Kitchen hygiene refers to the practices and procedures used to keep a kitchen clean and free from harmful bacteria. Good kitchen hygiene is essential to prevent food contamination, food poisoning, and the spread of infection. Here are some tips and rules for maintaining good kitchen hygiene:
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Wash hands: Wash hands before performing the next job function after touching other food, and after smoking, chewing tobacco, eating and drinking, taking out the garbage, changing diapers, touching body parts such as the mouth or going to the washroom.
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Thoroughly cook foods: Proper cooking of food is important to kill harmful bacteria.
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Correct food storage: Store foods appropriately both before and after cooking.
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Wipe down counter tops: Maintain the general cleanliness of the kitchen by wiping counters clean with soap and water and sanitize with a disinfectant.
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Dont cross-contaminate: Use different utensils and chopping boards for raw and cooked foods and for different types of food to avoid cross-contamination from harmful microorganisms.
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Keep raw food chilled: Chill food rapidly and keep raw food chilled.
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Wash fruit and veggies: Wash fruit and vegetables before eating or cooking.
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Clean kitchen equipment: Clean all surfaces, including counter tops, faucets, handles and knobs, refrigerator handles, stoves/ovens, other appliances, etc. .
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Change dishcloths regularly: Wash dishcloths every two days and replace them straight away with a clean one if you’ve used a cloth to wipe up after raw meat or vegetables.
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Maintain personal hygiene: Wear clean clothes, keep hair tied back, and remove rings before cooking.
By following these basic kitchen hygiene rules, you can help prevent common food hygiene issues and protect your family against food poisoning and illness.
