A Guide to Choosing the Best Kitchen Degreaser For a Commercial Kitchen

A Guide to Choosing the Best Kitchen Degreaser For a Commercial Kitchen

Did you know that about 0.25mm of dirt on a heating exchange coil in the kitchen can increase your power consumption by 40%?

Imagine how much accumulated grease will drive up your electricity usage if you let it be. This will also drive up your operational costs, which will end up costing you more money.

This is why using a degreaser on your commercial kitchen is important. Not only will it make it easier to clean grease, but it will also save you money in many ways.

If you want to know what the best kitchen degreaser is, consider the following guide that will help you choose the right one for your kitchen.

1. Choosing the Best Kitchen Degreaser with Right Formula

Depending on the formula, some may be more effective than others for certain purposes. Aside from the effectiveness, though, degreasers have features you might want to consider.

For instance, there are residue-free formulations. Some degreasers can leave behind a residue that can attract dirt and contaminants.

This will then cause the surface to become more dirty with more frequency. Using residue-free formulas will ensure the surface stays clean for longer. It also means you'll use less degreaser, saving you effort and money.

Formulations with a high rate of evaporation are also pretty useful. They can keep the waste disposal costs down by having less waste degreaser in the waste trap.

If you're using it on the kitchen floor, you'll want one with high-traction properties, too. This will reduce slip-and-fall accidents and if it evaporates fast, it won't be wet for long.

Other than that, you should also choose the right formula for the surfaces you plan to use it on. If you plan to use it for cleaning utensils, for example, choose one that specifies it’s safe for use on such. Some won’t cause discolorations on the metallic surfaces of kitchen equipment.

2. Concentrated or Diluted Solution?

Degreasers come in two solutions: concentrated and diluted. Diluted ones are ready to use, while concentrated solutions need water added first.

Some prefer concentrated solutions because of its flexibility. You'll be able to adjust the potency of the solution by adding more or less water. They can save you money, too, as they cost less to ship.

For everyday use, you can dilute it with the recommended amount of water. If you’re dealing with more grease than usual, you can use less water to create a more concentrated solution.

Diluted solutions, on the other hand, don't need mixing before you can use them. They're already mixed at the optimal formula, which lessens the cleaning time.

3. Different Types of Degreasers

The different types of degreaser vary in pH level, chemical properties, and applications. A general purpose degreaser, for instance, has mild alkalinity while an oven degreaser has high alkalinity. A general purpose degreaser also contains detergent, solvent, and alkaline builders, while the latter has high-foaming surfactants and alkaline builders, too.

Knowing what type you need will help you with more effective cleaning. General purpose degreasers are good for everyday cleaning and for surfaces. If you need to clean the floor, though, choosing a floor degreaser with variable alkalinity and have low-foaming surfactants may be more appropriate for the task.

There are also “green” degreasers, that may use "green" water-based solvent. These are also surfactant-based and have neutral to mild alkalinity.

For hard surfaces, an RTU degreaser can do the job well. This degreaser type has surfactants and a water-soluble solvent.

4. Safety Issues to Consider

Degreasers consist of different types of chemicals that can be health hazards with improper use. There are, however, non-toxic types that may be safer for use in an everyday setting. Look at the labels to see which chemicals are in use, some will claim that they’re even safe for pets.

Oil-based degreasers are also flammable, which aren’t suitable for stovetops. Water-based solutions, on the other hand, are safer, in general.

No matter what you choose, though, make sure to wear clothing that covers most of your skin. Wear eye protection as the chemicals and fumes can get into your eyes, which can be harmful even if you're using a non-toxic formula. You should also wear gloves and a mask, and if possible, keep the ventilation open.

5. Consider the Environment

Degreasers make their way into the environment when you flush them down the drain. This means the chemicals in kitchen degreasers will then find their way into soils, where they can harm the flora and even the fauna.

Oil-based formulas, in particular, are harmful to the environment. They're necessary sometimes, though, so you should use them with proper care. You should also refer to the manufacturer's instructions on how to dispose of them.

There are varieties of degreasers with low hazardous air pollutants, too. You can check the labels to see if they're safe for the environment and if they're biodegradable.

If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, choosing concentrated solutions will help. You can buy refill pods for these, allowing you to use the same bottle over and over.

6. Complying with the Industry Regulations

Using kitchen chemicals, especially in commercial kitchens, poses a lot of risks. This is why there are industry regulations in place to protect the customers and staff.

In the food and beverage industry, they require degreasers to be NSF A1-certified. This certification signifies that the degreaser is safe for use in kitchens.

You should also note that there are other kinds of degreasers, like for engines and concrete. You have to make sure you choose a kitchen degreaser with the certification above. This will ensure that you’re complying with the industry regulations and you’re keeping your people and customers safe.

Keep Your Kitchen Clean and Safe

Keeping your kitchen clean reduces risks of slip-and-falls and health issues.

This is paramount if you have an open kitchen, where diners can look into what your kitchen staff is doing.

Comments

  1. comment authorLillian Knight Oct 2, 2019

    Hello Author! I am a regular reader of your blog. This is one of the best articles on this topic. I have learned several things about Kitchen degreaser after reading this blog. I want to buy a kitchen degreaser to clean the kitchen easily and my friend suggested me to buy a Kitchen degreaser from Formula 88. I found it interesting!

    comment authorGoFoodservice Invalid Date

    We appreciate the comment Lillian! We're very happy to hear youre a regular reader of our blog and for your compliments on this specific blog post. It's always great to know when we've helped out. Thanks again!

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