How to Make a Stir-Fry Dish

Buwei Yang Chao first coined the term stir-fry in her book How to Cook and Eat in Chinese. First published in 1945, many culinary historians consider it the first book to present traditional Chinese recipes to an American audience. Over the years stir-fry has become a common entree gracing dinner tables everywhere. Stir-fry is a great way to incorporate fresh vegetables and lean meat into a delicious meal. In today’s blog Public Kitchen Supply will explain how quick and easy a stir-fry meal can be with the right kitchen smallwares.
One of the most common stir-fry tools is a wok. A wok is a wide, rounded pan that originated in Guangdong Province in China. A wok’s curved, sloping sides allows for more food to cook evenly. You can shift food around in a this pan by cooking some food on the more direct heat and others on the side farther away from the burner. We recommend Adcraft’s Induction Ready Wok with Cover. This wok is made with an aluminum core to maximize even heat distribution. The Adcraft wok has a magnetic bottom so it can be used on an induction cooker. To make stir-fry, woks should be placed over medium-high heat. Once your pan is hot, 1 tablespoon of peanut oil should be added to the wok until the oil simmers.
Before you add your stir-fry spices and ingredients, you should considering measuring them to ensure no one ingredient overpowers another, unless you want it to. Use Update International’s 4-Piece Measuring Spoon Set for your seasonings. Stir-fry is a versatile rice dish that can use a large variety of spices and sauces. Some of the most common, popular stir-fry seasonings are garlic, soy sauce, peanut sauce, crushed red pepper and ginger. The key to delicious stir-fry is knowing the impact of each flavor. Each seasoning needs to be correctly measured. Same goes for meats and vegetables. For a yield of four, we recommend using 12 ounces of lean meat and four cups of vegetables. Use Cambro’s 1 Cup Clear Measuring Cup for precise measurements for your meats and veggies. Stir-fry is a great way to use leftover ingredients. Most meats and vegetables work well in a stir-fry, especially with the right seasoning. Consider using chunks of chicken, chunks of beef, or pieces of seafood. If you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner use a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables and chicken breasts and mix with white rice.
Once you have measured your ingredients and added them to the wok you will need a wooden spoon or a heatproof silicone spatula. Rubbermaid’s 16.5” White Spatula Spoon is a great way to stir and handle all of your ingredients without damaging the wok. You should continually stir your meat, vegetables, and rice until they are crisp, hot and tender. Be careful not to stir-fry too many vegetables at once or they’ll lose their crunch, becoming soft and mushy. Most stir-fry recipes take about 40 minutes between food prep and cooking.
Serve your stir-fry dish with Update International’s 12” Black Serving Spoon. This serving spoon is made out of nylon making it heat resistant up to 410°F. Its long handle will provide plenty of space between your hand and the stove. Use colorful plates like Tablecraft’s Orange Frostone Serving Bowl to present your stir-fry dish to your family or guests. The Orange Frostone Serving Bowl is temperature resistant up to 212°F. It will do an excellent job of containing your favorite crispy vegetables and meats in their exotic sauce. Let Public Kitchen Supply supply your kitchen with the kitchen smallwares you need to feed your family. Stir-fry is a quick way to make a hot, fresh meal. There are endless stir-fry combinations that are just waiting to be explored. Spice up your weekday with is easy, healthy delicious dish.

Merril D. Smith (9 January 2013). History of American Cooking. ABC-CLIO. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-313-38712-8.

The Big Push to Include Calorie Count on Menus: Good or Bad?

According to the Huffington Post, in 2010 the U.S. Government required chain restaurants and other food establishments to label their menus with a calorie count. This decision was extremely controversial in the restaurant world. Some businesses appreciated the law seeing it as a step to greater food consciousness and health awareness. Yet, others in the food industry argued the practicality of a calorie count menus. In today’s blog Public Kitchen Supply will discuss the benefits and detriments of this new FDA requirement.
One negative of calorie count menus is that they can be extremely difficult to create. Creating an accurate calorie count menu requires exact precise measurements every time. While products like Fundamnetal Design’s Portion Pal and Cambro measuring cups can reduce this burden it can still be difficult to meet exact calorie expectations. This is especially true in restaurants that have greater recipe flexibility. If you’re restaurant is required to have calorie count menus, Public Kitchen Supply suggests investing in quality measuring cups and utensils. Purchasing the proper portion control tools will help you meet menu requirements every time.
While a calorie count menu requires more work, one benefit is uniform cooking. If you’re restaurant strives for consistent recipes, a calorie count menu may prove useful. Many food establishments, especially chains, want their customers to have a consistent product. Many customers expect the same taste every time when they go to a restaurant. The best way to achieve this is through exact recipes. A calorie count menu will motivate employees to use the proper measuring utensils. Calorie count menus make it easier to manage what ingredients are being used and how much. This is a fantastic benefit when it comes to restaurant inventory and food cost. Following a calorie count menu assists in restaurant organization.
One obvious detriment of calorie count menus is that it may cause people to order less. While a customer may know a food’s unhealthy for them they may proceed to order it if they don’t know the exact calories. When all customers see is a tasty menu description it’s easier to ignore the food’s calories. Calorie count menus eliminate this veil clearly displaying menu items nutritional value. While this may deter some customers from ordering as much food as they normally would, some customer’s may not care either way. If you see a substantial drop in food orders considering creating “half portions”. “Half portions” are a great way to meet health conscious customers in the middle.
Another benefit of calorie count menus is menu transparency and restaurant honesty. Many customers will appreciate truthful menus. Some customers, especially those dieting, may choose calorie count restaurants over another because of their menu. At Public Kitchen Supply, we think product honesty is a part of business integrity. Consider offering a low calorie menu for your health conscious customers.
Public Kitchen Supply work's hard to stay up to date on the latest restaurants trends and regulations. As the U.S. government and FDA push for greater food awareness it’s important the Food Industry does the same. At Public Kitchen Supply we carry a variety of products that will assist you in building a calorie count menu. To view the products mentioned in today’s blog and other fantastic product visit our website at publickitchensupply.com.

