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Sometimes, deciding between air-drying dishes and reaching for a dishtowel is simply a matter of the available space on the dish rack. And if you own a dishwasher, letting your dishes dry in the appliance may be the easiest option. Most of us probably let convenience guide our dish-drying habits, but there's one more factor to consider: the cleanliness of our chosen technique. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, there is a hierarchy of sanitary drying methods. That's right: Having clean dishes isn't just about washing them but also about drying them in a way that doesn't sabotage your cleaning efforts. Let the ranking below be your guide—start with the most sanitary drying technique possible, then work your way down the list. Using the Sanitizing Cycle on the Dishwasher (Most Sanitary)If you have a dishwasher with a "sanitize" option, this is hands-down the most effective method to make sure your plates, cups, and utensils are germ-free. The extended hot-water rinse kills bacteria, reaching at least 150 degrees F, which would be unbearable for hand-washing. When you select the "heated dry" option, the machine pumps in hot air, causing the moisture on the dishes to evaporate into steam. This is the most sanitary way to dry dishes, but some warn that because it works the appliance's air fan harder, it can put extra strain on the machine. If you want to extend the life of your dishwasher while still getting the cleanest dishes possible, consider using this method sparingly, such as when washing baby bottles or when someone in your house is sick. Drying in the DishwasherEven if you skip the sanitizing wash cycle, drying dishes inside the dishwasher is the next-best option. The drying cycle reaches high temperatures, helping to destroy germs and bacteria. Air-DryingDon't have a dishwasher? Wait, don't reach for that dishtowel just yet. It turns out that air-drying dishes on a dish rack is generally a more sanitary method than using a dishtowel. To make more space for air-drying, consider a two-tier dish rack or one that fits over your kitchen sink. Drying with a Paper TowelSince paper towels are single-use, they won't spread bacteria the same way a reusable cloth dishtowel might. The one big caveat: Using paper towels to dry all of your dishes would be a wasteful habit. Drying with a Dishtowel (Least Sanitary)Because most of us don't wash our dishtowels often enough, they may be spreading germs onto our freshly washed dishes. If you have to use a dishtowel for items that can't air-dry, try to wash the towels as often as possible, ideally using a clean towel every day and letting it dry between uses. To dry a cast-iron skillet, set the rinsed pan on the stovetop over low heat for a few minutes until it is dry. Aug. 17, 2001 -- The next time you put your clean dishes away, you may want to be extra careful they're dry. Why? Because dishes stored away while wet can become contaminated with bacteria, according to a study in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. "Any time you hold wet dishes you have the chance they'll get recontaminated, because a moist, warm environment provides good conditions for bacterial
growth," says Nancy Reed, RD, LD. "There are bacteria everywhere. If at all possible, do dry your dishes before you store them." Reed, who was not involved in the study, is clinical nutrition director for Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Md. In the study, researchers identified bacteria on 100 dishes used to serve food at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland, Ore., and then all of them were washed in a
commercial dishwasher. Half of them were air-dried for 24 hours, while half were stacked while wet. "No significant difference was found between air-dried and and wet-nested plates in the first 24 hours, but a significant difference was found after 48 hours," the authors write. A food code developed by the FDA specifies that all dishes should be air-dried before being stacked and stored. However, most of us can recall walking into a cafeteria and pulling a
wet plate from a stack of dishes. "That's happened to me so many times," says Nelda Mercer RD. "In a huge establishment, plates don't stay in the stack very long, because turnover is so great. This study found bacterial contamination when plates were stacked wet for more than 24 hours, and that suggests there might be a real problem in places like a church kitchen or community center if plates are stacked wet and then left to sit for a substantial time. Anytime you use volunteers to cook
or serve food, make sure they are trained in safe food-handling practices." Mercer is a nutrition specialist consultant for the Michigan Department of Community Health and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Drying dishes keeps bacteria from multiplying, and most food-borne infections are related to relatively large numbers of organisms," says David Sewell, PhD, co-author of the study. "I am not aware of any
well-documented cases where someone has actually contracted a food-borne illness from a contaminated plate. This is a relatively small pilot study, designed to point out that storing dishes while wet does create an environment in which bacteria are more likely to grow." Sewell is director of the microbiology section of the pathology and lab medicine service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and professor of pathology at Oregon Health Sciences University, both in Portland. People may be at higher risk at home than in a large institution, because commercial dishwashers use hotter water than home dishwashers, suggests Reed. "At home, it's always better to air dry your dishes than to use a dish towel, because a dish towel can harbor all sorts of bacteria. You wipe your hands with it, you use it to dry the counter, and then you use it to dry the dishes!" Mercer agrees. "Air-drying is best. Or, if you do want to hand-dry your dishes at home, use a
clean cloth, fresh from the drawer." How should dishes be dried after cleaning and sanitizing?Allow dishes to air dry. Don't dry with a cloth or towel; this can spread germs.
What's the most hygenic way to dry dishes?It turns out that air-drying dishes on a dish rack is generally a more sanitary method than using a dishtowel. To make more space for air-drying, consider a two-tier dish rack or one that fits over your kitchen sink.
How do you dry a dish?Ultimately, air drying is the best way to dry dishes, for hygiene and practicality. As a matter of fact, in Oregon, it is a law, that washed dishes must air dry. Once the dishes are washed, on a drying rack, you let nature and gravity take its course. This is usually done using a sink-side drying rack.
How long should dishes sit in sanitizer solution?"Allow dishes to sit in the solution for 30 seconds, then wash and rinse thoroughly as you normally would." Give your dishes even more time to soak before washing, if you'd like.
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How should dishes be dried after sanitizing?
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