FOG – What is it and how do we stop it from effecting our kitchens?
Firstly, let’s start off by clarifying that we are not referencing the weather, FOG is an acronym for Fats, Oils and Grease and is often used to describe dirt build up in commercial kitchens. It also represents one of the biggest cleaning challenges facing kitchen staff regarding general hygiene and sanitation on site.
So, how do FOGs form?
Typically, fats, oils and grease are residual by-products of the cooking process within commercial kitchens. There are a few areas which become FOG traps due to the continuous nature of cooking for prolonged periods of time. The most common place is your establishments plumbing, in particular your sink and warewashing drainage. Due to the amount of food waste which ends up passing through these pipes during service periods fats, oils and grease all begin to build up quickly leading to standing water issues.
Another key area for such by-products to form are in and around any capital equipment used for cooking / frying food. It is no surprise that fryers experience build-ups of FOG but ovens, ring burners, grills, griddles and hot cupboards are just as likely to suffer too. Additionally, ventilation systems which are used to extract excess moisture can also becoming FOG traps too.
Why are Fats, Oils and Grease a problem?
There are two main issues which FOG by-products produce:
- Wastewater Blockages – Fatbergs are a well-known phenomenon in the British sewage systems as much as wet wipes do play a large part, the name of them points to the main cause, a build-up of fat and other meat and vegetable food waste.
- Unhygienic Capital Equipment – Understandably, if there is a build-up of food waste this will encourage an increase in bacteria. The presence of FOG means there are areas which are not being cleaned properly which naturally means these areas will also be prone to hosting a whole range of potentially dangerous pathogens which are in close proximity of both raw and prepared food.
How to remove FOG by-products?
There are a few different ways in which you can remove and help to reduce the build-up of FOGs in your kitchen. We would recommend the following strategies:
- It is advised to refrain from disposing of cooled fats, oils, and grease into the wastewater collection system subsequent to washing. Instead, it is recommended to place them in a container and dispose of them through registered waste collection services.
- Prior to washing, it is suggested to utilise paper napkins or paper towels to wipe dishes and remove fats.
Additionally, sink strainers can be utilised to capture food waste, which can then be manually removed and disposed of in the refuse.
If the above preventative issues haven’t worked, or you are still getting a build-up of FOGs then you may need to invest in cleaners which help remove them. Naturally, there are a lot of different options where degreasers and fat cleaners are concerned but we at Alliance Online would suggest the following:
- Deepio Degreaser Range – Deepio is a well-known brand of degreaser boasting both a powder and ready-to-use spray option. The cleaning powder is designed to shift very tough baked on stains and grease and can be used on walls, floors, paintwork, work surfaces, fat fryers and equipment. The spray is great for degreasing quickly whilst on the go or mid-shift and is fantastic when used on kitchen surfaces. The spray also benefits from its non-tainting formula containing no perfume or dye, allowing the spray to cut through grease easily whilst being economically friendly.
- Fairy Liquid Professional – The Fairy brand is one of the most renowned names when it comes to kitchen cleaning due to its effectiveness at cleaning tableware. The professional fairy liquid is a fantastic product if you want a washing up liquid which proficiently and efficiently removes grease and food residues from cookware and tableware items. A brilliant benefit of Fairy’s professional washing up liquid is that it is not limited to just chef’s utensils, cookware and tableware but can be used as a surface cleaner on areas such as windows, mirrors, tables and seating.
- Flash Professional Spray – This cleaning solution is capable of both cleaning and disinfecting with a single application. It is highly effective in removing dirt and grease from kitchen surfaces and equipment. Additionally, it is free from any colouring agents. Once the cleaning process is complete, the nozzle can be twisted to securely close the bottle and prevent any leakage or spillage.
As a wholesaler to the hospitality industry, we understand and recognise the main issues facing commercial kitchens and how to effectively degrease and clean fats and oils is one of them. The above products are all effective degreasers and we also have a wide range of cleaning products which can be used in conjunction with the above to ensure your kitchens hygiene standards are always met.
