hands after handling raw food; completing a task; eating and drinking; using
the toilet; coughing or sneezing; handling garbage; touching dirty dishes, equipment, or
utensils; and whenever hands come in contact with body fluids including vomit, saliva, and
runny nose.
Training must be given every time there is a new staff, a new piece of equipment, or a
new supply introduced because training is an ongoing process. It does not only give staff
knowledge on how equipment of supply is used, but it can also increase the level of staff
safety if they know how to use specific equipment and supply correctly.
Types of Hazards
1.Biological Hazards (microorganisms)
2.Physical Hazards (foreign objects)
3.Chemical Hazards (chemicals you work with)
Biological Hazards
Biological hazards include microorganisms. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, molds, and
algae are some of the foodborne microbes fund in animals and the environment (soil,
Water, and air).
Food aroma, texture, and/or appearance changes because of food spoilage. Food does
not change even with the presence of pathogens.
PARASITES
an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species
(its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's
expense:
A mold (US, PH) -is one of the structures that certain fungi can form. The dust-like, colored
appearance of molds is due to the formation of spores containing fungal secondary metabolites. The
spores are the dispersal units of the fungi.[1][2] Not all fungi form molds. Some fungi form
mushrooms; others grow as single cells and are called microfungi (for example yeasts).
Good sanitation practices and proper food handling are essential ways to prevent
food from becoming contaminated with microorganisms. It is essential to make sure that
microorganisms do not have a chance to grow within the food.
Physical Hazards
Physical hazards- include objects that can be seen by our naked eye. These hazards
can lead to different injuries.
These harmful chemicals can enters the body through three (3) major means – Ingestion
through the mouth, Absorption through the skin and inhalation through the nose.
V. Clean and Sanitize
Maintaining a clean work environment can help reduce the spread of bacteria and
viruses that can cause foodborne illnesses. Bacteria can grow on unsanitary surfaces and
then contaminate food. Just because a work surface looks clean does not mean that it is
sanitary. Effective cleaning must occur before sanitizing.
Cleaning
It is a process of removing food and other types of soil from a surface, such as a dish,
glass, etc. It is achieved using cleaning agents to remove visible dirt and rinsing off with
Clean water.
Solvent cleaners
Sanitizing
Sanitizers - are substances capable of destroying microorganisms, including
bacteria that cause food poisoning. They can reduce surface contamination by
putting bacteria to a safe level when appropriately used.
Sanitizing - is usually achieved using heat (steam, hot water, and hot air), or
chemicals, or a combination of both methods.
Hot water sanitizing is used at (75°C or hotter) to soak items for 2 minutes or
more.
Chemical sanitizers are toxic, and residue must be rinsed off. They include
QACS
(quaternary ammonium compounds), chlorine release agents (hypochlorites),
and iodophors (iodine-based compounds). Some sanitizers, such as chlorine
dioxide, are food safe and do not require rinsing.
VI. Food Storage
Storage Temperatures and Procedures
Time and temperature should not be abusive to make food safe. Purchase only
quantity that can be accommodated by the storage space. It can help the storage room
keep the right temperature and allow air to flow freely. Foods should be kept in the
designated room for storage. Do not store food directly on the floor or under overhead
pipes. Place food on shelves or mobile equipment at least six inches off the floor. Practice
the "FIFO" principle - first in, first out. Rotate and monitor expiration dates.
Dry Storage
Dry room storage - should be located near the main kitchen and receiving area. The
following should be observed to take care of and control the dry storeroom.
1. The dry storage's ideal temperature is 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F), and it should be
kept dry and cool.
2. All walls, ceilings, and floor openings should be sealed and protected to keep it
free from rodents and vermin.
3.The design must allow easy arranging and rearranging of supplies to facilitate stock
rotation. It should allow stock rotations by merely pushing out the old stock by
sliding the new stock in from the other side of the shelf. This guarantees that the
first items received will be the first items used--the FIFO concept in stock rotation.
4. The area should be well lit.
5. Do not store items directly on the floor. Shelves must have 15 cm (6in.) allowance
above the floor.
6. Provide wide aisles to allow room for carts or dollies to prevent possible injuries.
7 Lock the food and supply storage areas to prevent pilferage. Food storage
control is an essential step in the overall control of food costs.
