Top 6 Kitchen Cleaning Checklists

What is a Kitchen Cleaning Checklist?

A kitchen cleaning checklist is a tool used to maintain a hygienic commercial kitchen facility. It can help staff keep track of required cleaning tasks and follow kitchen standard operating procedures. Following good kitchen housekeeping practices with the aid of a kitchen cleaning checklist is important for passing health inspections and preventing food contamination.

This article covers: 1) best practices for an effective commercial kitchen cleaning program; 2) downloadable kitchen cleaning checklists, and 3) technology to help you streamline your kitchen cleaning processes

Best Practices for an Effective Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Program

Restaurants, hotels, delis and grocery stores should be prepared for random food vendor inspections. Poor kitchen hygiene and practices can put your business at risk of fines, bad score ratings and even shut down. Here are 4 best practice tips you can follow to prepare your business for passing health inspections:

1. Consider the crucial areas of your kitchen

Ensure all areas in the kitchen receive proper attention, especially those that tend to get overlooked. Key areas you should check are the following:

• Kitchen Floors - Kitchen floors should be properly cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis before closing. Improper cleaning can result in trips and falls, foodborne illness caused by bacteria buildup, and attraction of vermins due to food build up.
• Exhaust hood systems - Improve ventilation and reduce risks of kitchen fire by routinely conducting a deep cleaning of the exhaust ducts, plenum, and roof exhaust fan.
• Ovens - Remove grease spills and debris using a washcloth, brush, or scraper to eliminate buildup. Daily cleaning of ovens can reduce the risk of oven fires.
• Kitchen equipment - This refers to all kitchen utensils such as pots, pans, knives, and other frequently used items. They should be cleaned after every use to avoid the transfer of bacteria.
• Walk-in refrigerators - Refrigerators store a variety of food products, so it is crucial that they are kept clean and bacteria-free. Thoroughly sweep and wipe the floors and wipe ceilings and walls regularly. Shelving units should also be cleaned and organized weekly.
• Dumpster pads - Dumpster areas should also be kept clean despite being located outside the kitchen facility. Improper trash disposal can attract vermins and can lead to an infestation. Routine cleaning and proper waste disposal can help maintain a safe environment for people who come in contact with your dumpster pads.

2. Enforce a kitchen cleaning schedule

Commercial kitchens can be a hotspot for germs and bacteria. Prevent bacteria build up and keep consumers safe by implementing a strict kitchen cleaning schedule. Develop a list of tasks and choose which should be done on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. A kitchen cleaning schedule can lower the likelihood of foodborne illnesses and reduce food waste.

3. Maintain personal hygiene

Many cases of food poisoning are caused by the lack of personal hygiene from food handlers or the kitchen staff. Personal hygiene in commercial kitchens entails wearing proper attire such as a clean uniform, aprons for different prep stations (e.g., seafood, vegetable, etc.), gloves, hairnets, and shoes (non-slip, fully covered). Aside from attire, simple actions such as washing hands, keeping fingernails short and neat, etc., should also be practiced as part of personal hygiene.

4. Use a checklist

Keep track of what needs to be accomplished using a detailed checklist. Kitchen cleaning involves numerous tasks that can be overwhelming and difficult to remember. A checklist will ensure that you cover all the bases.