Getting organized for a Foods Lab

Planning your work•When you think ahead and get ready to

start work, your food lab will be more enjoyable and will more likely be successful.

Choosing a recipe• Before deciding on a recipe, read through it carefully.

• Consider all of the following:• Skills: Do you have the skill level for this recipe?• Time: Will you have enough time? • Food: Does it require extra shopping?• Equipment: Do you have the necessary equipment for the recipe?

Making a work plan• Always look over the recipe before class.• Know what your “jobs” will be for the period• Are there any pre-preparation tasks that can be done the day before?• Washing/cutting vegetables• Grating cheese• Trimming fat from meat• Double checking to make sure all the needed equipment is in your kitchen

• Develop a work plan that includes all group members and focuses on their special skills.

Planning and working efficiently

• Gather equipment and ingredients first• Know how to use the equipment properly• Set a timer. • Use your workplan• Dovetail tasks. Dovetailing is being able to work on multiple steps at

once, making it easier to finish on time. • Clean as you work.

Finishing your lab• Make sure the cleaning tasks are rotated through the group.• NO ONE is the all time dish washer. • Washing dishes:

• Use hot, sudsy water. You don’t need more than 1 spoonful of soap per lab. • For hard to clean pots and pans use an abrasive scrubber or scouring pad. • Wash all glassware first, followed by other eating dishes. • Save greasy or heavily soiled dishes for last.• Never leave wooden utensils in the water. • Rinse all dishes with hot or warm water. • Dry all dishes with a clean dish towel• Put away dishes neatly and where you found them.

Teamwork• Teamwork is KEY to the success of a Foods Lab• Prepare your work plan together for ALL labs. • Look over the recipe before assigning tasks to ensure that the lab can be

completed on-time. • Make sure the work is divided evenly. • Try to stick to the work plan. • Take responsibility and share the work. • If you finish your tasks early, ask your group members if you can help them.

DO NOT just take someone’s task from them.

Evaluating your labAsk yourself and/or your group…..• Did the work plan go smoothly? • Was the lab completed on time? • Was the kitchen left clean? • Did any unexpected problems arise during the lab?

• If so, how did you handle them? • How might you change the work plan for the next lab?