It might not be that hot right now. In fact, at the moment of writing this it’s grey and drizzling. But temperatures are going back up, and you’re going to want to be prepared.

The grills are burning, the ovens are roasting, the pans are steaming, the fryers are bubbling, even the coffee machine makes the air feel scorching. Whilst your customers are enjoying the air con and sipping rosé, you’re in the back MELTING. So what do you do?

The following tips were inspired by a fantastic post by brilliant baker Megan Charnock of Mini Miss Bread, in which so many of you in the restaurant community contributed with your own tried-and-tested heat-busting tricks. You can read the full post here.

1. Keep damp tea towels in the freezer

Keep a huge pile of them in there so that you have a constant supply to tuck in to the back of your neck – one of the most effective places for cooling you down.

Other people also advise keeping baby wipes in the fridge for regular face-mopping, and an amazing tip – lots of spare socks in the freezer (dry of course, and well-separated from the food…!!), for super refreshing changes throughout the day.

2. Use ice packs

You know those bubble packs which insulate chilled produce? They usually drive us nuts as they’re so wasteful. But if you do get sent some by a supplier, save them in the freezer to tuck into your pockets or under your jacket…!

3. Ice in front of the fan

This works amazingly for smaller areas (ie if you’re standing quite near): position a bowl or tray of ice in front of the fan and, as the ice melts, the air blowing over it will create a cooling mist. That can help circulate cooler air and make the environment more comfortable.

4. Change your menu (and your recipes)

Anything you can do to keep the ovens OFF is a good thing – and your customers will probably prefer a lighter menu with more of a cold focus, too.

Added to this – some dishes just simply won’t work in a hot environment, particularly baked goods. Mini Miss Bread’s original thread has some amazing tricks for adjusting breads and keeping your prep cool.

5. Stay hydrated – smart

Drinking plenty of water is essential of course, but don’t forget to replenish those electrolytes lost through sweating. Every so often supplement your water with lectrolyte-rich drinks such coconut water, sports drinks, or homemade fruit-infused water.

If you can, keep your water room-temperature – some say that cold water shocks the digestion and can make it hard to maintain your energy levels.

6. Get prepped early

If you can, change up your shifts so that you start work when it’s nice and cool! You will get ahead when it’s cooler for both you and the ingredients (especially key if you’re working in pastry), and it means you won’t have as much to rush through in the hotter hours.

7. Dress appropriately

This seems like a real no-brainer, but oddly a lot of chef and front of house uniforms are made from really heavy fabrics which can be a real problem. Keep it loose, keep it cotton – it might mean persuading your employer to make an exception for a few days of heat, but it’s their responsibility to keep you safe (just make sure the cool alternative is kitchen/work appropriate, obviously).

8. Cover up the windows

Direct sunlight through a window can act light a heat lamp. We remember one baker saying that they covered every window up with tin foil, for the whole of August!

Remember also that keeping windows closed during the hottest part of the day can help too – open at night to let the cool air in, then closed to keep it in as long as possible.

9. Get air conditioning (if you can…!)

This is a tough one, with utility bills soaring. But temperatures are soaring too, so it might be time to bite the bullet – especially if you’re making products which suffer in the heat. Loss of products (and loss of staff retention!) costs money too.

10. Take regular breaks

The last one is probably the most important. Make sure that everyone in your team takes a moment to step away from the heat, raise their ankles to prevent swelling, get properly hydrated… and maybe put on their frozen socks!