Foodservice Resources

Tongs Buying Guide

2/6/2018

History of Tongs

Tongs although a very basic kitchen tool, date back to ancient times where it is believed that the origin came from the development of pliers, a tool used mainly to fasten and loosen screws, bolts, and pipes. Historians think that the first set of tongs where made up of two sticks that were used for very similar purposes in which we use them today.

Types of Tongs

Flat-Surface Kitchen Tongs

Flat-surface kitchen tongs are the most common pair of tongs today. They are commonly used for flipping burgers, steaks, and pork chops on those hot summer day BBQ’s. The flat surface design helps the operator easily get under their food. Some flat-surface tongs are also perforated which allow excess grease or marinades drain from the product during the cooking process.

Forked Tongs

Forked tongs look just how they sound. They have prongs at each end of the tong to help grab slippery food such as spaghetti or sliced onions {similar to how forks would work). These tongs are ideal for pasta and / or salad bars. Some of these tongs have variations in which one side has a forked design while the other end has a standard flat design to assist with grabbing different types of foods.

Small / Plating Tongs

These types of tongs are used for delicate finishes to a meal. These tongs are sometimes called “tweezer-type tongs” due to their size and precision. Chefs often use these when they are garnishing an elegant meal. A variation of these types of tongs come in a metal finish, often used by bartenders to grab ice cubes to garnish a beautiful high end cocktail and / or beverage.

Extra-Long Tongs

Extra-long tongs are a necessity for a summer-time BBQ. These extra long tongs assist the person at the end of the tong stay cool and avoid burns and / or other injuries while whipping up some goodies on the grill.

Canning Tongs

Are you tired of burning your fingers grabbing a jar out of boiling water? Then canning tongs are the tongs for you! These tongs help grab jars of preservatives or jams out of boiling water during the canning process without having the need to burn your fingers or drain the pot of hot water.

Bamboo Tongs

Most commonly seen in Japanese restaurants to hand its patrons a hot towel before diving into their meal or adding a nice elegant touch to a big bowl of salad, bamboo tongs add a decorative twist to the standard tong.

Written By: PJ Pimentel, General Manager

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Disposable Cups, Which Are Right For You?

1/24/2018

4 Comments

Disposable cups come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and colors. They’re great for to-go and take out operations as well as various events such as tailgating, barbecuing, office parties, etc. Disposable cups have gained much popularity over the years because there is no need to clean and dry them, you simply just discard of them when you’re done! Disposable cups are primarily made of either paper, plastic, or foam. Each variation of disposable cup serves a special purpose which we will discuss below.

History of the Disposable Cup

Dixie Cups is responsible for producing the first batch of single-serve cups, which dates back to 1908. Dixie Cup’s first batch of cups were made of paper, which were then coated with a wax on the inside to prevent spilling. What sparked the idea for plastic cups was the use of communal cups and barrels that people would use to hydrate. These communal cups and barrels were a nesting area for nasty germs and viruses, often leading to people becoming extremely ill. Fast track to the 1960’s, a man by the name Caine patented the idea of a thin plastic container, which would eventually become the plastic cup!

Disposable Plastic Cups

Compostable Plastic Cups

Compostable plastic cups are made of PLA corn starch, which is converted into a polymer. Compostable cups are completely visible to help improve marketing for the product that will be going inside, which helps boost sales! These cups are great for locations who produce their own smoothies or unique looking beverages or for everyday use. Compostable plastic cups are usually rated for liquids 40 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hard Plastic Cups

ard plastic cups are a tad bit easier on the eye. They are unique, stylish cups that can be used to serve hot beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate and they are also capable of serving up your finest champagne or other craft cocktail. Common places where you can find hard plastic cups are in upscale locations where it is more economically-friendly to go the plastic route rather than more costly glass and/or china. Common places you can find these types of cups would be upscale night life locations, outdoor bars, pool bars, race tracks, etc.

PET Plastic Cups

Polyethylene Terephthalate, otherwise known as PET, is a type of material that is often found in many plastic cups we drink out of every day. Often used in office settings for the water cooler, these can also be used for smoothies and other cold beverages. PET plastic cups are also crack-resistant.

Polypro Thin Wall Plastic Cups

PolyPro thin wall plastic cups are a great economical replacement for PET plastic cups. They are made of durable polypropylene, which costs less than PET plastic but share some similar characteristics such as being crack-resistant and are translucent. These are great for high volume, cold drink serving locations.

