A food worker is learning how to clean and sanitize dishes in a three-compartment sink. What is the third step of the five-step process?

• A. Scrape the debris
• B. Rinse the dishes with clear, clean water
• C. Use hot water to wash
• D. Air dry the dishes

Answer: (B)

In this five-step process for cleaning and sanitizing dishes, the goal is to progressively remove soil and germs so the final sanitizing step can be effective. The third step is rinsing with clear, clean water. After scraping away big debris and washing with hot soapy water, rinsing removes soap and loosened soils, leaving the dishes free of residue before you apply sanitizer. If you skip this rinse, soap residues can interfere with sanitizer effectiveness and leave surfaces dirty or slippery. After rinsing, you sanitize, then let the dishes air dry to avoid picking up new contaminants. The other steps occur earlier or later: scraping is first, washing is second, and air drying is last.