Dirty little secrets restaurants won't ever tell you
Never order your steak well done, it lets some poor eateries get away with tricks to make you cringe.
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Sharecare found 6 ways you can avoid secret health hazards restaurants may be hiding.
By Rachael Anderson
Are you getting more than you bargained for when you eat out?
Mehmet Oz, MD, and Top Chef All-Stars winner, Richard Blais, take you behind the swinging kitchen doors to reveal the secret health hazards restaurants hide and share their six top tips to help you enjoy your meal - without regret.
1. Look for these hints the kitchen's likely dirty
"Just because the place looks great does not mean the same for the kitchen," says Blais.
To ensure a restaurant's kitchen is clean, without barging through the doors, Blais says you need to pay attention to subtle signs.
If you see a bus bin next to a food prep area, crust around ketchup bottles, or glasses stored upside down on a counter, these are red flags the kitchen might be a mess.
If the bathroom is dirty?
The kitchen probably is, too, says Dr. Oz.
This is the dirtiest thing a restaurant serves
2. Order your meat "medium"
According to Blais, an old restaurant trick is to keep steak past its prime and wait until someone orders it well done.
The more the meat is cooked, the more the flavor is disguised.
"Always order your steak medium, or rare," says Blais.
"That way they have to use fresh cuts of meat."
Another tip: If your meat is covered in sauce, it could be an attempt to mask the flavor.
3. Avoid foods that glisten
Ever wonder why your veggies look so shiny when they're put in front of you?
Blais says they're probably prepared in a glaze of butter and sugar, two substances restaurants love to add to your food.
Solution?
Ask for them steamed.
Also ask for your steak to be prepared without spices, since most blends include sugar.
(If it's fresh, high-quality meat, it will still taste delicious.)
The pasta dish with red sauce?
It probably contains sugar, which restaurants often add to cut the bitterness of tomato sauce.
Make smart restaurant picks
4. Bypass the buffet
"Buffets are a breeding ground for bacteria," says Oz.
"Part of the danger is, food sits out at inconsistent temperatures."
Sometimes the bottom is burnt while the top is cold.
If you want to enjoy the buffet, Oz recommends going when it first opens, before the food has a chance to spoil.
5. Skip the special
The special might sound delicious, but according to Blais, it's usually not worth it.
"What you're getting is food the chef needs to get rid of," says Blais.
"The chef may have ordered too much of one particular food and now needs to move it, fast."
Be especially sure to avoid the special on a Sunday or Monday; restaurants rarely get food deliveries over the weekend, which means the "special" is even less fresh.
6. Slow down and enjoy
Overeating is par for the course when most people dine out.
One reason: "If a restaurant is playing loud music, you feel like you have more energy," says Blais.
"That makes you order more and eat faster."
Remember, it takes up to 20 minutes for your brain to realize you're full, so put down your fork and give it time.
Test your portion control IQ
Rachael Anderson is an Associate Editor/Web Producer at Sharecare.
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