Jalonick, Mary C. "Menu Labeling Law: Calorie Counts Are a 'Thorny' Issue, FDA Head Says." Huffignton Post 12 Mar. 2013: n. pag. Huffingtonpost.com. Web. 25 Aug. 2014. .

The Tools for a Perfect Catered Brunch

Regardless of the season, there is always large social events. Caterers are always busy with graduation parties, weddings, and other parties. Nothing pairs better with special events than a delicious brunch. At Public Kitchen Supply we have a large selection of products that will help you create the perfect catered brunch for any type of gathering you may be catering or hosting. We will be highlighting some of our favorite brunch and breakfast tools that should be in every caterer’s collection.
Omelet stations are always a hit and should be included in a catered brunch set up. People love customizing their own breakfast and watching it being made in front of their eyes To create an omelet station you will need tools like mixing bowls, measuring cups and whisks. Stainless steel mixing bowls are perfect for omelet stations. Crack your eggs and mixing them up to make them fluffy. They are easy to clean and have a sleek, professional appearance. American Metalcraft’s 2 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl is heavy duty and perfect for a task like this. The stainless steel composition will not break or scratch easily even when using other utensils within it. Of course, you’ll need a whisk with your mixing bowl. Browne Foodservice’s 12” Stainless Steel Deluxe French Whisk matches American Metalcraft’s Mixing Bowl well, complementing the stainless steel. When setting up an omelet station don’t forget to buy measuring cups. Cambro’s Clear 1 Pint Measuring Cup has metric and standard measurements along the sides for precise measuring. Complete your made-to-order omelet station with food pans. Cambro’s 1/9 size pans are great for holding fresh toppings on display for your customers. Food pans neatly display fresh ingredients while keeping them at a fresh, safe temperature.
Bread is a must at a catered brunch. Customers expect to have bagels, english muffins, and toast along with a variety of other breads. We recommend purchasing the APW Wyott’s 13” Wide Radiant Conveyor Toaster. This toaster will quickly toast bread as it allows two slices of toast to pass at one time in less than 30 seconds. The 13” Wide Radiant Conveyor Toaster has variable speed and temperature control. APW Wyott’s toaster is ideal for serving ten people or more, making it perfect for a catered brunch tool. Have a member of the staff ready to toast your guests' bread at a moments notice. It prevents burns from improper use as well as speeds up the toasting process from a traditional toaster.
Breakfast isn't completed without scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes and meats. Rely on chafing dishes to keep your meats, hash-browns,  and other brunch favorites warm. Update International’s EZ Stor Folding Chafer is lightweight and travels well because of its foldability. Its stainless steel design is sure to match the rest of your catering equipment providing a professional appearance. Be sure to purchase a chafing dish heater to keep the chafer and food warm for extended periods. Adcraft’s Electric Chafer Heater is a great pairing. The Electric Chafer Heater will evenly distribute heat throughout the entire chafing dish ensuring all of the food within the dish is kept at the proper temperature. Proper temperature is extremely important when catering, make sure your chafing dish and chafing heater are up to code before setting up.
While breakfast foods are expected at a brunch some light lunch foods are too. That's what makes it brunch. Sandwiches and soups are great brunch foods. Consider grilling sandwiches and making paninis, grilled cheese, or other warm sandwiches for your perfect catered lunch. Equipex’s Majestic Panini Grill is a great choice for toasted sandwiches. This Panini Grill is easy to clean and easily controlled. Remember to provide a spatula with your panini grill for your customers to safely and hygenically remove their sandwiches when they are perfectly toasted. To pair a tomato soup with a grilled cheese, invest in an APW Wyott Soup Kettle. Soup kettles make it easy for customers to serve themselves. It’s important to remember simple serving utensils when purchasing pricier items like soup kettles and panini grills.
For salad and dessert bars you can rely on Table Top Food Bars. Cambro supplies an excellent Table Top Food Bar that works well for salad and salad toppings. It is NSF listed and can hold a maximum of three full size pans or a smaller pan configuration. It is made from lightweight polyethylene that will help keep food cool when filled with ice. If you want to make desserts or fruits more personal, consider serving them in Tablecraft’s stylish, Orange Frostone Serving Bowl. The Frostone Serving Bowl is an elegant square ribbed shape, painted orange with a glossy finish. Cambro’s Table Top Food Bar and Tablecraft’s Orange Frostone Serving Bowl work well with many other dishes too. You will find many uses for these versatile products along your catered brunch buffet line.
Finish you scrumptious brunch with a piping hot cup of coffee or tea. Buy Adcraft’s Hot Water Dispenser to dispense hot water immediately. Adcraft’s Hot Water Dispenser is great for setting up with tea bags and hot chocolate mixes. At Public Kitchen Supply you can find manufacturers like Keurig®. In our Keurig® Coffee and Tea category you will find countless Keurig® brewing systems and delicious drink blends to keep your customers refreshed. You will find brands like Green Mountain Coffee®, Starbucks®, Caribou Coffee® and many others. These beverages will allow your customers to have a wide variety of drinks to choose from rather than the standard milk, orange juice, and coffee.
If you’re planning to open a breakfast themed restaurant or want the perfect catered brunch, we have the tools you need. At Public Kitchen Supply we are happy to help. Call us at 1-800-458-1716 to start planning your perfect brunch or visit our website at www.PublicKitchenSupply.com/.

