Staying Healthy and Safe

You may be perfectly healthy, but the germs and bacteria that don't affect you may affect those who eat the food. Cleanliness, therefore, is a serious health consideration as well as a reflection of respect for those eating and for your co-cookers.

Note: Starting off with good habits is always better than trying to integrate new things into your routine later on. Make sure everyone knows from the beginning that cleanliness is important.

Before Starting:
* Wash hands with soap before cooking, to elbows, and dry with a clean towel.
* Wear clean clothes or take appropriate precautions, such as wearing an apron.
* Roll up sleeves or any clothing that may drag through prepared food, and tie back hair.
* Don't cook while sick or bleeding - bandage wounds first.
* Clean cutting boards/surfaces with a clean sponge or cloth before beginning.
* Fill clean buckets with water for rinsing vegetables.

During Preparation:
* Make sure you wash buckets before you put any food in them.
* Change vegetable rinse water when it gets dirty.
* Food that falls on the floor during prep must be washed again before being added to serving containers.
* Replace or rewash cooking spoons/flatware that fall on the floor.
* Taste soup, etc. with a clean spoon - not with a cooking/serving spoon or unwashed finger.
* Don't cough or sneeze above food being prepared - look away and cover your mouth!
* Rewash hands after coughing/sneezing, nose-blowing, using the toilet, smoking, picking your nose, snorting, etc.
* Do not eat over food to be served.
* Do not climb over prepared food; watch dragging hair or clothes; pay attention to not placing containers in pathways where people walk.
* Use separate sponges and towels for clean tasks (washing dishes, cutting areas) and dirty tasks (wiping the floor)
* When finished, close open containers, and refrigerate perishables. Collect all compost, cover it, and take it outside.

<<< [toc] >>>