A well thought out menu is the heart of any business in the food industry and it impacts every aspect of its operations. Whether you’re opening a place that serves loaf bread, burgers, sandwiches, or pastries, there are you can reduce food waste. Carefully designing your menu will ensure you deliver mouthwatering dishes without losing money. Below are a few strategies to accomplish this.

How to Reduce Food Waste When Designing a Menu

1. Stick to Popular Ingredients

It is tempting to set yourself apart by serving exotic options and offering a large selection of unique ingredients. However, when you do this, you set yourself up for waste. While a few patrons will enjoy your diverse selection, many people won’t order less-common dishes. These items will go to waste.

Additionally, if there’s an uncommon ingredient that’s only used once or twice in the menu, get rid of it; it will go bad unless enough people order those items. 

Finally, keep the menu simple at first. Use only popular ingredients, and if you get a new idea, slowly roll it out until you can confirm it will sell.

2. Use Ingredients That Have A Long Shelf Life

Fruits, dairy, and other items with a short shelf life are a common culprit of waste. Try to keep these off the menu, or only serve them in small amounts. Instead, focus on foods that last, such as beans, soups, rice, and potatoes. If you’re serving meat, cheese, or eggs, you will need a commercial refrigerator to keep them fresh. 

3. Use Leftovers

Whenever possible, look for ways to reuse leftovers. You can use leftover slices of vegetables on a sandwich or in a soup. The more you reuse food, the less money you spend on new ingredients. 

Another option for dealing with those untouched edibles is to sell them via an app, such as Too Good To Go. Many food businesses are now letting customers buy unused foods at discounted prices; you can sell the items at the end of each day. 

4. Start With Small Servings

You can’t predict what customers are going to love, so start with small serving sizes. While you go through a trial and error process, you’ll waste as little food as possible. As you discover what sells best, you can trim wasteful offerings from your menu and focus on selling what’s best for your customers and business.

If you’re starting a new restaurant, coffe shop, or convenience store, a reliable wholesaler is invaluable. EuroPan provides delicious breads and pastries for companies throughout South Florida. You’ll find loaf breads, gluten-free options, Latin pastries, and more. Explore their full selection on their website and call (305) 392-5555 to speak with a representative.