Dr Oz Restaurant Secrets: Buffet Bacteria, Extra Sugar & Rotten Meat

Dr Oz: Secrets Restaurants Don’t Want You To Know

When was the last time you had a meal at a restaurant? After reading this, you may not be in a hurry to go back, because the Dr Oz restaurant secrets episode is taking us behind the scenes to see what really happens in restaurant kitchens. It’s Dr Oz’s Secrets Restaurant Don’t Want You To Know, like how to avoid getting rotten meat and buffet bacteria.

What do you think are the restaurant industry’s dirty little secrets? Dr Oz said to skip ordering fish on Sunday or Monday. That’s because it’s the end of the week and restaurants want to get rid of it before fresh stuff comes in.

Dr Oz Restaurant Secrets: Kids Meals Sugar & Decaf Coffee

Kids Meals are loaded with sugar to make them more palatable to kids. After 8 p.m., you might be getting decaf coffee, no matter what type you order. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

But Dr Oz got Top Chef star Richard Blais to help him expose the truth. He admits that restaurants at every level will cut corners to survive. “The profit margins are very slim,” he said, and making ends meet can lead to hard decisions about the food.

Dr Oz: Restaurants Serve Rotten Meat?

Chef Richard Blais said he’s never seen rotten meat served, but he has heard and seen that restaurant chefs will use meat that is not very fresh, especially if you are ordering it well done. (I agree with Dr Oz: it tastes better the less you cook it).

Dr Oz Restaurant Secrets: Don’t Order Specials

Have you been ordering the special at your favorite place? Chef Blais said that in a quality restaurant, that is a great way to get in on an exclusive treat. However, many places take advantage of specials to get rid of food they want out of the kitchen. He compared it to a clearance rack.

Watch out for stews and soups that are specials. They could be hiding some less than fresh ingredients inside. Richard Blais said to watch for cues from your server and use what you know about the restaurant to make an informed decision.

Dr Oz: Extra Sugar in Restaurant Meals

Have you ever felt like your entree was a little too sweet? I haven’t, but I’ll be paying attention in the future. That’s because extra sugar is often added to American meals because it goes over well with diners.

Richard Blais said coating food with sugar or adding it to a sauce produces a glossy, shiny appearance. That makes a more enticing visual, which is why food stylists and photographers use it.

Dr Oz Restaurant Secrets: Sugar Steak Flavoring

Dr Oz and Richard Blais put some meals side by side to show you how sugar makes food shine. But watch out if things look too saucy, because they could have hidden sugar inside.

Chef Blais said chatting with your server is the best way to get information. Ask whether sugar is used to flavor a steak. It’s possible that a chef could be making things look great without cheating, but the server can give you answers.

Dr Oz: Buffet Restaurant Bacteria

Could there be bacteria lurking in your favorite restaurant’s buffet? Of course there could. In this case, I feel like you know what you’re getting into, because you see everyone else reaching for the same food and spreading germs all over the place.

Top Chef Richard Blais said that buffet food can be good quality. But time temperature control is key, because food sitting out too long can make great conditions for bacteria. Watch out for dried food or nearly empty pans.

Make sure that food is the correct color. If vegetables aren’t green, they’re overcooked and they are losing their nutrients anyway.

Dr Oz: Dirty Restaurant Serving Trays

Just assume the serving tray at a fast food restaurant is filthy. It’s safe to assume they are maybe cleaned as often as twice a day. But when you have dozens of people using them each day, that’s nowhere near enough.

Dr Oz said to watch out for workers using one cloth to clean tables, trays and counters. Does it ever get washed? He used a special device to measure bacteria on the trays. A score of below 80 would indicate cleanliness.

Dr Oz: Fast Food Germs

His team swabbed restaurant trays throughout the New York region and tested them to see how dirty they might be. Some of them came back with readings over 1000, which is disturbingly dirty.

If you’re eating food off the tray, that should be alarming. Chef Blais suggested sanitizing your own tray using portable sanitizer wipes. You could also order food to go, even if you are eating in the restaurant.