by Sandra D. Ratcliff, CEC 1 HOUR CE CBDM Approved Sous Vide in Health Care CULINARY CONNECTION Explore the benefits of adding sous vide to your kitchen arsenal With the ongoing challenge to reduce operational costs, as foodservice managers, we must be open to alternate cooking combined with the labor shortage plaguing healthcare practices that could ease operational challenges. The healthcare operators, the quest is on for more efficient methods of food kitchen is an ideal setting for using sous vide. From cooks production. The French term sous vide means “under vacuum” that are working in a commercial kitchen for the first time, to and refers to a method of cooking that has gained traction experienced chefs, this method provides a viable solution to in non-commercial foodservice operations and even in home deliver consistency in food. kitchens. The benefits of using sous vide include better-tasting food, The 2017 FDA Food Code describes sous vide packaging as improved food safety, and savings of money and time. Sous a cooking method in which “raw or partially cooked food is vide does not replace any cooking techniques, but instead adds vacuum packaged in an impermeable bag, cooked in the bag, another method to the healthcare kitchen arsenal. rapidly chilled, and refrigerated at temperatures that inhibit the Those who believe sous vide is new to the foodservice industry growth of psychrotrophic pathogens.” may be surprised to learn that this technique has been utilized Professional chefs vary on their opinions of sous vide. However, in industrial food preparation since the 1960s. In the 1970s, it 16 NUTRITION & FOODSERVICE EDGE | March-April 2020 [email protected] was being used as a cooking temperatures enables staff to Besides, a vacuum sealer Sandra D. Ratcliff, method in some restaurants in cook items precisely. is imperative to successful CEC received her B.S. France. The typical application outcomes, and a ‘must-have’ in degree in Culinary With sous vide, the flavors, Arts Management of this method was to prepare the start-up sous vide kitchen. quality, and rich colors of food from the Art Institute a large volume of food for use are preserved, thus ensuring When cooking sous vide, it of Atlanta, and is a in hotels and sporting venues. a product that customers will is best to use a high-quality Certified Executive Chef with the American One of the driving forces find pleasing. Simmering plastic square (NSF listed) Culinary Federation. for using sous vide cooking food at low temperatures is food container. With square She has over 32 years today is the need to reduce much more forgiving than food bags, square containers of experience in the labor in kitchens due to the grilling on an open flame provide optimum space. Clear foodservice industry. continued low unemployment or sautéing at high heat in a containers are ideal because From 2002-2013 Ratcliff worked as a Corporate rate. In December 2019, pan. The sealed bag ensures the food products inside Director of Food unemployment was the lowest that all flavors remain in are visible. Plastic pans are Services for the largest on record since 1969, making the food product instead of strongly encouraged instead post-acute healthcare it difficult to attract and retain possibly being lost during the of metal food pans. Plastic is organization in Georgia. kitchen staff. cooking process. The ability preferred because it’s a better Currently, she works to place the vacuum-packed insulator than metal. The for The Hansen Group Sous vide as a cooking method as a manufacturer’s food in a water bath, set the plastic pan equates to a more requires taking food to be representative for the cooked, combined with spices foodservice industry. and marinades, and putting it in vacuum-packed bags. A FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN water bath held at a consistent SOUS VIDE COOKING it is best temperature is what cooks the contents of the vacuum- to start with the right equipment. packed bags. The water Experts advise using bags that are temperature is typically under specifically made for use with a 200˚F, and cooking time will vary depending on the item. vacuum sealer, as inferior bags may Vegetables and fruits that not withstand the cooking process. are delicate can be cooked in as little as 15 minutes. More voluminous food and tougher meats can require 48 hours of temperature, and walk away, effective way of retaining heat cooking at low temperatures. frees up staff to accomplish in the food container. other tasks. Sous vide can be particularly Another critical factor in helpful to the healthcare For long-term success in sous cooking sous vide is using a kitchen. The process ensures vide cooking, it is best to start cover. Putting a cover over that the proper minimum with the right equipment. the container prevents water required temperature and Experts advise not to cut and heat from escaping. Not heating time will