Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List

Here is a handy list that outlines how to keep your restaurant kitchen spic and span. Some jobs should be done several times a day, while others need to only be done weekly or monthly.

Restaurant Kitchen items to clean throughout every cooking shift

• Brush grill between cooking red meat, poultry and fish
• Wipe down the line and prep areas
• Switch cutting boards
• Change sanitizing water and cleaning rags
• Empty trash bins

Restaurant Kitchen items to clean after each cooking shift (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Clean the fryers
• Brush the grill
• Empty sanitizing buckets
• Put all cleaning rags in dirty laundry
• Put all aprons and chefs coats in laundry (not with cleaning rags)
• Wash and sanitize all surfaces (cutting boards, reach-in, line, prep tables)
• Empty steam table and clean
• Wash meat and cheese slicer after each use
• Cover all bins in reach-in cooler with plastic wrap
• Wash floor mats
• Sweep and mop the kitchen floor
• Sweep walk-in refrigerator

Daily Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List

• Clean out grease traps
• Change foil linings of grill, range and flattops
• Wash the can opener
• Run hood filters through the dishwasher

Weekly Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List - these duties can be rotated throughout the week

• Empty reach-in coolers and wash and sanitize them
• Delime sinks and faucets
• Clean coffee machine
• Clean the ovens. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instruction on this particular job.
• Sharpen knives (okay, not cleaning, per se, but needs to be done)
• Oil cast iron cookware
• Use drain cleaners on floor drains

Monthly Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning List

• Wash behind the hot line (oven, stove, fryers) to cut down on grease build up, which is a major fire hazard
• Clean freezers
• Empty and sanitize the ice machine
• Calibrate ovens
• Calibrate themometers
• Sharpen the meat and cheese slicer
• Wash walls and ceilings
• Wipe down the dry storage area
• Change any pest traps
• Restock your first aid kit
• Update your material safety data sheets, which outline how to safely use any chemicals in your restaurant.

Yearly Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning/Safety List

• Check fire suppression system
• Check fire extinguishes (this may need to be done twice a year, depending on where you live)
• Clean hoods twice a year. There are many professional companies that specialize in hood cleaning. I highly recommend you use one rather than doing the job yourself (very messy and time consuming).
• Clean pilot lights on gas kitchen equipment (Be sure to follow the manufacturers instruction).