Food Pans 101

Food pans are a popular and helpful tool in commercial kitchens and other food service arenas. They're used in everything from the kitchen and food storage to serving lines and catering. It's important for professional chefs and restaurant owners to understand how food pans differ and to choose the correct pan based on their needs. When a food pan is not used to its full potential it limits the product's ability and can result in added restaurant costs. In today's blog Public Kitchen Supply will discuss the materials of food pans, how to use your food pan, and the different sizes.
Like most kitchen equipment there are many different types of food pans. Food pans are constructed from various materials. Some common textiles used in food pans are stainless steel, amber, clear plastic and black plastic. There's uses for each of the different materials, while some cooks strictly use stainless steel food pans because they can be used in both high heat and freezing temperatures. We like Browne Foodservice 1/2 Size Food Pan. This food pan is made out of 24 gauge stainless steel and is silver in color. The Browne Foodservice pan features reinforced edges and an anti-jam construction. These are especially helpful features when storing your food pans as they'll come apart easily, even when your other hand is full. Food pans are not only offered in many different types of materials but their thickness of material will vary. These differences affect how a pan can be used.
Before buying a food pan chefs and restaurateurs should know the type of pan they’re looking for and how they wish it to be used. The material and build of a food pan will affect its safe temperature range, an important aspect in food handling and storage. For example the Update International Stainless Steel Full Size x 2.5” Deep Food Pan can endure temperatures between 40°F to 375°F while the clear Rubbermaid 1/2 Size Food Pan is best for cool environments such as refrigeration or freezing; it has a temperature tolerance between -40°F to 212°F. A stainless steel food pan is not transparent when a polycarbonate pan typically is which is why stainless steel is often found in a buffet table and clear is used for storage. A transparent pan allows chefs to see how much food a pan is holding but they have a tendency to stain. A stainless steel pan, on the other hand will not immediately show its contents but it is less likely to stain. Also consider the other option of food pans - amber colored food pans. These are the amber color for a reason, to differentiate themselves. Most of these are microwave safe up to 375F due to the Polysulfone material like this Cambro Full Size Amber Food Pan. Each style of food pan has their place in a commercial kitchen, make sure you're using them for what they're designed.
One of the most important pieces of information to acquire about a food pan is which size you'll need. Food pans usually come in sizes Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/6 and 1/9. The pan size you choose is typically based on the amount of food you want to serve and your pan table’s size. For example you would use Cambro’s Sixth 1/6 Size x 6” Deep Food Pan to fill up a salad bar with toppings such as cheese, olives, egg, etc. It's small in width but tall in height. If you’re unsure about which size you need consider Cambro’s Black Food Pans. These pans are designed to gastronorm specifications. Cambro pans are durable and convenient, a great option for restaurant openings. Also reference our charts below that show the dimensions of the different sizes.
Choosing the proper equipment for your restaurant tends to be difficult the first time so ensuring you know what you need before you start to purchase is imperative. Food Pans are an incredibly helpful tool,  in many different styles of food service. From buffet lines to cafeterias to catering to back of the house, they're one of the most used and versatile pieces of kitchen smallwares available. Public Kitchen Supply wants to help you find the perfect pan for your business. To view our wide selection of food pans visit our website at publickitchensupply.com.