When prepping chicken protein, what information should you write on the case label(s)?

When prepping chicken protein, it is essential to write the prep date on the case label. The prep date provides critical information about when the chicken was prepared, which is vital for food safety and inventory management. This date helps ensure that the chicken is used within a safe timeframe, allowing kitchen staff to monitor its freshness and quality. Knowing the prep date also aids in tracking how long the protein has been stored, thus reducing the risk of using expired or spoiled products, which can lead to foodborne illness.

While other details, like the chef's name or the source of the chicken, can also be important for internal tracking and accountability, they do not have the same direct impact on food safety as the prep date. The expiration date is typically associated with packaged goods but is less relevant for chicken that is prepared and served on-site, as the focus is often more on the date it was prepared rather than an expiration date per se.