Polystyrene Plastic Cups

Polystyrene cups are made up of synthetic aromatic polymer made from monomer styrene, which can be found as a solid plastic or foam material. Polystyrene cups can be solid in color or translucent. These cups are great for large events because they are sturdy, shatterproof, and flexible. Typically these cups are found mostly in party settings because they are inexpensive and durable for popular party games. Like most plastic cups, polystyrene cups are designed primarily for cold beverages so be careful when you’re making your morning cup of Joe that you grab the right cup!

History of the Foam Disposable Cup

The Styrofoam cup was invented in Germany by Eduard Simon in 1839. The first predecessor of the modern Styrofoam cup was made of storax, which was an extract of a tree that created a “reinous solid” which later went by the name “styrol”. Fast forward to December 16, 1946, Dow Chemical, a small start-up in Midland, Michigan trademarked the term Styrofoam. The term Styrofoam is often used to describe all polystyrene-type material, but according to Dow it should only be used to describe material produced by Dow. According to Dow, there is no such thing as a “Styrofoam coffee cup”, rather the proper term to use is “foamed polystyrene.” It wasn’t until May 9, 1957, Warren R. Price and Alexander S. Houston, filed for a patent for the making of foamed polystyrene. Price and Houston claimed this method would compete with paper cups and be more comfortably held even with boiling water in the cup.

Disposable Foam Cups

Disposable foam cups are a great economical substitution for paper or plastic cups due to its versatility in being able to be used for hot and cold beverages. Foam cups traditionally come in white but are sometimes offered with a pattern on it and are able to be highly customized at the request of a customer looking to brand their business operations. Foam cups are great for hot beverages because of its insolated walls, protecting your hand from the heat!

History of the Paper Cup

The history of the paper cup nearly mimics that of its of its predecessor, the foam cup. Paper cups date back to the beginning of the 20th century, created by Lawrence Luellen. Much like the foam cup, the paper cup gained popularity through its versatile use in being disposable. It wasn’t until the 1960’s when disposable paper cups became the next best thing since sliced bread. The first convenience chain to ever offer fresh coffee in to-go cups was 7-Eleven in 1964 at one of their locations in Long Island, NY. Fast forward to 2018 and the paper cups is now one of the most widely used disposable cups in existence for both hot and cold beverages!

Air Pocket Insulated Paper Cups

Air pocket insulated cups eliminate the need for the pesky "double cup" or cardboard coffee sleeves. These cups have an inner sheet and an outer sheet surrounding a layer of air to help insulate the cup to help prevent burning the individuals’ hand.

Poly-Coated Paper Cups

Poly-coated paper cups are insulated with either a single or double polymer coating that allows the cup to be able to service both hot and cold beverages. The lining inside the cup helps keep the cup in one piece by helping hot liquids from forming condensation and destroying the cup. These cups come in a myriad of colors and sizes which some featuring rolled rims for worry-free, leak-proof drinking.

Post-Consumer Paper Cups

Post-consumer cups are primarily made up of FDA approved recycled fibers which make them great for the environment due to their recycling of material. They can be used for hot or cold beverages.

Sustainable Paper Cups

Similar to post-consumer cups, these cups can be made up of compostable, double-sided poly paper, and paper-lined styles. Sustainable cups are made up of 100% renewable resources. They can be used both for hot and cold use, but double check if the cup is heat-resistant if you’re selling high volumes of hot beverages.

Wax-Coated Paper Cups

Wax-coated paper cups are primarily designed for cold beverages such as sodas, milkshakes, etc. They are vey similar to poly-coated cups, but have an added layer of insulation, while having extra rigidity and protection from leaks and absorption.

Written By: PJ Pimentel, General Manager

4 Comments

Can Openers Guide - Which One Fits You Best?

1/18/2018

5 Comments

In the foodservice industry, the can opener is a vital piece of kitchen equipment that is constantly under-appreciated and overlooked. A can opener at its core is designed to remove lids from metal cans in a safe and efficient way to prevent injury, as well as not allowing metal shavings to contaminate the food within the can. Can openers come in all different shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day they all share a common goal, open metal cans.

