If you own a hospitality business or are managing a commercial kitchen, you need to make cleaning and disinfection a priority. This way, you’ll create an ideal working environment that will keep your customers away from accidents and injuries. Of course, you can ensure the health and safety of your customers at all times and provide them with the best possible experience in your establishment.
Keeping your premises spotless involves cleaning and disinfecting the area on a regular basis and doing a deep clean every few months. However, keep in mind that the cleaning process doesn’t just apply to floors, walls and furniture! You should also ensure that your cooking equipment and supplies are regularly sanitized and that they are always free of grease, germs, and other contaminants.
It’s important to note that the cleaning practices for commercial-grade equipment isn’t always the same as for standard household appliances. Know more about these practices by exploring this guide!
Removing Grease Stains from Your Equipment
Grease is a fact of life for commercial kitchens. Regardless of what kind of cuisine you specialize in and what type of dishes you cook, you’ll always find grease not just on your floors, countertops, and prep tables but also on your ovens, deep fryers, gas ranges, and cooking equipment.
The good news is that, while grease stains are ubiquitous in commercial kitchens, you can remove them from your equipment as long as you take the right steps. You can start by putting all oily trays and other supplies in soapy water overnight. The soap will cut through the grease and break it apart, ensuring that you can easily scrub them out in the morning.
Just make sure that you’re using the right type of soap! Certain soaps are formulated to fight grease and make kitchen cleaning much easier, so it’s important to look for these products and put them in your kitchen. You should also ensure that you’re using the right scrubbing materials as well as the right scrubbing techniques. This way, you can successfully clean your commercial equipment without scratching their surface and putting them at risk for rust and corrosion.
Keeping Commercial Ovens Clean
Ovens are often covered in grease, which is why cleaning them is often a pain. However, it’s important to power through the process since having clean ovens can help you comply with food safety laws and create a fully sanitized cooking environment. Keeping your ovens clean also makes the food preparation process simpler and helps you save time and effort.
Different ovens have different cleaning requirements, which is why you should check the owner’s handbook before you start cleaning. This way, you’ll know what you should and shouldn’t do when cleaning your oven, and you’ll avoid making mistakes that can damage your equipment.
It’s also important to use cleaning products that have been approved by the manufacturer and are gentle enough to remove stains and grease from your ovens without causing any damage. Remember to wear gloves before touching any cleaning product to protect your skin from harsh chemicals and avoid irritation.
At the end of each shift, take the time to remove the oven shelves and soak them in soapy water. You can also turn on the oven cleaner before you leave so it can do its job overnight and make scrubbing much easier for you in the morning.
Cleaning Cooktops and Gas Burners
Ovens aren’t the only equipment that have to be cleaned. You should also pay attention to the gas burners and cooktops in your kitchen! These appliances are often exposed to food spillage, so they can end up getting sticky and unsanitary. Carbon buildup and gas waste can also accumulate on this equipment, making them unsafe to use.
To clean your gas burner, you’ll want to gently pull the screws that attach the gas burner head so you can safely remove it. Use a needle to puncture through any obstructions in the burner head. Next, prepare a large bowl of diesel or kerosene and place the burner head in it. Make sure that it’s fully submerged and leave it there for a few hours. This is a great way to remove food stains from the burner head without having to do a lot of scrubbing. Make sure to completely dry the head before reattaching it to the stove.
Properly Maintaining Stainless Steel Equipment
Aside from cleaning your ovens, you should also pay attention to the other cooking equipment in your commercial kitchen. Most commercial equipment nowadays are made of stainless steel, so you have to know the right methods to use to clean and maintain this material.
The good news is that stainless steel is resistant to bacteria and other microorganisms and doesn’t provide them with a good environment to grow. Stainless steel is also easy to clean. You can simply make a mixture of water and gentle detergent powder and use this to remove grease, food stains and more from your stainless-steel equipment. It’s advisable to use a soft sponge or a microfibre cloth to ensure that you won’t scratch your stainless steel equipment and ruin their beautiful finish.
Once you’ve completed the cleaning process, remove all the soap from your stainless-steel equipment and make it dry. You’ll want to use a dry towel for each equipment to avoid cross-contamination.
Cleaning Equipment with Electrical Components
Some commercial kitchen equipment are powered by gas, while others use electricity to function. If you’re dealing with the latter, make sure to turn the equipment off and unplug it from the socket before starting the cleaning process. By doing so, you can focus on giving your equipment a good clean without having to worry about getting electrocuted or starting electrical fires in the kitchen.
Read the owner’s manual to know how to properly clean the equipment without damaging its electrical parts. Avoid touching the wires and control panels if your hands are wet and if you’re holding a damp cloth. Of course, be careful not to splash water on any of the electrical components during the cleaning process.
Get in Touch with Kitchen Equipment Experts
Use this guide to properly clean your commercial kitchen equipment and extend its life span! If you want to get more tips, or if you’re still in the process of buying new kitchen equipment, make sure to reach out to HE2020. We offer a wide range of commercial dishwashers, refrigeration equipment, combi ovens, and more and we can provide helpful information on proper equipment maintenance. Call our team now!