A commercial kitchen is only as good as the health standards maintained within the confines of the kitchen round the clock. There are plenty of routines that can be followed by all parties involved in order to ensure that the kitchen is spick and span.
We discuss some of the most important commercial kitchen cleaning hacks in our complete guide to commercial kitchen cleaning below.
The Importance of Cleanliness in Restaurants
The restaurant industry is one that is constantly booming because people simply seem to not be able to get enough of their favorite quality cuisines. A recent study highlighted the fact that there are over a million restaurant locations in the U.S.A alone. This means that competition is always on the higher end within the restaurant industry, and one of the key ways of setting a business apart from the competition is cleanliness.
Customers are particularly cautious about cleanliness in the service industry and they will make sure to post their opinions online as well if they feel that the cleanliness standards of a restaurant isn’t up to code.
Additionally, it is important for a customer to feel relaxed and comfortable within a restaurant in order to enjoy their meal thoroughly. If the look and smell of a restaurant does not feel up to the mark, it can negatively affect the overall experience of the customer.
The cleanliness standards of a restaurant also tend to directly impact the amount of money an individual is willing to spend in an establishment. Thus it goes without saying that cleanliness is absolutely crucial for a commercial kitchen.
Cleaning Countertops and Hard Surfaces
Countertops and hard surfaces are some of the most notorious locations for the collection of bacteria within a commercial kitchen. This is the area where food preparation is conducted on a regular basis and thus it becomes important to clean it at least two times a day.
It is important to remove all the products on top of these surfaces before beginning cleaning. Using a soft cloth along with a disinfectant spray will do the trick nicely here. Just keep the spray 10-12 inches away from the countertops before you apply it to ensure even distribution across the wide area.
If there are dried foods or additional spills on the countertops, make sure to use a soft brush along with some warm and soapy water to remove the stains.
When cleaning tile surfaces, it’s always a good idea to utilize a special disinfectant that’s made specially for the tiles. These can help to effectively remove the bacteria from these surfaces and ensures that any grime is taken off the grout as well.
Cleaning Checklist for Commercial Kitchen Appliances and Equipment
If there are numerous pieces of equipment and appliances in a commercial kitchen, it pays to maintain these tools on a regular basis with prompt cleaning sessions. This includes various big and small appliances such as ovens, coffee makers, and toasters.
Conducting deep restaurant equipment cleaning every couple of weeks or every month is also vital to enable the equipment to survive the long haul. Commercial kitchen deep cleaning is certainly an undervalued task, but make sure to not miss it by any means.
- Ovens: Clean the rack, walls, and doors of your oven at least once a week.
- Fryers: Try to boil out the fryer at least once or twice a week.
- Grills: Try to remove grime and ash off the grill every day. Eliminating the grease from these parts can be difficult and may require the use of soapy, warm water. Also, ensure that you remove the drip trays and clean the area beneath the burner every week.
- Cooktops, flattops, and burners: Use a disinfectant and clean these portions every week.
- Refrigerator: Any cooling and refrigeration unit will need to have their condenser coil cleaned every few months. Use a tough bristle brush along with a vacuum cleaner to remove the grime and dust from the coil. Also aim to clean the drain pans and tubs every month to ensure that there is no buildup of sludge.
Cleaning Kitchen Exhaust Hoods and Vents
The vents and hoods in the kitchen are vital in ensuring the free passage of air between the interiors and exteriors of your establishments. Cleaning the grime and grease from the vents by washing them out every couple of months is a great idea for your kitchen. This is especially true if you’re using a deep fryer in your kitchen on a regular basis.
If there are filters in your kitchen, you should clean these out with the same regularity as your hoods and vents. If there are any external damages on the filters such as tears and rips, it is a good idea to replace them immediately.
Cleaning Kitchen Floors, Walls and Ceiling
The food being prepared in a kitchen tends to move around freely within your kitchen and can stick to your floors, walls, and ceiling. This is why it is recommended that you clean your floor on a daily basis, whereas your walls and ceiling need to be cleaned on a bi-weekly basis at least.
Floors can be cleaned by either sweeping or vacuuming at the end of the day. This can be topped up with a mop up using a cleaning solution and warm water.
The walls and the ceiling will also need a similar cleaning on a bi-weekly basis to ensure that the airborne food and steam particles do not leave stains and traces on these surfaces. Using a degreaser and a cleaning solution along with a soft bristle brush or a wash cloth should do the trick.
Cleaning Kitchen Sinks
A kitchen sink will always acquire a lot of germs and bacteria because this is where the dishes are cleaned on a regular basis. Thus it is important to use a disinfectant spray at the end of the day to clean out the kitchen sink.
At the end of the week, it is also recommended that you include the descaling of the sink and faucet in your kitchen cleaning checklist in order to reduce the chances of lime and scale buildup.
Cleaning Kitchen Storage Areas
The storage areas will also need a thorough cleaning every six months by removing all the items from the shelves and racks and using a vacuum cleaner or microfiber cloth to eliminate dust.
Food Service Cleanliness and Godliness
A commercial kitchen or any food service company is one location where cleanliness is of paramount importance. By following our detailed guide on restaurant and commercial kitchen cleaning, you should be able to ensure the sanctity of this space without any stress whatsoever.
