What involves the removal of food residue, dirt, and grease?

Cleaning involves the thorough removal of food residue, dirt, and grease from surfaces and utensils. This process is essential in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment in food service operations. Cleaning helps to eliminate visible contaminants and prepares surfaces for the next step in the food safety process, which is sanitizing.

In a food handling context, effective cleaning is vital because it ensures that pathogens do not have a surface to thrive on. While washing typically refers to the process of using water and cleaning agents to remove dirt, cleaning encompasses this action along with ensuring that all food residues and possibly harmful substances are completely removed.

Understanding the importance of cleaning helps emphasize the foundation for sanitation—without proper cleaning, sanitization cannot be effectively achieved.