How do waiters carry hot items?

Question

Do they just ignore the pain or do their nerve endings die?

Answer 1

You kind of develop tough hands or "restaurant hands". You get used to the feel of the hot plates in your hands and you learn how to move the pressure point of where you are actually holding the plate around while you are carrying it. Of course there are some plates that are just so hot that you grab a napkin or something to carry it with.

After a few months of waiting tables, you get sick of grabbing a napkin and wasting time, so you just start grabbing the plates and toughing it out.

For all of you customers out there that like to grab the plates out of the waiters hands or off their trays . . . Don't! Unless they ask you, you shouldn't. The plates could be hot, or it could adversely effect the balancing act that some waiters have going on. Back when I waited tables I used to like to impress my guests with how many glasses or plates I could carry at a time. Imagine 7 platters of ribs being carried by one waiter, and someone deciding to try to take one out of the hand you are not serving with. Luckily I always stopped the people before they pulled it, but it can get really messy.

Answer 2

Ok, first off, You clearly do not care about the hard working servers out there. I too have worked as a cook and server. Also bartender, host, dishwasher, etc. I am sorry but being a sever is hard work, mentally and physically. Let me elaborate here, first a sever income is NOT guaranteed income like a hourly employee. If a guest is having a bad day or just does not care, you get stiffed, and insulted. Second you must lift 40 to 60lb trays about a hundred times a shift, with one arm, in a crowed, loud, and busy room. Third you have to put up with the good, bad, and ugly of Society. Fourth and finally most serving positions do not have breaks, benefits, or job security in the least. Now I know what you are going to say, if you do not like serving then quit. Well in this state of employment in the country sometimes serving is all you got, and all that is hiring. Do I agree that servers should at least make minimum wage, of course. But they do deserve tips for being your slave for an hour. If you work in sales do you get a incentive commission when you do good sales, yes! Also understand that the pay system in food service is flawed, but until law makes restaurants pay their serving staff an hourly rate, don't complain. Well if you feel so important that you do not feel the need to tip, then go to a fast food joint, or go to the supermarket, get a can of soup, and cook your own meals. P.S. Tell a working server, while looking them in the eyes, that they do nothing and I should not pay for there services to me. You might like the reaction.

Answer 3

Usually we use pot holders, and after awhile you just become immune to the hotness :-). Even if I think a plate is warm at best, I always warn the customer that the plate may be hot, because they're probably not used to the temperature.

Answer 4

After cooking and touching so many hot plates you develop kitchen hands...and it's not as hot. But still, if a server comes with hot food, make sure you make room (move your cup, purse...etc) from out of in front of you so they can set it down.....and don't reach for it. I say "please be careful the plate is hot, let me set it down" and it's like a signal for them to reach to touch the plate. I take bets on who is going to grab for a hot plate after I warn a guest about it. Oh well....we warned you don't touch it..and you did the opposite.

Answer 5

Kooley

Answer 6

The trays they carry their stuff on should be able to absorb the heat. That's what I think.

Answer 7

On a tray, and use a towel or mit to handle the plate.

Answer 8

Very carefully. They use a bar cloth or linen napkin.

Answer 9

they usually have a tray they put hot things on..

Answer 10

The restaurant business desensitizes us in more ways than one. If you work in the business you know what I mean! LOL!!