History of the Can Opener

Back in the mid to late 1700's people were trying to change the way their food was stored to ensure proper and safe preservation. Around the year 1772 in the Netherlands, the preservation of food in tin cans was initiated and has been commonplace since then. After creating the tin can as a means to store their food products, people were not on a mission to find the right tool and/or object to properly open the cans after having been sealed. Prior to the birth of the can opener in England in the year 1855, people would rely on a wide array of sharp objects to be able to open the tin cans and retrieve the food the had preserved. Despite the invention of the can opener in 1855, the design of the “modern” can opener with the sharp rotating cutting wheel was not invented until 1870, where it was not received well by the general public as it was too difficult and complicated to use. It wasn’t until 1925 that the can opener was revolutionized and a second serrated wheel was added to hold the can better which is the common design used in practice today.

Types of Can Openers

Manual Can Openers

This style of opener is your everyday household / low volume foodservice style opener. This opener rests well in the palm of your hand which you would the guide wheel and cutting wheel to spin around the tin can to safely cut and remove the top. Manual openers typically have two handles that vary in style whereby some are designed in a simple and rugged all-metal build where others have thicker, softer, ergonomic handles. Some cut at the top of the can, leaving behind a sharp edge, while there are other safer openers that cut under the lip of the can to help prevent injury. Handheld openers are designed for casual and low volume applications whom occasionally open cans, for example 1-2 cans a day.

Wall Mounted Can Openers

This style of can opener operates just how they sound. They are mounted directly to a wall so you have a harder time losing them and they are typically built to be more on the rugged side for slightly higher volume. Wall mounted openers are also designed for smaller cans and are not intended for larger #10 style cans as they can be heavy to hold while operating the opener. Typically people who use these openers find themselves opening multiple cans per day, for example 3-5 cans per day.

Table-Mounted Can Openers

Table-mounted can openers are designed to be mounted directly on an operators prep table. Given the style of mount, these openers are typically not for residential applications given their more rugged application and mounting scheme. Table-mounted can openers work great for larger cans because the height of opener can be adjusted through the can openers long arm which is held by the table mounted bracket. Also, this style of opener allows for easy operation as the unit allows the operator to leave the can on the table while quickly cranking the arm to open the tin can. Table-mounted openers are more common in high volume establishments which open 10 or more cans per day.

Electric Can Openers

lectric can openers are very user-friendly as they typically work by a simple push of a button. All the operator need do is place the can near the magnet and the electric can opener does the rest. The electric can opener holds the can with the magnet, as soon as the user presses the button, it begins opening the can with ease. Some electric can openers are suitable for 50 cans per day, at 4-7 cans per minute, while some heavier duty models are rated at 5-8 cans per minute and can handle up to 200 cans per day!

Maintenance Tips

To help prolong the life of your can opener, try following some of these important maintenance tips:

Regularly clean your can opener with warm soapy water (unless otherwise directed in your can opener's user manual);
Inspect your can opener weekly/bi-weekly (depending on amount of use) for signs of wear and tear on the unit, especially on table mounted and electric can openers. Given the higher price tag, most openers in these two styles offer replacement gears and blade which means that these openers will typically have longer operating lives than a more common hand held opener;
Some manual can opener knives are reversible, always check to see if you can reverse the blade before going out to your local supply store to source a replacement.

Written By: PJ Pimentel, General Manager

5 Comments

Tongs Buying Guide

History of Tongs

Types of Tongs

Flat-Surface Kitchen Tongs

Forked Tongs

Small / Plating Tongs

Extra-Long Tongs

Canning Tongs

Bamboo Tongs

Written By: PJ Pimentel, General Manager

Disposable Cups, Which Are Right For You?

History of the Disposable Cup

Disposable Plastic Cups

Compostable Plastic Cups

Hard Plastic Cups

PET Plastic Cups

Polypro Thin Wall Plastic Cups

Polystyrene Plastic Cups

History of the Foam Disposable Cup

Disposable Foam Cups

History of the Paper Cup

Air Pocket Insulated Paper Cups

Poly-Coated Paper Cups

Post-Consumer Paper Cups

Sustainable Paper Cups

Wax-Coated Paper Cups

Written By: PJ Pimentel, General Manager

Can Openers Guide - Which One Fits You Best?

History of the Can Opener

Types of Can Openers

Manual Can Openers

Wall Mounted Can Openers

Table-Mounted Can Openers

Electric Can Openers

Maintenance Tips

Written By: PJ Pimentel, General Manager

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