Let’s Talk About Rust & Food Service Equipment

Rust & corrosion is always a factor when dealing with food service equipment. When rust does show up, it can be at the most inopportune times. What makes matters worse is that almost any metal in the commercial kitchen can corrode. But, what is the best way of dealing with it & how does it occur in the first place?

In this article, we’ll briefly discuss how rust forms, what actions to take & what is the best way to prevent the onset of corrosion to your equipment. Let’s take a look.

First Things First…

Commercial kitchens have one of the highest sanitation requirements in the United States. It can become quite confusing to interpret all of the intricate rules & exceptions. However, one issue is always consistent in these requirements – rust poses a 100% health risk, and it must be addressed immediately.

How Does Rust Form Anyway?

Without getting too scientific, rust forms when metal comes in contact with water & other types of moisture (such as humidity or vapors). The constant exposure of water & moisture will quicken corrosion on the metal. When the corrosion reaches a certain point, the surface of the metal will turn that familiar red/orange/brown color & start to flake, which means it’s time for you to take action.

Remember this – rust is not just a cosmetic problem; it indicates a core failure.

Your Equipment is Starting to Rust, Now What?

Don’t even attempt to repair it; it’s time to part ways with the equipment. The truth of the matter is rust is unsanitary & can contaminate food products easily. This is because rust particles can chip off & end up in your customer’s food, causing a severe health hazard. No one wants the taste of flaky rust particles in their food after all.

For other equipment where exposed food may not necessarily be involved, such as shelving or cabinets, a safety risk for your employees is present. Rusted pieces of your cabinet or shelving may come apart & injure your staff, which opens up the door for large safety concerns. In fact, rust is harmful to humans because the bacteria on the corroded object that may cause tetanus.

Lastly, your commercial kitchen will fail inspection with critical violations if rust is discovered on certain surfaces. This means major headaches for commercial kitchen owners & it projects a bad image for your customers.

So, How Can You Prevent Rust from Happening?

The best & smartest way to avoid rust is to invest in materials that will not corrode easily. One of these materials is stainless steel. Stainless steel contains a vital component called chromium, which acts as a “rust repellent.” The chromium in the metal reacts with the oxygen in the air to form a protective barrier around the metal. This means corrosion resistance is peak & less replacements for you.

Compare this to other metals found in the commercial kitchen such as iron, which is prone to quick rusting because of the lack of chromium. Equipping your commercial kitchen with stainless steel troughs, cabinets, shelving, hand sinks & so on will ensure that rust does not enter the conversation any time soon.

Another vital way of preventing corrosion is constant cleaning & maintenance of your equipment. Applying protective coatings is an easy way. Avoiding abrasive cleaners is another way. Never use chemicals such as fluorine or chlorine to clean your equipment as this will only shorten the lifespan of your items. Regular maintenance & cleaning will go a long way to prolong the life of your equipment. Here are a few other cleaning tips to keep in mind when caring for your equipment.

IMC/Teddy understands the concerns of rusting & potential corrosion. With that said, each IMC product is manufactured using the highest quality type 300 series stainless steel. Cheaper galvanized steel is unacceptable to us. IMC/Teddy products are meticulously crafted to stand up to the day-in, day-out abuse that can be found in ordinary commercial kitchens. To learn more about how IMC’s design philosophy, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of IMC/Teddy. Our content is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. Please contact IMC/Teddy directly if you would like to feature this post on your webpage. Thank you.