There’s no better way to fill yourself up by going to a buffet restaurant. But much like other restaurants, buffet places have their own set of rules. Places like Bacchanal Buffet and MGM Buffet have a large customer base so food safety and health is a priority. It would be best for customers to know what there are rules and how these can be implemented during their stays at said place. Here are some things you should know about eating at buffet restaurants.
1. Strict hygiene benefits everyone
Buffet restaurants are made for several people to enjoy food. It would be discourteous to forget food and health safety by not doing proper handwashing. The sheer number of people touching utensils used to serve food is alarming for germaphobes so doing the simple act of washing hands before touching anything at the buffet restaurant is a good choice.
It’s the same concept for the current pandemic situation. By limiting the number of interactions (as defined by sharing utensils), the risk of infection or cross contamination decreases.
2. “Touch-Move”
Some food items in buffet restaurants don’t have dedicated utensils. Some of these include bread, cupcakes, tarts, and sliders. On another note, finger buffets have a stricter set of rules for handling food at the buffet table. Individuals should choose carefully before touching anything, and change of mind is not an acceptable reason for putting it back for others to consume.
3. Use dedicated utensils for each dish
Nobody wants to eat clear soup if it has bits of meat stew from the next tray. Customers at buffet lines should use tongs, serving spoons, ladles, and other serving utensils for each dish only. Not only will mixing things up ruin the flavor of each dish, but it’s respectful to keep things clean for the ones next to eat and for the chefs who made the food.
4. Mind the clothes
Although nothing is more disappointing for a person’s outfit than food stains, it’s also unhygienic to let sleeves or any other clothing item come into contact with food. Sleeves are filled with dirt and sweat from all the moving around an individual does throughout the day.
Making sure to roll them up prior to touching the serving spoons saves the hassle of having to wash dirty clothes and contaminating the food.
5. Mind the children
Do not let children’s heads or hands go beyond the plastic or glass guards that give a protective barrier between food and the consumer. These guards are in place to reduce the risk of saliva and other bodily fluids going into the food.
These also help keep the food longer. Bacteria from the mouth, nose, and hands multiply rapidly when they settle on the perfect environment.
These are just some of the rules implemented at buffet restaurants. These cover the basics of handling food prior to consuming them.