What should be done after sanitizing food contact surfaces?

After sanitizing food contact surfaces, allowing them to air-dry is essential. This step is critical because air-drying helps ensure that the sanitizing solution can effectively kill any remaining pathogens without being diluted or wiped away, which could happen if a towel is used. Air-drying also prevents the introduction of new contaminants that could occur from the use of cloths or towels, which may not be completely clean.

Using a dry towel or covering surfaces with plastic wrap after sanitizing can lead to potential risks of contamination. A towel could carry bacteria, while plastic wrap does not allow for proper drying and could trap moisture that encourages microbial growth. Rinsing with cold water after sanitizing might negate the effectiveness of the sanitizer, as it can wash away the solution before it has had enough time to act on the pathogens. Therefore, allowing surfaces to air-dry is the most effective and safest method to follow post-sanitization.