Supplies for Restaurant Salad Bars

Increase profitability with proper supplies for restaurant salad bars

Salad bars offers diners the freedom to build their own salads, and they makes a visual statement of healthy food choices. Once you identify a space for your salad bar and decide what types and how many food choices you want to offer, start checking on salad bar supplies and equipment you’ll need.

A great-looking salad bar with cold, fresh and well-stocked ingredients will help you keep and attract new customers. As you look more into restaurant grade salad bars, keep the following safety considerations in mind:

1. Ensure commercial salad bar equipment purchased lends itself to proper temperature maintenance – 41 degrees or below for cold items and 140 degrees or above for hot items.

2. Initiate frequent checks of your salad bar at least every few hours to monitor food temperatures.

3. The FDA recommends limiting the length of time for potentially hazardous foods like egg or meat products to sit on a salad bar to no more than four hours.

 

Find the right salad bar restaurant equipment and accessories to complete your salad bar

Purchase a salad bar that includes the accessories you need, or buy a base unit and accessorize. Comply with local health department regulations that require sneeze guards to protect your customers from airborne germs. No one wants to visit a salad bar without that level of protection for customers. You'll find single and double-sided sneeze guards available for any tabletop or other portable salad bar and full-sized, stationary salad bars, too. Include tray slides/plate rests so patrons don't have to carry plates from station to station, increasing the risk of spills and accidents.
Try: You'll find sneeze guards for any size or type restaurant salad bar at Food Service Warehouse. Learn more about the ZGuard System from the Brass Smith website. Check out available options for stainless steel plate rests and trade slides at Galley.

Improve the look and functionality of your salad bar with the right salad bar accessories/supplies

For functionality, you need crocks or other containers for all the food items on your salad bar that look good while incorporating a design that helps maintain the desired food temperature. If you want to keep decorating costs to a minimum, consider using synthetic greenery or fresh endive.
Try: With the Coldmaster food pans at Superior Products, you don't need electricity or ice to keep food products cold. Simply freeze the pans overnight and fill with prechilled foods, and food temperatures will remain at or below 41 degrees for eight hours. For standard crocks at a cheaper price, go to Restaurant Source for the plastic Cambro crocks that resist odors and stains from oils, mayonnaise and vinegar. Keep crocks in place with Impressions TwICEguard ice guards from Vollrath. Order single-leaf dishwasher-safe kale leaves to decorate your salad bar from Central Restaurant Products.

Invest in salad bar supplies that let patrons take full advantage of commercial salad bars

Make your salad bar as efficient and attractive as possible for patrons with an ample supply of tongs, ladles and salad plates.
Try: Choose from the selection of Cambro or Carlisle tongs, ladles and salad spoons at Cook's Direct. Consider purchasing glass plates in cases of three dozen for your salad bar at The WEBstaurant store. You'll save money buying in bulk, and they'll go with china, pottery or any other plates and bowls you use.

 

• To ensure the success of your salad bar, don't negate the importance of its appearance. Besides checking it at least every few hours for proper temperature, your employees must also constantly wipe up messes left behind and replenish dishes when food runs low.

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