be met for corners with items such as covering can result in water food safety standards. While food bags that are not made volume reducing to a level that meeting these standards, for use with a vacuum sealer. the immersion circulator can it also prohibits under- or A less expensive, inferior bag turn off. To provide a cover, over-cooking of the food. can be costly if it cannot Slowly cooking food at low withstand the cooking process. Continued on page 18 NUTRITION & FOODSERVICE EDGE | March-April 2020 17 Continued from page 17 many people use the lid for the square container and cut out an enough consistent temperature. This process can provide an area for the immersion circulator. Plastic lids for square food added layer of food safety protection. Sous vide is referred to containers are available for use with immersion circulators. as a Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) food and must be approved by the local regulatory agency before implementing Searing food before vacuum sealing helps keep natural moisture it. Not preparing ROP food correctly can result in dangerous in the product and allows the flavors from caramelization to bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum and Listeria blend while in the vacuum seal. Pre-searing also improves the monocytogenes, which can grow well in reduced oxygen appearance of the food item. Additionally, it reduces surface environments. These bacteria can proliferate in the vacuum- bacteria on the food. Searing food after sous vide cooking can packaged food and make people ill. For ROP foods ensure a crispy texture if desired. A brief searing on a flat top or to be safe, appropriate precautions and training is in a pan can achieve a product that appears as if it was executed imperative. Be prepared to provide the local solely on the grill. health inspector with a Hazard Analysis Another significant benefit of sous vide is the ability to save Critical Control Point (HACCP) on prep time by preparing food in advance. Sous vide also plan. The plan will be required to simplifies the batch cooking needed in healthcare kitchens. By outline necessary food safety cooking vacuum-bagged food in the water bath, operators can practices such as time utilize the method as advanced meal preparation. Once cooked, the food should be chilled quickly in an ice bath and placed in the cooler. Reheat the meal when ready to serve. WHAT YOU NEED Besides saving money by enabling batch cooking to FOR SOUS VIDE eliminate food waste, another significant savings in raw food comes from being able to utilize COOKING less expensive cuts of meat. By using less costly meats that have more connective tissue, • Foods ranging from meat to fruit (avoid operators can save money yet experience superior very delicate foods) outcomes. • Impermeable bags for So what kinds of foods can be cooked using the sous cooking vide method? You can successfully cook almost all foods by • A vacuum sealer using sous vide, from meat to fruit. A good rule of thumb is • Plastic food containers to be mindful of delicate foods that have a harder time staying (preferred over metal) intact through a long cooking process, no matter how tender • Immersion circulator that process can be. unit to cook the bagged Due to the length of time it takes to cook food sous vide, it food evenly in the water essentially pasteurizes the item from the water being at a high bath 18 NUTRITION & FOODSERVICE EDGE | March-April 2020 and temperature monitoring, proper cooling, and organized food labeling. REFERENCES SUMMING IT UP 1. Trading Economics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed January 2020. Sous vide is gaining popularity in both non-commercial 2. Amazing Food Made Easy. Exploring Sous Vide 2. Accessed foodservice operations and home kitchens. Benefits include January 2020. 3. Food Code 2017. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed better taste, as juices are locked in, improved food safety, January 2020. convenience, reduced labor, and less waste. E 4. Under Pressure. Amanda Hesser. The New York Times Magazine. Accessed January 2020. 1 HOUR CE Questions | CULINARY CONNECTION CE CBDM Approved This Level II article assumes that the reader has a foundation of basic concepts of CBDM II the topic. The desired outcome is to enhance knowledge and facilitate application continuing competence of knowledge to practice. where education advances performance Reading Sous Vide in Health Care and successfully completing these questions online has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education for CDM, CFPPs. CE credit is available ONLINE ONLY. To earn 1 CE hour, access the online CE quiz in the ANFP Marketplace. Visit www.ANFPonline.org/market and select “CE Articles.” If you don’t see your article title on the first page, then search the title“ Sous Vide in Health Care.” Once on the article title page, purchase the article and complete the CE quiz.