Storing fresh foods in the refrigerator delay their deterioration and decomposition.
There are some considerations to ensure that the refrigerator does not break down and risk
spoiling food:
1. Monitor the temperature of the refrigerator daily. Thermometers should be
provided for daily readings of all refrigerators.
2. Maintain a regular servicing contract to keep refrigerators in good working order.
3. Develop a regular schedule for cleaning the refrigerator to ensure it is cleaned
consistently.
4. The refrigerator door should not be left open longer than needed. REMEMBER:
Keep foods at 4°C (39°F) or colder, the safe temperature for
refrigerated storage.
Dairy Products Place a thermometer in the warmest and coldest area of the
Dairy products should be stored in the refrigerator at temperatures of 2°C to 4°C refrigerator; measure and record temperature regularly.
(36°F to 39°F). Do not store raw meat above a prepared food.
Follow these guidelines: Follow the FIFO system method.
1.Store dairy products with protective coverings to avoid the absorption of strong
odors from storage.
2.Dairy should not be stored in the vegetable cooler.
3.Refrigerators should be kept clean.
4.Practice the FIFO system.
Produce
To avoid rapid deterioration and ensure the freshness of produce, it should be stored
in the refrigerator at 2°C to 4°C (36° to 39°F).
Consider the following factors when storing produce:
1.Hardy vegetables can be stored for a week, while leafy vegetables and soft fruits
should be bought daily.
2.Unripe fruit can be ripened slowly when stored in the refrigerator.
3.Remove rotting fruits before storing and when rotating stock.
Fresh Meats, Poultry, and Seafood
To keep meats, poultry, and produce fresh, store at refrigerated storage with 4°C
(39°F) or colder.
Individual meat cuts, such as ground meat, steaks, stewing meat, and chops,
should be kept covered in plastic or stainless-steel trays and stored at 2°C to 4°
(36°F to 39°F).
Fresh poultry should be stored in 40°F or lower the refrigerator and should be
packed in ice.
Fresh seafood should be stored at -1°C to 2°C (30°F to 34°F) and should be packed
in ice.
Raw products should be stored on the lower shelves of the refrigerator, below the
cooked products.
Freezer Storage
Freezer temperature that rises above 18°C can make the food discolored and lose
vitamin content. Damage cannot be corrected by lowering the temperature after the temperature has risen.
REMEMBER:
Maintain freezers at 18°C (0°F) or lower. Monitor and record regularly.
Defrost units regularly. During defrosting, store frozen foods in another
freezer.
Do not freeze thawed foods unless they have been thoroughly cooked.
Follow the FIFO system method.
2. All freezer products not properly wrapped will develop freezer burn, which is a loss of moisture that affects both
the texture and the flavor of the food. A common sign of freezer burn is a white or grey dry spot developing on
the surface of the frozen product. Meat is particularly susceptible to freezer burn.
3. Rotating stock is extremely important with frozen foods. Such rotation is severe in standard chest freezers as it
often means that old stock must be removed before new stock is added.
VII. Control Time and Temperature
Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) is the leading cause of
foodborne illnesses. TCS foods are time and temperature abused
when they are exposed at 5°C (41°F) to 60°C(140°F) or commonly
known as the temperature danger zone. This occurs when food:
• does not meet the minimum internal temperature during cooking;
• are not at proper temperature during holding time; or
• are not reheated or not appropriately cooled.
Pathogens multiply when food is exposed to the temperature danger zone.
To reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses, it is ideal to lessen the exposure of food in the temperature danger
zone. It is critical when food is held in more than 4 hours.
It is undoubtedly the easiest method for defrosting frozen food--stick it in the fridge
and wait until it is thawed. However, waiting compared to other thawing methods.
Thawing even a small amount of frozen food can usually take an entire day.
> Poultry, fish, and ground meat should be kept in the refrigerator before cooking
from 1 to 2 days after it has been defrosted. Beef, pork, lamb, or veal (roasts,
steaks, or chops ) will keep refrigerated for another 3 to 5 days after thawing.
> Thaw ready-to-eat foods should be stored above raw food, so the thawing water
does not contaminate the ready-to-eat food.
