Opening a Specialty Fish and Chips Restaurant? Remember These Important Grease Trap Maintenance Tips

Breaded portions of delectable fish served with crispy chips of potato are crowd favorites in both the United States and Great Britain, as well as several other areas of the world. When planning to open a fish and chips eatery, however, restaurateurs are likely to be most focused on their breading recipe for the fish, cutting techniques for the potatoes, and whether their establishment design will be comfortable and enticing for customers. 

While these tasks are critically important for building a successful fish and chips restaurant, owners will also need to prioritize specific sanitation issues that their new business will face. Of particular importance for an eatery specializing in fried foods should be those related to grease traps. Restaurant owners who are unfamiliar with grease trap maintenance can use the following tips to help ensure proper sanitation for their new food service business. 

Ensure proper design and installation

Grease traps that are professionally designed and installed should meet both the needs of the particular restaurant where it is located and any existing regulations for their use. In many cases, however, issues with the design or installation of the grease trap may not be noticeable until the food service business is open and significant amounts of wastewater are being released into the drains.

Because of this, new restaurant owners will want to be particularly vigilant for grease-trap related issues during the first weeks of operation. If signs of a potential problem are noted, such as too little grease collected in the traps or the development of clogs, contacting a grease trap maintenance service immediately is advised. 

Institute basic rules for staff members

Grease traps that are used correctly can eliminate most plumbing issues related to food waste in a restaurant setting. Educating all staff members—including kitchen, buspersons, and waitstaff—to dispose of food waste and grease in the trash will help to reduce pressure on the grease trap system so that it continues to perform as it should. 

Schedule regular professional maintenance 

All food service establishments should be equipped with a properly designed and installed grease trap system, but professional maintenance is also a necessary part of the equation. Businesses where fried foods make up a large portion of the menu, such as a fish and chips eatery, should be expected to require more frequent grease trap maintenance visits than some other types of eating establishments. Working closely with a reputable grease trap service will ensure that collection and maintenance schedules are designed to meet the specific needs of your new fish and chips eatery.