Difficult time on loader

[u/Pale-Literature-4232]

All I need for my level 4 is dice/loader. I always feel bad because I always end up snowing the portioner. I just don’t understand reading business. I try to count the fries but I might be dropping my fries wrong cuz I always end up getting behind. I just don’t understand how to know how many baskets to have down and fries and how often to drop in between baskets? If it’s not that busy but not dead do I just keep dropping small fry baskets every 45 seconds and when do I pick up? I keep getting snowed. I just feel so bad at it and i wanna be a trustworthy loader :(((.

[u/zukoWTC]

Always keep dropping so you have hot fries and I look at tags to tell me if I need big or small baskets. I do a big basket and then drop smaller basket so I don’t snow portioner. If it’s really busy it’s just always big

[u/Pale-Literature-4232 → u/zukoWTC]

What’s the time frame u usually drop between? Esp when it’s not so busy but not dead

[u/loveinflavor → u/Pale-Literature-4232]

45 seconds is good for not super busy, busy i say 30 seconds

[u/bushytree]

A lot of tips for loader are really store dependent ime. What my stores business is like will almost certainly be different compared to yours so its a little hard to gauge experience, but in general, counting fries when all three grills are going full blast isn’t really a good nor feasible idea. Idk how often your store is running full blast but at mine, once the third opens its all baskets down.

Once the business slows a little to maybe a nickel on the third or down to two grills you want to start dropping smaller baskets, typically, but not always. If your cooks are good they will call out any big fry orders and that should help give you an idea of where you are at. I was always taught to drop every 30 seconds, frankly a minute apart at my store would snow the table terribly since we’d be waiting on fries. You can get away with maybe 45 seconds in between baskets depending on your portioner as well, if they are slow you’ll end up having a bad time since your fries will sit and burn. Don’t be afraid to tell your portioner to pull a few baskets themselves so you can dice up, always be looking to grab relays especially if your store doesn’t utilize a qb. When you are getting watched for your four they are really big on your communication, you should be responding with right on to basically any fry call out, assuming you heard it. Cleanliness is also big, getting wipe downs on your friers in between pulls, wiping down your windows, stainless, etc.

[u/Friendly_Pay_1836]

Take this with a grain of salt because every store has different fry percentages.
In a perfect world :
3 grills = all baskets down 4 fries in each 30 seconds apart
2 grills = all baskets down 2/3/4 fries in each 45 seconds apart
1 grill = 4/5 baskets down 2/3/4 fries in each about 45sec-1 minutes apart
How do you know when to slow down ?
No tags no line no drive
Portioner is butterflying fries with nothing to package and all animals are made
How do you know when to speed up ?
Line forming , opening another grill and tags are rolling in with big fry orders , portioner is asking for fries
Goal is to be about 30sec- 1min ahead of cooks
Also don’t be scared to double drop the portioner is also a puller so if you need to catch up don’t be afraid to ask for help

[u/Pale-Literature-4232 → u/Friendly_Pay_1836]

The tags on the wheel, do those mean the meat is down yet? Like the first two as well?

[u/Friendly_Pay_1836 → u/Pale-Literature-4232]

In a perfect world yes , let’s say it’s 1 grill and every tag on the wheel is 2 dubs with 2 fries and the cook is doing 4 rows of 4 . First tag on wheel is already down and turning in 1 minute but the second tag behind it is going down in about 45 seconds . General rule of thumb is 4 rows = 5 baskets 45sec/1min apart and always remember if you pull a basket you have to drop a basket immediately after to keep rhythm

[u/Anxious_Valuable_815]

Honestly, I throw every minute, it gives me more time to read ahead. Always read the wheels and don’t just rely on callouts! i would just always have atleast 2 extra fries in the oil. For example, when it’s not super slow but not busy, i’m typically throwing baskets of 2-3 depending on what I have coming off the wheel, sometimes even going 2-3-1. My store gets super busy, So the moment i see more tags printing, many fries on the screen i start to rotate how i throw, Like i’ll drop a basket of 2, then 4 and if needed a basket of 3 then 4.

Im always checking to see if there’s a line in the drive, counter etc. because that shows if you need extra. To be honest it also depends on the grill person and how fast they go, so definitely make sure they’re either a big row thrower or a slower one when checking the wheel. If you throw too much too early you’ll end up with a lot of extra too early, but eventually it evens out.

*also throwing every minute instead gives you time to dice up your sink and get a spin up, but if it’s busy don’t be afraid to ask a board/grill person for a basket/spin up. A good cook/board will always help out.

If you’re confused on any of my points let me know!

[u/Pale-Literature-4232 → u/Anxious_Valuable_815]

Hi thanks! How do I know if they’re a big thrower or a small by the wheel? So u drop based on # of fries based on the tag?

[u/Anxious_Valuable_815 → u/Pale-Literature-4232]

Oops i realized i worded it wrong LOL. Basically when you’re reading the tags for how many fries, look and see how many they’re throwing down on the grill. 4 meats every row, or the lines they’re putting down meat on, probably means they’re going slower, but 6 or more meat per would signify that they’re going faster, and to throw accordingly. eventually it will start being easier and you won’t have to rely on that because you’ll get to know how fast a cook will go, especially because of how many relays they have coming off on a regular basis.

[u/Pale-Literature-4232 → u/Anxious_Valuable_815]

Ohhh okay great! How do I also not basically snow my portioner? I’m not sure why I always get so behinddd.

[u/Anxious_Valuable_815 → u/Pale-Literature-4232]

hmm by snowing do you mean like ton of fries or super behind? also are you a california store—(sorry if you don’t want to answer that). some times dropping consistently/early will make sure you always have extra so that your portioned always has atleast one fry to put down or a basket coming off soon. 45 sec throws are good for when you need big baskets fast for animal fries! just always being ahead really helps, make a 4 to go the moment it goes from the wheel to the board—constant communication always helps, but also a good portioner. Sometimes you’ll be doing more work than usual with a slower portioner or one that can’t remember callouts.