Stainless steel table is quickly becoming a trending item to be owned nowadays, not just in professional kitchens but also in homes. This is because many people are venturing into cooking and baking. The rise of people getting into bread making and pasta making is astronomical. With social media coupled with the desire to eat healthily, many are opting to do their own dishes from scratch. However, only a few people know how to clean stainless steel tables. Wiping things off is not enough and with food preparation, make sure that clean is clean.
What is a Stainless Steel Table?
Before knowing how to clean stainless steel table, understand what a stainless steel table is and why it is important to clean it thoroughly. It is not just that cold slab of steel that you can sprinkle some flour on and start kneading your dough. It is more than just the surface you use as a great backdrop to your white plate when you want to take noteworthy pictures of your food.
Stainless steel tables are great for meal preparation because they make it from an alloy that resists corrosion attacks and does not offer a good breeding ground for bacteria. The composition of stainless steel is compatible with food-grade material, and it is a non-porous material. Porous materials harbor foreign matters like bacteria and mold that can contact either the raw food ingredients or the prepared food items.
Also, stainless steel is very space-efficient so you can provide for an enormous space for all the preparations needed in the kitchen. This material also stays intact and does not crack or chip away. It can also maintain its form despite being subjected to high temperatures such as extreme heat or cold. Having this understanding will help you have an appreciation for the proper way of cleaning the stainless steel table.
Best Way to Clean Commercial Stainless Steel Tables
Stainless Steel tables are easy to clean. But since it is mostly used for a commercial kitchen, it is not enough that you wipe them up whenever there is a spill that occurs. Here are some tips on how to clean stainless steel table so you can maintain its professional-grade state and keep it for a long time:
- Using a microfiber washcloth or other soft materials like a sponge with some non-abrasive detergent is an effective solution on how to clean stainless steel table. This combination is enough to combat any spills or any stubborn stains or even to prepare the table for its use. Scrubbing with steel wool or rough sponge is not advisable.
- If the table is exposed to oil splatter, or some grease has come and caked on to the surface of the table, a little baking soda and elbow grease can do the trick. Just be patient with the splatter and do not rub it too much so you will not “scar” the steel. The tiny abrasive particles of the baking soda can scratch the smooth surface of the stainless steel.
- Going with the direction of the steel’s graining will also help keep the longevity of the stainless steel. Wiping the steel according to its finish direction will make cleaning easier and give it a more polished look, even using no polishing cream or solution.
- Rinse the table and dry it off immediately. This will lessen the possibility of appearing to be water stains.
Things NOT to Do When Cleaning Stainless Steel Tables
To keep the table in its tip-top condition it is important to avoid doing:
- As mentioned above, do not use rough materials that can scratch up the table’s surface. Once a stainless steel table gets scratched up, this will make the material vulnerable to corrosion and rust. Steel brushes can also damage the surface that will cause grooves onto the table and lose its smooth texture. If it damages the steel’s surface, it can become vulnerable to bacteria and mold, and it will be easier to stain and harder to clean.
- Do not use heavy bleach. This is because the active ingredient in bleach has the effect of making the stainless steel table look dull.
- Do not wait for spilled liquids to dry up or cake onto the table. If possible, wipe off spills right away to avoid it developing into a stain or making permanent marks.
Natural Aids for Cleaning Stainless Steel Tables
Since food will be what we handle on the stainless steel tables, cleaning solutions will allow you to opt out of using chemicals altogether. This will let you introduce milder solutions to your cleaning issues.
One great cleaning combination is by using vinegar and olive oil. The vinegar will loosen up any grimes or dirt on the table’s surface and the oil will act as a natural polisher. The acid in the vinegar will be effective in attacking the dirt, but it is gentle enough so as not to injure the metal of the table.
Another combination would be mild dishwashing soap in some warm water. As for the vinegar, the solution will lift any grease present on the table and thus make it easier to clean. You may need to soak it in for a little while, but you find that it will clean out the table, and there will be no lingering residue. After rinsing out the dishwashing soap, you can use some baby oil to polish and maintain that stainless gleam. Here’s how to learn more about pizza tools.
Conclusion
Having a clear understanding of how to clean stainless steel table can help prolong your kitchen prep area’s useful life and make your clean-ups easier and more efficient.