For commercial kitchens, it is essential to keep a spotless and hygienic environment for food preparation. Cleanliness is even more important when cooking for large groups of people, as the risk of foodborne illnesses increases with the number of diners.
Keeping a clean kitchen while cooking can be challenging, but you can do it with the right tips and strategies. To help you master cleaning while cooking and maintain a hygienic environment, here are some of our top kitchen cleaning tips for deep cleaning while cooking.
Ensure All Your Ingredients are Prepped and Ready Before Cooking
Making sure that your ingredients are gathered before you begin cooking is essential for organising kitchen items and keeping track of everything you need for the recipe. Consider organisation techniques, such as a designated space for each ingredient or labelled containers to store prepped items. This practice will help keep your kitchen clean and organised to save you time in the long run.
Cleaning While Cooking
Kitchen cleanliness implies that, as you cook, none of the following is an issue:
- Accumulation of garbage outside of a garbage container
- No food waste accumulates in the kitchen
- No dirt, grease, or visible matter accumulating in the kitchen or on appliances during cooking.
If cleaning while cooking is a skill you haven’t mastered yet, it’s essential to start practising; cleaning while cooking is vital to hygiene in the kitchen and will save you from the overwhelming stress that often comes with a messy cooking area. By leaving a pile of dishes strewn around the kitchen, you’re setting yourself up for an exhausting cleanup process.
As you cook, wipe up any spills or messes right away. Make sure to use plenty of paper towels, dishcloths, and cleaning supplies as needed. When you keep your countertops and stove top clean as you cook, you help keep the kitchen hygienic. Additionally, as your food cooks or during breaks between cooking, wash and dry your dishes or place them in a dishwasher.
Sanitizing Kitchen Appliances
Sanitising your kitchen is essential for food safety. Use a food-safe sanitising kitchen solution, such as a diluted bleach solution, to sanitise surfaces and equipment. Make sure to sanitise the sink and faucet after each use, as well as cutting boards and other food preparation surfaces.
Sanitising and cleaning as you cook differ, and you should not clean appliances in favour of sanitising them. To sanitise your kitchen appliances, use one of the following techniques:
- Soak your items in hot water, ideally around 77° Celsius, for 30 seconds.
- Soak your items in a diluted bleach solution.
- Saturate your appliances with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Use commercial sanitising solutions.
- Have a sanitising dishwasher and clean dishes in the hottest setting.
Take Out the Trash Before Cooking
Whether you operate in your home’s kitchen or a commercial one, taking out the trash is essential for deep cleaning your kitchen. Commercial kitchens rapidly accumulate food waste and garbage, especially on days with more customers. The trash in your kitchen can emit a foul smell that turns customers off from your business.
Additionally, if you cook before taking out the trash, you risk not having enough space to fit in the food waste accumulated as you cook. This issue results in piles of garbage and waste that can contaminate your appliances.
Follow Personal Hygiene Recommendations
Personal hygiene plays a significant role in keeping a clean kitchen. Make sure to wash your hands before, during, and after handling food, and wear gloves if applicable. It’s also essential to keep hair tied back and out of the food and to avoid touching your face or any part of your body while cooking.
Additionally, ensure that you adhere to the following personal hygiene recommendations to guarantee a sanitary cooking environment.
- Dry your hands frequently as you cook using a clean towel, a paper towel, or an air dryer.
- Do not cough or sneeze over food, in food storage spaces, or in areas where food is being prepared.
- Wear clothes that are clean and protective.
- Cover your hair, especially if it is too short to tie back comfortably.
- Keep your fingernails short and avoid wearing nail polish when cooking, as it might chip and contaminate the food.
- Cover all cuts and wounds and have bandages available in the kitchen.
- Wear disposable gloves for wounds on your hands as you cook and change them frequently.
- Tell your supervisor if you feel sick and avoid handling the food.
Practise Efficient Cleaning
Efficient kitchen cleaning begins with a clean slate. Before you begin cooking, give your kitchen a deep clean and ensure everything is hygienic, prepared, and sanitised. A clean slate requires you to wipe down all surfaces, clean the sink and faucet, and sanitise any equipment or utensils you plan to use. Doing this will help you maintain a clean kitchen while you cook.
As you clean, identify any lulls in the process, such as when you are waiting for the food to finish cooking. Take advantage of this time to complete other cleaning tasks, including wiping down counters, washing or loading dishes, or sanitising surfaces you aren’t using anymore.
Enforce Kitchen Cleaning and Safety With Lotus Commercial
These are just a few of our top kitchen cleaning tips for deep cleaning while cooking. By following these tips, you can maintain a clean and hygienic kitchen while cooking meals for large groups of people.
While you may be able to handle cleaning your home’s kitchen as you cook, this process isn’t always as simple if you work in a commercial setting. Many commercial kitchens benefit from professional restaurant cleaning services to deeply clean their environment before they begin cooking, and Lotus Commercial is an ideal service to meet this need.
Lotus Commercial provides expert service to commercial facilities struggling with deep cleaning kitchen appliances. Lotus Commercial’s extensive deep cleaning services go beyond typical kitchen cleaning tips and encompass complete cleaning services to reach every nook and cranny of your commercial kitchen.
To set up an efficient kitchen cleaning appointment and sanitise your workplace, contact Lotus Commercial today.