Are you afraid of Sous Vide?
What is it about Sous Vide that strikes fear into so many: both, chefs (“too risky”) and enforcement officers?
Simply, the fear of the unknown? An EHO told a chef client that the only way he can prove sous vide is a safe method of cooking is by microbiological testing. Expensive certainly and actually not necessary… As I said, fear of the unknown.
It’s a simple process of vacuum packing food and then cooking it in a water bath, but at a lower temperature than usual.
Why the fear? Well it could cause food poisoning or death if you get it wrong but it produces beautiful results – safe food and a gastronomic delight when you get it right. In fact, Heston Blumenthal said “Sous vide cooking is the single greatest advancement in cooking technology in decades”.
5 ways to ensure safe Sous Vide food:
1. Know WHAT pathogens are likely to be associated with the food: Viruses, parasites, bacteria or spores and how they can be eliminated (it might not be the sous vide cooking).
2. Know WHERE the pathogens are in what you are cooking (e.g. distributed throughout, as in poultry and beef burgers or on the exterior i.e. steaks, lamb)
Determine the CCP’s (critical control points) using the above.
3. Use a Sous vide PROBE (much thinner and sharper than a normal food probe) to check the core temperature of the food NOT just the water temperature (a common mistake for non validated processes). And YES, I do mean stick the probe through the sous vide bag…..
4. Ensure you cook for the right amount of TIME (lower temperature = longer time cooking) 70C for 2 minutes = 65C for 9.3 minutes = 60C for 43.48 minutes. Validate each item or dish separately.
5. Do some TRAINING so you understand the science behind the process. For example https://safetyinaction.thinkific.com/courses/sous-vide-safety
Read more on our page https://safetyinaction.co.uk/services/food-safety/sous-vide/
Thank you for reading.
Karen Meadows of Safety in Action Ltd.
If you think I can help your business do call on 07786622741 or email on info@safetyinaction.co.uk
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Food Safety Consultant | Worcestershire | West Midlands | Hospitality | Food business