When sanitizing, what should be done after rinsing the dishes?

The process of sanitizing dishes is critical in food safety to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. After washing and rinsing dishes, the next essential step is to sanitize them, which involves using a chemical or heat method to reduce the number of pathogens to safe levels. This step ensures that any bacteria or viruses that may remain after washing are effectively killed.

Sanitizing after rinsing is crucial because the rinsing step is designed to remove any detergent and food residue, making the surfaces ready for effective sanitation. If you skip this step or do not sanitize, any lingering pathogens may remain on the dish, potentially contaminating future food that comes into contact with them.

While air drying might seem helpful, it's essential to follow up with sanitization to ensure thorough safety. Similarly, drying dishes immediately or putting them away while still wet could lead to the growth of bacteria due to moisture. Therefore, effective sanitization is the correct and necessary step to ensure the dishes are safe for use after washing and rinsing.