It should come as no surprise that food waste is a continuing problem for the foodservice industry and kitchens of all types: It is perhaps the worst offender for the waste of time, money, and labour, and contributes needlessly to waste streams, adding to carbon footprints.
FIFO – the acronym for First In, First Out – is one simple solution that can address the ongoing problem of food waste. FIFO has long dictated the order in which food items are purchased, produced, used, sold, or disposed of, i.e., items purchased or produced first are used, sold, or disposed of first.
And we do mean simple: Investing in simple FIFO tools, like sauce bottles and caps, can make all the difference.
How Important is FIFO Really?
FIFO and portion control can single-handedly reduce food waste and profit loss in the kitchen. FIFO keeps older food from being pushed to the back of the cooler, refrigerator or freezer, where it is then overlooked and forgotten, while keeping fresh items from being kept at the front where they are used before they need to be.
Perhaps even more important is the fact that the FIFO process makes it easy to identify food set to expire. Food past its use-by date must be discarded to avoid potential illness. Food rotation also helps prevent the growth of pathogens and mold, many of which go unnoticed by sight or smell, and offers the ability to identify items that are nearly expired to use or sell them in time.
Lastly, FIFO helps foodservice businesses follow the natural flow of inventory. As older/oldest products lose value due to long-term storage, the method helps restaurants track how quickly their food stock is being used to better manage inventory and adjust orders to fit the needs of the kitchen. This helps reduce waste and boost profit margins as well.
The Many Uses for FIFO Sauce Bottles
The ability to standardise and limit portion sizes too can help immensely when it comes to reducing food waste in the kitchen. Even the simplest of tools – a bottle that portions standard amount of dressing for each salad, say – can ensure standardisation and limit overuse.
Portion control tools like FIFO sauce bottles also help standardise the customer experience. Think of it as an added benefit to the cost-cutting your business enjoys beyond waste and the unnecessary costs that go with it. A guest in the establishment will never again have to worry about ordering their favourite dish on week with too much dressing, and the next week with hardly any at all.
Curious to see how the Sauce Gun Bottle works? Watch the video!
FIFO Sauce Bottles
FIFO is the simplest and most effective way to track the safety and usefulness of food items in kitchen and retail operations. By investing in portion control solutions, your foodservice operation can limit food waste, lower ingredients costs and provide a more consistent dining experience.
NCCO International offers wholesale BPA-free FIFO bottles, kits, and accessories are designed to ensure consistent portions during food preparation. They feature non-drip dispensing valves, and fixed portion rings that will also save time, reduce costs, and minimise waste. These products streamline food prep and keep kitchen operations running smoothly to ensure the highest standards of preparation and production.