When using an automatic dishwasher that lacks a chemical sanitizing cycle, it is crucial to ensure that the dishes are properly sanitized through heat. This involves reaching a certain minimum temperature during the final rinse.
To determine the correct temperature:
1. Understand the Importance of Temperature in Sanitization:
- Heat is a very effective method for killing bacteria and other pathogens on dishes.
- The final rinse temperature needs to be high enough to ensure effective sanitization.
2. Reference Safety Guidelines:
- Reputable sources, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provide guidelines for appropriate temperatures. For commercial dishwashers, the FDA recommends a final rinse temperature of at least 180°F (82°C) to ensure proper sanitization.
3. Consider the Options Given:
- 65°F: This is too low and would not effectively sanitize the dishes.
- 120°F: This is higher but still insufficient for ensuring bacteria are killed.
- 180°F: This meets the FDA's guidelines for proper sanitization.
- 220°F: Although this would certainly sanitize dishes, it is unnecessarily high and could pose a risk of damaging the dishwasher or dishes.
Thus, based on these considerations:
The final rinse should be at least 180°F to ensure proper sanitization.
