Do these 5 key tasks to close down your kitchen and help prevent maintenance issues, reduce food waste and make reopening smoother in the fall. Your future self will thank you.
Summer Kitchen Closure Checklist:
◻ Organize and store food production records
◻ Deep clean refrigerators, freezers, ovens, and warming cabinets
◻ Inventory and label dry goods with expiration dates
◻ Unplug equipment not being used during summer months
◻ Provide maintenance with a summer repair and cleaning list
1. Organize & Store Food Production Records
Make sure all food production records are clearly labeled with the appropriate dates and months. Store them in a safe location.
Food production records must be kept on file for four years, so organization now can save significant time later during audits or reviews.
A great storage option is banker boxes labeled by date range. For example: Food Production Records: September–December 2025
2. Deep Clean Equipment
Unlike the regular day-to-day cleaning, take the time to do a thorough cleaning:
- Clean all refrigerators, freezers, ovens and warming cabinets
- Empty them completely and remove racks and shelving for detailed cleaning
- Request maintenance support for grease trap and range hood cleaning
- Place a piece of cardboard or cloth to keep doors of refrigerators and freezers not in use open to avoid mold and musty smells
3. Inventory and Label Dry Goods
Don’t skip out on sorting through dry storage items such as condiment packets, crackers, chips and other shelf-stable items
Clearly write expiration dates on the outside of boxes to easily identify them and make inventory easier to manage.
4. Unplug Equipment Not in Use
Unplugging equipment during the summer months can help reduce energy use and protect appliances when they are not needed.
Consider the ones below, but modify this list to your school:
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Ovens
- Salad bars
- Tabletop warmers
- Cook-and-holds
5. Leave a Summer Maintenance To-Do List
Provide maintenance teams or directors with a clear list of items that need attention before the new school year begins. This will help avoid last-minute surprises during back-to-school preparation.
Your list may include:
- Equipment repairs
- Faulty appliance concerns
- Hood and vent cleaning
- Pest control treatments
- General kitchen repairs
Set Yourself Up for a Strong Fall Start
Closing the kitchen properly in the summer is one of the best ways to create a smoother startup in the fall. A little extra cleaning and organization now can save hours later.
Last but not least, we hope your summer includes fun and rest. We look forward to reconnecting in the fall!