Which items should be cleaned while working in the kitchen?

Which items should be cleaned while working in the kitchen?

• A. Hands, counters, tables, and dishes
• B. Refrigerator, oven, sink
• C. Only hands
• D. Only dishes

Answer: (A)

Keeping your kitchen clean during food prep is essential to prevent cross-contamination and keep food safe. The best practice is to clean and sanitize the things you touch and that come into contact with food: your hands, the counters or prep surfaces, the tables you’re working on, and the dishes you use. Cleaning hands prevents germs from moving to food and utensils, while wiping down counters and tables removes any raw-food drips or spills that could contaminate ingredients. Washing dishes as you finish using them keeps utensils and plates from piling up and spreading contamination to other foods. Focusing only on cleaning the refrigerator, oven, or sink isn’t the same as daily active-cleaning during food prep; these larger appliances need their own regular maintenance and aren’t part of the immediate “clean as you go” routine. And cleaning only hands or only dishes leaves other important touch points dirty, increasing the chance of cross-contamination.

Keeping your kitchen clean during food prep is essential to prevent cross-contamination and keep food safe. The best practice is to clean and sanitize the things you touch and that come into contact with food: your hands, the counters or prep surfaces, the tables you’re working on, and the dishes you use. Cleaning hands prevents germs from moving to food and utensils, while wiping down counters and tables removes any raw-food drips or spills that could contaminate ingredients. Washing dishes as you finish using them keeps utensils and plates from piling up and spreading contamination to other foods.

Focusing only on cleaning the refrigerator, oven, or sink isn’t the same as daily active-cleaning during food prep; these larger appliances need their own regular maintenance and aren’t part of the immediate “clean as you go” routine. And cleaning only hands or only dishes leaves other important touch points dirty, increasing the chance of cross-contamination.