In quick-service restaurants (QSRs), every element in the kitchen is chosen with speed, consistency, and operational efficiency in mind.
One of the simplest yet most practical examples of this is the widespread preference for pre-sliced cheese over block cheese. While both serve the same end purpose, such as adding flavour, texture, and visual appeal, pre-sliced cheese has clear advantages that make it the go-to choice for QSRs around the world.
In this article, let’s break down the advantages of pre-sliced cheese over block cheese for QSRs.
Convenience and Speed
In QSRs, customers expect their meals to be prepared in minutes or sometimes even seconds during peak hours. Using block cheese slows down service as it requires the staff to slice cheese for each individual order, which is extremely time-consuming and tedious.
Suppose a busy QSR produces 500 cheeseburgers in a day; even a 5-second delay per burger due to slicing cheese can cost over 40 minutes of productivity. This time loss can disrupt workflows, slow down kitchen lines, and increase wait times for customers.
However, if these operations just use the pre-sliced cheese, staff can eliminate the need to cut cheese themselves. For Instance, when preparing burgers, team members can simply grab Hi-Melt Burger Cheese Slices and place them immediately onto the patty without slowing down the process. As a result, this small change dramatically reduces kitchen prep time and enhances efficiency during busy times.
Portion Control and Reduced Food Waste
It is almost impossible to accurately control the cheese portion manually, especially in such a fast kitchen. If QSRs use block cheese, the portion might not be the same for every slice. There can be instances where one staff member cuts 25g per slice while another cuts 35g.
But it’s easier for QSRs to deliver consistent portion sizes with pre-sliced cheese. It’s because each slice has the same weight and thickness. For example, using a thin cheese slice is far more effective than cutting from a block, as variations in thickness can lead to inconsistent product quality. Eventually, this uniformity helps businesses deliver better quality to their customers every time.
In addition to portion control, pre-sliced cheeses also help in reducing food waste. It prevents employees from overusing the cheeses in food preparation.
Consistency in Quality
Consistency is a cornerstone of any QSR’s brand image and trust. Customers expect their food to look and taste the same, including the cheese melt in their dish, no matter which location they visit. When using block cheese, there’s a chance that the slices may be too thick and not melt properly, or too thin and just disappear into the patty.
But pre-sliced varieties are engineered to deliver the right melt, mouthfeel, and coverage for the products they’re used in. Due to their reliable size, thickness, melting properties, and appearance, pre-sliced cheeses can ensure uniformity when used in cooking or baking applications.
Therefore, with pre-sliced cheese, QSRs don’t have to worry about the cheese quality and can focus on the other ingredients instead. However, it’s best to use cheese slices from a reliable supplier to ensure optimal quality.
Food Safety and Hygiene
When QSRS use block cheese, staff come into contact with it frequently when removing it from packaging, placing it on slicers or boards, or slicing it manually with a knife, which can potentially lead to cross-contamination. When not handled properly, there can even be a risk of mould forming or spoilage in the block cheese.
Pre-sliced cheese, on the other hand, is typically processed and sealed in a hygienic facility that meets strict safety standards. It arrives at the QSR in tamper-evident packaging (e.g. wax paper or plastic film) and is ready to use straight from the packet.
Overall, sliced cheese reduces contact points and improves compliance with food safety protocols. Moreover, the reduced need for manual slicing also decreases the likelihood of accidents or injuries in the kitchen.
Labour Savings and Simplified Training
QSRs often operate with lean teams and face high staff turnover. So, training new hires needs to be fast, straightforward, and repeatable. Teaching new staff how to slice cheese or use slicers just adds extra steps to the process.
Using pre-sliced cheese makes onboarding easier. New employees don’t need to learn how to slice cheese or clean slicing equipment properly. They simply follow a standardised assembly process, which reduces human error and allows even inexperienced staff to prepare food quickly and correctly.
For small restaurants, it also gives you a cost management advantage as you don’t have to invest in cheese equipment like slicers or shredders.
Storage and Inventory Management
Lastly, pre-sliced cheese is easier to store and manage than block cheese. It typically comes in flat, stackable packs, often separated by thin sheets of paper or film to prevent sticking. These packs are space-efficient, easy to rotate for FIFO (First-In, First-Out) inventory systems, and allow quick visual stock checks.
Block cheese, by comparison, is bulkier and harder to portion and store. It often requires plastic wrapping after opening and takes up more shelf space due to its irregular shape. Managing open blocks also increases the risk of spoilage and makes stock rotation less precise.
To conclude, pre-sliced cheese offers QSRs a practical advantage, from faster prep times and portion control to easier storage and labour savings. If you’re ready to make the switch, consider buying your pre-sliced cheese slices from a trusted, reliable company to get the best results.
