Commercial kitchens, unlike residential kitchens, are often busy because they start their operation early in the morning and wind up late in the night. The same routine continues for seven days a week. To run a successful catering business, you have to compete with your competitors in terms of quality and service speed. The best thing to help you achieve good quality food and quick service is the best kitchen equipment and upkeep of your kitchen equipment because they are continuously exposed to oil and grease.
Everyone loves delicious dishes, but kitchen equipment cleaning should also be loved because dishes are prepared using that equipment, and it has to be clean and hygienic. The cleaning of kitchen equipment is also essential, as ignorance may lead to fire hazards and health risks to workers and customers. Let’s see why kitchen equipment cleaning is important and how to do it.
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Why is Regular Cleaning of Kitchen Equipment Important?
Commercial kitchens have high-quality and costly equipment, such as refrigerators and ovens, operating day in and day out to ensure the longevity of the equipment and provide the best service. Regular cleaning and maintaining them will help you save huge cleaning costs incurred because of tough stains, malfunctioning or blockage. Lack of regular cleaning may lead to the following problems:
- Malfunctioning in the gas system could be life-threatening.
- Grease can accumulate due to a lack of regular cleaning of the ventilation system.
- Blocked drains can cause contamination.
- Hidden dirt and moisture can result in mould and bacteria growth, posing a health risk.
- Fungus in the kitchen ducts can cause allergies amongst the staff members and customers.
- Lack of professional cleaning will not remove hidden nests and larvae.
Safety Tips for Cleaning the Kitchen Equipment
- Follow the instructions given by the manufacturers.
- Wear all the safety gear such as gloves, face mask, covered shoes and proper clothing.
- While using chemicals for cleaning, read the safety instructions carefully.
- Make sure the staff involved in the cleaning process understand the cleaning. instructions.
- Clean the equipment gently to avoid scratches.
- You can use baking powder and vinegar for cleaning as they are cheaper than commercial products and environment friendly too.
How Can Regular Kitchen Equipment Cleaning Save You Long Hours of Cleaning
Get into the habit of cleaning the equipment daily by merely wiping the surface gently to avoid building up grease causing health hazards, understand the importance of regular cleaning to add life to the equipment, save on energy bills and improve the functionality, follow the monthly deep cleaning routine for spic and span kitchen equipment and use the right tools and technique to clean the equipment. All these will save high cleaning costs in the future and add life to the equipment.
Try disinfecting tools such as knives, fryers and meat slicers every day after using them, keep an eye on the kitchen equipment to fix issues that turn into major repair work if left unnoticed, and regular inspection of appliances run on electricity such as refrigerators and ice machines minimises the risk of workplace injuries and always read the manuals of the kitchen equipment to know more about the maintenance.
Cleaning Tools and Equipment
- Dustpan, brush and a mop bucket
- Microfiber cloth
- Sponge
- Cleaning gloves
- Multipurpose cleaner
- Grill stone, if you plan for grill cleaning
Method to Clean Different Kitchen Equipment
Way to Clean a Sink
A sink in the commercial kitchen is constantly used and the risk of germs accumulation is high due to exposure to kitchen waste. Sanitise the sink properly using disinfectant and cleaner, keep the grease and oil deposit under check and control to avoid clogging the sink, and keep the pipe and drain smell-free and clean.
Ways to Keep Dishwasher Clean
Make sure the dishwasher’s temperature reaches 82.2 degrees Celsius to provide proper sanitation. Pre-wash utensils and cutlery before keeping them in the dishwasher to remove the tough stains and to avoid clogging of filters, leading to low performance of the dishwasher. If you notice any stains on the utensils, it means your dishwasher requires cleaning.
Never use hard water for cleaning; instead, soften the water with softening salt; use a multipurpose cleaner to clean the dishwasher thoroughly using a scrub. The last part of the cleaning is to leave the dishwasher open for around 15 minutes after each load is finished to avoid humidity.
Ways to Clean Oven
When the oven starts to smoke, it means it’s time to clean them thoroughly. While cleaning an oven, always use a branded cleaning solution, follow all the instructions, wear gloves to protect your hands from chemicals, and adhere to all the safety precautions instructed by the manufacturer. A proper cleaning solution will ease the task of oven cleaning and speed up the process. A few other ways are as follows:
- Open the window to ensure adequate ventilation or switch on the extractor fan.
- Cover the floor underneath the oven to avoid the mess created by the cleaning solution falling on the floor.
- Clean the oven shelves separately. The best way to loosen the dirt is to soak the shelves in warm water and wash the liquid.
- Use a spoon to loosen the tough stains and residue to help the cleaning solution work more effectively. Then, start applying the cleaning solution on the corners using a paintbrush as an applicator to cover the substantial area.
- Leave the solution overnight for the best result. Then, clean all the dirt and grease using a scrubbing sponge, and finally, wipe the appliance using a microfiber cloth to remove any residue left behind. Now, it’s time to reassemble the oven shelves to enjoy baking and cooking in a fresh oven.
Ways to Clean the Fridge
- The first step is to empty the fridge completely. Then, check for any spillage. If you notice any debris, remove it using a non-abrasive sponge.
- Detach shelves or drawers, soak them in the sink full of warm, soapy water, rinse them and dry them.
- Spray a multipurpose cleaner on every part of the fridge, wipe the walls and door seals and then finally wipe the leftover solution with a non-abrasive sponge.
- Now, switch on the fridge.
- Clean the exterior part of the fridge with a damp cloth and disinfect the door handle.
Microwave Cleaning Method
Put a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave filled with two cups of water for around three minutes to loosen the stains, then spray a multipurpose spray inside and wipe with a clean and dry cloth.
How to Clean Grease From the Kitchen Floor
Begin the cleaning process by removing extra layers of grease from the floor using a paper towel. The next step is to apply a kitchen degreaser on the affected area and leave it for 10 minutes to break down the grease molecules so that they can be lifted easily from the floor surface. Finally, mop the floor with soapy water for a clean floor.
Clean the Touchpoints
Pay attention to the areas frequently touched, such as the latch areas, door handles and light switches, to prevent the risk of germs. These areas are often ignored, so clean them at regular intervals using a disinfectant and chemicals, following all the instructions.
Conclusion
Kitchen equipment cleaning is essential to avoid germs and bacteria accumulation on the equipment, increasing the health hazards for the workers and the customers. A regular cleaning can easily avoid the long-term tedious task of cleaning, saving time and money.
