The kitchen is the heart of all restaurants, where delicious and healthy meals are prepared. However, a dirty kitchen can quickly become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and odours.
One often overlooked area is the kitchen extract fan and ducting. Grease, grime, and food particles accumulate, creating an unsanitary environment. Regularly cleaning kitchen extracts is crucial for maintaining a hygienic cooking space.
This article showcases the important role of cleaning kitchen extracts regularly.
Risks of Neglecting the Cleaning Of Kitchen Extracts
Neglecting the cleaning of kitchen extracts can have a lot of bad consequences, compromising the hygiene, safety, and overall functionality of your kitchen. To maintain a clean and healthy cooking environment, it is essential to establish a regular cleaning routine for your extract system, ensuring the best performance and peace of mind.
Reduce Airflow
Kitchen extracts play a crucial role in ventilating your kitchen by removing hot air, smoke, and odours from the cooking area.
When these extracts become clogged with grease, dirt, and food particles, their efficiency is severely compromised. Reduced airflow can lead to a buildup of heat, moisture, and pollutants, creating an uncomfortable and potentially hazardous environment for cooking.
Increase Fire Risk
Grease and oil buildup in the extract ducts and fans is a major fire hazard. These flammable materials can easily ignite if exposed to high temperatures or sparks from cooking appliances. Regular cleaning of the extracts helps to mitigate this risk, ensuring the safe operation of your kitchen.
Foul Odours
As food particles and grease accumulate in the extracts, they can start to decompose, producing unpleasant and persistent odours. These foul smells can permeate throughout the kitchen and even spread to other areas of the establishment, creating an unappetising environment for both cooking and dining.
Health, safety and environmental issues
Commercial kitchens in the UK are subject to strict health, safety and environmental regulations, including the regular cleaning of kitchen extracts. Neglecting this crucial task can lead to pentalties and potential fines or even closure of the establishment.
Affect the Quality of Food
Dirty kitchen extracts can contribute to the contamination of food. Airborne particles from the extracts can settle on food preparation surfaces, utensils, and ingredients, compromising the taste and safety of the meals you serve. Proper cleaning helps to maintain the quality and integrity of your culinary creations.
Increased Energy Costs
Clogged extracts force your ventilation system to work harder, leading to higher energy consumption and higher utility bills. Regular cleaning can help optimise the efficiency of your extract system, reducing your energy costs and carbon footprint.
Attract Pests
The buildup of grease and food debris in kitchen extracts can attract unwanted guests, such as insects and rodents. These pests not only pose health risks but can also cause further damage to your kitchen and extract system.
Final Words
Remember, a clean kitchen extract system not only promotes better indoor air quality but also reduces the risk of fire hazards and potential health issues.
By following these tips and maintaining a regular cleaning routine, you can ensure a fresh, safe, and hygienic cooking environment in your kitchen.
How can we help?
ECE Group Services – kitchen Extraction & Grease Extraction Cleaning
We offer specialist cleaning services including grease extract ventilation cleaning, laundry extract ventilation cleaning and ductwork cleaning. We also offer fire safety solutions including fire stopping, fire compartmentation and testing and inspecting.
Please call the ECE Group Services team on 0203 757 7150