This approach is much faster than refrigerator thawing. However, it requires a lot
more attention. Raw food can be thawed under cold running water at a temperature
of 21.1°C (70°F) or lower. Make sure that the frozen food item is in a watertight
plastic bag. It is necessary to change the water every 30 minutes to ensure that it
stays sufficiently cold.Using hot water could heat the outer layer of the food that can
cause the multiplication of
bacterial growth. Once the food is thawed completely, it needs to be cooked
immediately.Food can be safely refrozen once it is cooked thoroughly.
Microwave Thawing
Some food can be thawed during the cooking process, such as when frozen
hamburger patty is cooked.
IX. Cooking Temperature and Procedures
Cook to the right temperature.
Place a clean, sanitized thermometer in the thickest part of the food; insert the
thermometer into the food at least 2 inches for sauces and stews.
Eggs should be cooked until the egg yolk and egg white are firm. Ensure that recipes
used in eggs are cooked or heated correctly.
In using microwaves as a cooking vessel, food should be covered, stirred, and rotated for
even cooking. When no turntable can be found, rotate the dish once or twice during cooking.
Fully Cooked Ham(to reheat) Reheat cooked hams packages in USDA – inspected
plants to 140F (60C) all other to 165F (73.9C)
Product Minimum Internal temperature and Rest Time
X. HACCP
What is HACCP?
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is the way of managing food safety hazards. The following
principles are the procedures of food safety management.
Seven Principles of HACCP
1. Conduct hazard analysis. 4. Establish monitoring procedures.
2. Determine the critical control points (CCP). 5. Establish corrective actions.
3. Establish critical limits. 6. Establish verification procedures.
Control 7. Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures.
A . To maintain compliance with established criteria by managing the conditions of operation
B. The state where the correct procedures are being followed and criteria are being met
Control Measures - any activity or action that can be used to eliminate, reduce, or
prevent any significant hazard
Control Point - controlled in any step where biological, physical, and chemical factors can occur
Corrective Action - procedures followed when a deviation occurs
Criterion - a requirement on which a judgment or decision can be based
Critical Control Point - a step where control is applied to meet the acceptable level to eliminate, reduce, or
prevent a food safety hazard
Critical Limit - a parameter where biological, physical, or chemical must be controlled at a maximum and/or
minimum value to eliminate, reduce, or prevent to an acceptable level the occurrence of a food safety hazard
Deviation - failure to meet a critical limit
HACCP Plan - The procedures are needed to be followed based on the principle of
HACCP in the form of a written document.
Kitchen Safety
With complex tasks and the presence of powerful machinery and hot equipment, it
cannot be denied that there are many hazards in the kitchen. Thus, kitchen workers must
give importance and attention to kitchen safety rules.
1. Always assume that all the pots are hot to avoid grabbing it immediately.
2. Dry pads should be used when holding pots as wet ones generate steam that can cause burns.
3. Pan handles should be kept out of the aisle so no one can bump into them.
4. Fill pans only to the right amount to prevent spilling.
5. If a container is too heavy, get help.
6. When letting steam escape, take the lids off cooking liquids carefully to prevent steam
burns.
7. Long sleeves and a double-breasted jacket should be worn to prevent spilling food on
yourself.
Preventing and Dealing With Fires
1. Know where extinguishers are located so that it is accessible to use. Know how to use it.
2. Make sure that there is a handy supply of salt or baking soda to put out fires on range tops.
3. Hoods and other equipment should be kept clean to prevent grease buildup.
4. Smoke only in the designated smoking areas. Kill open butts to prevent it from burning.
5. Exits should always be free from obstacles to facilitate proper evacuation.
6. Make sure that an emergency plan is in place
Preventing Injuries From Machines and Equipment
1. Do not lift with your back; lift with your leg muscles.
2. Do not turn or twist your back while lifting. Make sure your footing is secure.
3. When moving heavy objects in long distances, use carts or help rom others
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What are some ways to ensure food safety in the kitchen?
2. Why is time and temperature important in maintaining the quality of food?
3. Why is personal hygiene important in the kitchen?
4. What do you do when facing potential accidents in the kitchen?
5. What are some hazards that can be found in the kitchen?
What is a Chef??
