How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Food Delivery Service Today

With the ongoing health crisis, dining at your favourite restaurants is still not encouraged. Even if it is, it is still unwise to do this daily or several times a week.

However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t give in to your guilty pleasures from time to time. Most establishments, including luxury dining restaurants in Dubai, offer delivery services.

Because of this, you can still enjoy premium meals anytime you want in the comfort and safety of your home.

Indulging in your favourite dishes at home, though, does not only entail going online or using an app to look at menus and ordering anything that you find appetizing. You can have a more enjoyable and safe dining experience at home if you know how to get the most from food delivery services.

Below are some tips that will help you enjoy and stay safe and healthy as you relish your favourite meals:

1. Order only from restaurants you are familiar with and have excellent reviews.

Even without the current health crisis, you have to be extra careful with dining establishments you order takeaways and delivery from. Sticking to restaurants you frequent — whether fine dining, fast food or casual — and are familiar with is a good precautionary measure.

If you want to try a new restaurant, read reviews about it first. Aside from taking note of the quality and taste of their food, try to look for mentions regarding the hygiene and packaging practices the establishment employs.

You can also ask your fellow foodies about new restaurants you want to try and how satisfied they are with the packaging and quality of food they got from the same establishment.

2. Check the menu.

Whether you are ordering from your favourite restaurant or a new one and even if you have a good idea of what you want to eat, go over the menu first.

By following this simple tip, you will be able to find other dishes that you may want to try. This will allow you to diversify your meal.

Moreover, when you go over the menu first, you will know if the items are within your budget and if the restaurant has increased its prices. You will then avoid being unpleasantly surprised by your bill.

3. Order some healthy dishes.

Eating nutritious food is one of the best ways of staying fit, whether there is a pandemic or not. As such, order a few healthy dishes, too.

Order a salad or two for your appetizers or sides. Fresh vegetables and fruits are nutrient-packed, so they are always healthy choices.

Additionally, select dishes that are prepared using healthy cooking methods. These include grilling, steaming, and baking.

If you want to order dessert, look for the healthiest options, as well. You won’t go wrong with ordering baked goods garnished with fresh fruits.

4. Opt for no-contact delivery.

Since person-to-person contact is the main method of transmission of the coronavirus, if the restaurant offers no-contact delivery, choose this option.

This innovation is now part of the foodservice industry, which may continue even after the pandemic is over.

By doing so, you minimize the chance of any physical contact. As a result, you ensure your safety and that of the person delivering your food.

This also means opting for online or cashless payment. If you can pay by credit or debit card, do so. This also ensures you avoid contact with the delivery person and touching money that may harbour germs.

5. Put the delivery bag in the sink.

Once you have your food, don’t simply leave it on the counter or table. If you do, you run the risk of spreading bacteria in one of the places that you and your family frequently use and touch.

As an additional precautionary measure, place the delivery bag in the sink as soon as you bring it inside your home. Put the containers in this area as you transfer the content to your plates and bowls.

Once you are done transferring the food, throw the delivery bag and containers in the trash bin. Sanitise the sink as soon as possible. Use disinfecting wipes or wash the whole sink with soap and water.

Do the same for any surface in your home and kitchen that you and the delivery bag and containers may have touched.

6. Transfer the food to your own containers or plates.

To avoid the possibility of bacteria from the restaurant packaging going into your food, transfer the food to clean containers or plates immediately.

When transferring the food, avoid touching it directly. Use your utensils to do so and avoid using the plastic ones that came from the restaurant (if there are any).

If you want to refrigerate restaurant food, transfer it to a container. Do not put any plastic, paper, or cardboard containers in the fridge and even in the cupboard since it is still unclear if cold temperatures can neutralise the coronavirus.

7. Wash your hands properly.

Once you have transferred all the food and discarded the bags and containers, wash your hands following the correct techniques.

This means using soap and water and soaping your hands for a full 20 seconds.

Keep in mind that soap and water can kill the coronavirus and other germs on your hands. As such, keeping your hands clean is your best defence against harmful bacteria.

Make sure you wash your hands again before eating. Remind your fellow diners to do the same, too.

8. Reheat the food.

One of the best things about eating in restaurants is that you can enjoy piping hot dishes straight from the kitchen. You can recreate this experience by reheating the delivered food first before eating it.

Warming the food can also enhance food quality and taste. Additionally, keep in mind that certain types of germs lurking in food can be killed by heat. Because of these reasons, don’t skip this step.

Don’t forget to reheat any leftovers before eating any.

These additional steps may be time consuming and can be tiring to do. However, doing these things will keep you safe as you indulge in your favourite dishes from your restaurant of choice. Due to this reason, take the time to do all of them even if you feel they are bothersome.

Keep in mind that these food hygiene practices may be part of the “new normal”. As such, try to get used to doing them as quickly as you can.

AUTHOR BIO:

Mohamed Farzad is the Director of Nippon Group of Companies. One of the Nippon Hospitality Division’s premium projects is Doors Freestyle Grill, a premium steakhouse and international fusion cuisine-lifestyle dining concept set across the spellbinding Al Seef heritage district in Dubai.