Why is it that servers won’t eat certain things in the restaurants where they work?

We can generally tell if a restaurant is safe to eat by merely checking the bathrooms. But a little insight from servers working there can be just as eye-opening. Now, the people working in the kitchens are proud of their work and will ensure your food is safe and tasty.

And remember that just because some restaurants don’t have good hygiene standards, that doesn’t mean all restaurants are the same; there are no general rules. Each establishment is managed differently.

But when in doubt, memorize these 11 foods to avoid when visiting a new place because many servers won’t eat them. So if you suspect something isn’t quite right, play it safe.

… Enjoy your meal and stay away from what servers won’t eat!

Ice cubes can be bacteria farms

Most people don’t realize how rarely ice machines get cleaned inside and out. Many places will simply remove the nozzles, soak them in some bleach, and wipe down the outside of the machine. They probably even do it every day.

But it’s most likely been years since anyone thawed it out and deep-cleaned the inside. Servers won’t eat ice because they’ve seen ice machines with slime, black mold, and even cockroaches inside them.

You may not love room-temperature water, but wouldn’t you rather drink that than risk a nasty infection?

Slow-moving items in the buffet

Items in buffets are kept in acceptable conditions that prevent bacteria from developing. Still, slow-moving items, especially at the salad bar, can sit there for hours without ever being replaced, and that’s a huge issue.

Next time you’re in a restaurant, take a look around. How many people are adding Panela cheese to their buffet salad? Not that many? Then skip it because chances are, servers won’t eat them either!

Meat that’s been more than freezer-burned

It’s normal for us to buy our meat products frozen. It doesn’t sound too bad—except when they’re delivered. Occasionally, they’ll sit out for many hours in restaurants, slightly thawing before refreezing when they put them away.

Also, some items have been frozen for many months… maybe too long. So servers won’t eat certain frozen meats.

Garnishes get recycled

Most folks don’t eat the garnishes on their plate anyway. But YOU definitely shouldn’t. You have no idea how often chefs grab a leaf of kale off an incoming plate and plops it onto one going out to clients.

One server told us that they have a dish with a scoop of cottage cheese on the side. If it doesn’t seem touched, the chef will simply glide it onto the next plate or right back into the container at the end of the night. That’s why servers won’t eat garnishes anyway.

Unpopular items never get replaced

Certain things like fresh veggies and lettuce gets replaced on a daily basis. But the smaller or less popular items, like beets and beans, usually don’t get replaced more than once a week… if even that.

With some of the items, like pickles or olives, servers are told to dump the new stuff on top. So, the bottom layer could be a couple of months old. Disgusting, right? And, pun intended, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, folks!

“Hand-tossed” is, well… hand-tossed!

Even though some of the most popular items on most restaurant menus are salads, many servers won’t eat them.

For instance, one particular story we were told is especially unsettling: The woman who makes the salads for a restaurant has decided hand-tossed is best. But this server says she doesn’t wear gloves.

And she’s seen her scratch her scalp or lick her fingers and then proceed to make a salad. Gross!

You may not be the first person to receive that breadbasket

You guessed it folks! Servers won’t eat anything from the bread basket either! With low-carb diets being so popular nowadays, we understand that many bread baskets come back barely touched or only have a piece or so missing.

But be aware that occasionally, when they’re rushed, servers will just spruce it up a little and take it to the next table. So, if you really want the bread, order it differently from how it usually comes. In other words, if all the tables have it sliced, ask for a whole loaf.

Sauce hides a hive of vices

Why is it that servers won’t eat certain sauces? Well, while they may be delicious, they can hide a bunch of problems! At one restaurant, the prep chef forgot to turn on the oven once before popping in a huge tray of chicken Kyiv.

Apparently, no one noticed it was still cold when it came out of the oven. And due to the breading, it pretty much looks the same cooked AND raw. So they just spooned the sauce over it and sent it to the table.

The worst part is that a couple of customers actually ate some of the raw chicken before anyone figured it out. It only happened once, but do you really want to risk it when it comes to your health?

The loneliest clam chowder

We talked to someone who works for a chain restaurant that serves several soups. And guess what? Servers won’t eat some soups! The problem is that people rarely order them, especially the clam chowder.

Apparently, nobody likes clam chowder in her area. But corporate says they MUST keep it on the menu. So you know what that means… It sits in a warming machine all day long.

Now, it’s great that they keep it warm. But how good can it actually taste after being cooked for 12 hours straight?

Most mac-n-cheeses at restaurants comes from the same box you buy at stores

If you’re out with the kiddos and plan on buying them a children’s menu, here’s what you should know: The mac-n-cheese on many restaurants’ kid’s menu is Kraft, right out of that blue box you usually get at the supermarket.

That’s why servers won’t eat mac-n-cheese where they work. The funny thing is that everyone raves about how fantastic mac-n-cheese is in restaurants, and it’s one of the most popular items requested.

Now, we all love mac-n-cheese, but you can just make it at home for much less if you have a craving. Surely, at a restaurant, there are many other better options! And why not stock up at home? Amazon has agreat deal. Check it out here!

How about some French fries with a side of toxins?

Here’s the thing: Servers won’t eat French fries at the restaurants where they work. Why? Well, it turns out that they seldom change the frying oil, and they’re too grossed out to eat them. Generally, fresh frying oil is a light golden color.

Many restaurants will reuse the same oil until it turns a dark brown, pretty much like the oil you put in your car. You can even smell the rancidness when you walk into most restaurant kitchens.

What do you think about all the items servers won’t eat? Would you agree? And do you think we missed any items on our list? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below!

And if you liked this article, we also recommend reading: You Eat Them Daily… but Did You Know These 6 Innocent Foods Contain Plastic?