While there are many techniques and strategies to reduce the amount waste collected in your grease trap, one strategy that can be commonly overlooked is properly cleaning utensils. Utensils need to be properly cleaned because placing your greasy frying basket in a sink and draining all the FOGS (Fats, Oils, Grease, Solids) down the drain is not only wasteful, but sure to make your grease trap reach that one-fourth level much faster. So how should you clean your utensils? Here is a step-by-step process for cleaning to ensure you are getting the most out of your grease trap.
Step 1: Scrape Solids into the Trash
With whatever it is you’re cleaning, it is important that you scrape all the loose food particles and solids into the trash prior to putting it in the sink. This will save any extra solids from having to be stored, which can prolong the longevity of your grease trap. Doing this simple step can reduce waste because any extra solids or oils left on utensils will find its way to the disposal, filling the grease trap with more waste. To reduce the amount of solids found on utensils, your restaurant may want to consider tracking the food waste from dishes and utensils to see if reducing portion sizes may help keep any additional waste from filling the grease trap.
Step 2: Clean with Degreaser and Hot Sanitized Water
Degreaser is a surefire way to get all the FOGS off your utensils through the powerful chemical solvent. Make sure you’re wearing rubber or latex gloves when cleaning. Finally, after all the grease and solids are properly removed, use sanitized hot water to wipe down and scrub the utensil. Hot sanitizer will ensure any bacteria left on the utensil is removed making it ready for its next use. Using degreasers helps reduce waste because the alkaline in the chemical breaks down any fats, oils, and proteins left on the utensils which will reduce the amount of FOGS found in the waste water.
Step 3: Properly Store and Maintain Your Utensils
Make sure your utensils are stored in a place where they won’t be splashed with grease or any chemicals. By keeping your utensils clean and maintained after use, your restaurant can save money and also keep unwanted waste from entering your drains.
Step 4: Switch to Paper and Plastic
Another solution is to switch to disposable materials such as paper and plastic for your restaurant’s utensils and containers. This limits the amount of FOGS going down the drain from cleaning greasy utensils and can save your restaurant a significant amount of waste that would normally go down the drain.
If you have any questions about properly cleaning your utensils or strategies to keep your grease trap maintained and clean, please contact Food Grease Trappers. At Food Grease Trappers, we strive to help restaurants stay clean of grease by providing the most professional grease trap services available. It has been our pleasure for two decades to serve and maintain restaurants’ grease traps, while keeping the environment clean. We would be more than happy to offer a free consultation for your restaurant.