• A chef is a culinary
professional who uses their
thorough knowledge of
food and preparations to
create quality meals
Chef Uniform
Type of uniform worn by cooks
Chef Hat History
Two popularly-told stories highlight the main purpose of the chef hat's creation, which was to
prevent cross-contamination from chef to food and establish a professional uniform.
According to one origin story, King Henry VIII required his chef and those who prepared his
food to cover their heads after finding hair in his soup one day.
The popularization of the white toque hat in culinary tradition can be attributed to Marie
Antoine-Carême, a French pastry chef from the 1800s. However, it wasn't until famed French
chef, Aguste Escoffier, created an elevated look for trained chefs that included the tall, white,
and pleated toque hat. Escoffier argued that chefs should wear professional uniforms, which
included hats that varied in length to signify rank and easily identify positions within the kitchen
brigade.
Why Do Chefs Wear Tall Hats?
Traditionally, the height of a chef’s hat denotes their
experience and rank in the kitchen. Thus, the
executive chef wears the tallest hat in the
kitchen, and then the hats get shorter as you go down
the hierarchy.
What Do the Pleats In a Chef Hat Stand For?
The origin of the number of pleats in a chef hat is
similar to the height of a chef hat. When the toque
hat was first created, it was said that the number of
pleats in the chef's hat represented how many
techniques or recipes that chef had mastered. For
example, if the hat had 100 pleats, then that chef had
mastered 100 recipes. In modern days, the number of
pleats is generic and does not represent anything
other than keeping the traditional look of the toque.
9 different types of
chef hats
TOQUE - A toque ( or) is a type of hat with a narrow brim or no brim at all. Toques were popular
from the 13th to the 16th century in Europe, especially France. The mode was revived in the 1930s.
Now it is primarily known as the traditional headgear for professional cooks .
• Cooks are food professionals who prepare meals in any setting. They
typically follow someone else's recipes or meal plans. They may
prepare food in mass quantities. Cooks can also perform other duties,
like cleaning the kitchen, shopping for supplies with a predetermined
list or completing other tasks as instructed by a supervisor.
Chef vs. cook
Chefs and cooks have a variety of differences between them regarding their responsibilities,
management structure and other factors. Some distinctions between the two professions include:
Specialties
Cooks may be less likely to have a specialty designation related
to their culinary skills. They can often make anything from a
recipe, such as the main dish, a side dish or a dessert. Cooks
may, however, have different titles in the kitchen based on their
years of experience. They include:
Apprenti(e) (apprentice)
are often students gaining theoretical and practical training in school and work experience in the kitchen.
They perform preparatory work and/or cleaning work. An apprenti is a male, and apprentie female
1) Confiseur
in larger restaurants, prepares candies and petit fours instead of the pâtissier
2) Glacier
in larger restaurants, prepares frozen and cold desserts instead of the pâtissier
3) Boulanger (baker)
in larger restaurants, prepares bread, cakes, and breakfast pastries instead of the pâtissier
Boucher (butcher)
butchers meats, poultry, and sometimes fish; may also be
in charge of breading meat and fish items
Aboyeur (announcer/expediter)
takes orders from the dining room and distributes them to the various stations;
may also be performed by the sous-chef de partie
• A hot kitchen and a cold kitchen are different parts of the same
commercial kitchen, the difference being in the use to which a
particular space is put. The hot kitchen can best be summed up as
being that part of a kitchen where raw materials are prepared and
cooked, whether baked, fried, roast, boiled or steamed. It is in this
part of the kitchen that hot kitchen chefs carry out their business. The
hot kitchen is usually equipped with modern facilities such as gas and
electric stoves, exhaust fans, ovens, chillers, hot and cold water
supply, dishwashers and so on. Chefs send finished dishes from the
hot kitchen to the cold kitchen to await serving at table
Hot Kitchen Chefs
The vegetable preparation area
The cold section
The pastry/ bakery section
The butchery section
Larder - a room or place where food is kept; pantry.
Is the larder separate from the hot
kitchen?
The storage of all prepared and cooked
items like cold appetizers, cold meats,
cold sauces, salads etc. and all cold
items found on the Menu. In order for
the Larder to function properly it is
essential that the Larder is separate
from the hot Kitchen and is located in a
cool place but not very far
Temporary kitchen