As today’s diners become increasingly health-conscious, commercial steamers are becoming more and more popular in restaurant kitchens — both because they’re perfect for offering up healthy items to customers and because they’re easy to use.
But are they also easy to clean? The answer is “yes” — as long as you have the right techniques in place, that is. Let’s take a closer look at why cleaning and maintaining your restaurant steamer matters, along with tips for getting the job done right.
Why Cleaning Your Restaurant Steamer Matters
From leftover food to residual chemicals, anything left behind in your industrial food steamer can be passed along to diners. Not only can contaminants impact the taste of your food, but it’s also a potential health hazard. A dirty or poorly maintained restaurant steamer is also unlikely to achieve optimal performance resulting in longer cook times and often times, premature replacement.
Commercial Steamer Cleaning Tips – How to Clean Your Food Steamer
Because anything that goes into the steamer has the chance of penetrating the food, impacting its taste, and possibly harming your patrons, it’s critical to avoid using harsh or toxic chemicals. A simple bath of soap and water offers a gentle yet effective method for cleaning your machine.
One of the most important aspects of cleaning your steamer is thoroughness. Using a cloth, rub down the inside of the machine, paying special care to clean out debris that may be left over from cooking. Also, don’t overlook touch points such as the door, latch and control knob that see endless contact from kitchen employees.
Because steamers use water, you are also likely dealing with lime build-up. This requires special attention. However, more efficient models – such as the Vulcan LWE steamers – use up to 90 percent less water than traditional models, often requiring less filter maintenance and deliming.
The key point when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your commercial steamer is to clean and de-lime on a regular basis. Filters too must be changed regularly. Once scale deposits get a hold of the steamer, is may be too late to restore your steamer to its original level of performance. Routine checks for loose covers, cracked seals and faulty controls will support the regular maintenance and upkeep of your steamer.
Cleaning and maintaining your commercial steamer is not just ensuring that it’s ready to use for your next service. It also protects your investment. With proper care, your steamer will continue to provide healthy, tasty and safe food for your customers for years to come.
Is Your steamer beyond the point where cleaning will make a difference? Consider reading our guide on “When Is it Time to Replace Your Commercial Kitchen Equipment” to learn if your steamer might need replacement.