A key principle when making pizza is to maintain a high-level of hygiene. This is important for several reasons to prevent people becoming ill as a result of consuming your pizza. It is therefore best practice to ensure that all steps in the preparation of pizza are followed to the highest intent. Here are some tips for maintaining hygiene when making pizza:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before handling any food, and especially before handling raw dough or ingredients. Use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds.
- Keep all surfaces, utensils, and equipment clean. Wipe down countertops and cutting boards with hot, soapy water and use a sanitizer to kill any remaining bacteria.
- Keep raw ingredients separate from cooked or ready-to-eat items. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meats and vegetables, and keep them away from other ingredients as much as possible.
- Cook your pizza to the proper temperature to kill any harmful bacteria. For most pizzas, this means cooking the pizza at 450°F (230°C) for 8-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Store leftover pizza properly. Let the pizza cool completely before storing it in the refrigerator, and keep it covered to prevent contamination. If you don’t plan on eating the pizza within a few days, it’s best to freeze it.
- Use clean utensils and equipment. Make sure all utensils and equipment, including your hands, are clean before using them to handle any food.
- Avoid cross-contamination. Keep raw and cooked ingredients separate, and be careful not to let raw ingredients come into contact with cooked or ready-to-eat items.
- Use separate cutting boards for different types of ingredients. For example, use one cutting board for raw meats and another for vegetables. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria from raw meats to other ingredients.
- Store ingredients properly. Keep ingredients such as raw meats and vegetables in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them, and make sure to store them at the appropriate temperature to prevent spoilage.
- Keep your workspace clean. Wipe down countertops and other surfaces with hot, soapy water after use, and use a sanitizer to kill any remaining bacteria.
By following these hygiene tips, you can help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and ensure that your pizza is safe to eat.
