Three sink method: The final sanitizing rinse should be at least ______.

Three sink method: The final sanitizing rinse should be at least ______.

• A. 170 degrees F (77 C)
• B. 165 degrees F (74 C)
• C. 180 degrees F (82 C)
• D. 150 degrees F (66 C)

Answer: (C)

The final sanitizing rinse in a three-sink setup must be hot enough to effectively kill bacteria on the dishes. At 180°F (82°C) the heat is high enough to rapidly reduce the microbial load during the rinse, giving surfaces a sanitizing effect before drying. Temperatures like 170°F or 165°F don’t reliably sanitize in a manual system, and 150°F is far too low for sanitization. If a chemical sanitizer is used instead of hot water, follow the sanitizer’s required concentration and contact time rather than temperature.

The final sanitizing rinse in a three-sink setup must be hot enough to effectively kill bacteria on the dishes. At 180°F (82°C) the heat is high enough to rapidly reduce the microbial load during the rinse, giving surfaces a sanitizing effect before drying. Temperatures like 170°F or 165°F don’t reliably sanitize in a manual system, and 150°F is far too low for sanitization. If a chemical sanitizer is used instead of hot water, follow the sanitizer’s required concentration and contact time rather than temperature.