One of the easiest ways for harmful things like dirt and bacteria to get into our system is through our food.
If you are eating food that is contaminated or on a plate that isn’t clean or dining in a place that isn’t sanitary, your food can do you more harm than good.
People are very particular about how they clean their plates and glasses at home but not everyone pays attention to the appliances we use to prepare our food.
Since they are such regularly used items and we are so familiar with them, we often don’t pay attention to how filthy they can get.
Not many people make a point of checking the condition of their appliances every couple of months.
As long as they are doing what they are supposed to be doing, we carry on using them.
A fridge can start to grow mold, a microwave can rust from the inside and a coffee machine can have dirt and debris build-up in its system.
Consuming food and beverages from such appliances will do our health no good. Here are some tips that will help with maintaining your appliances.
Coffee Machine
For some people, the coffee machine is the only reason they go into the kitchen.
Whether you use an espresso machine or a drip coffee machine, any kind of coffee machine needs cleaning and maintenance.
Even if your coffee uses replaceable parts such as single-use filters, you still need to periodically disassemble and clean the system.
Small bits of coffee grain can collect in different parts of the system and become infected with fungi and mold. Similarly, droplets of steam can turn into water which can also become infected with microorganisms.
This will compromise the quality of the coffee and consuming coffee from such a machine can also lead to various illnesses.
Microwave
Of all the kitchen appliances the average homeowner has, the microwave is one of the most commonly used assets.
This is largely because it is a very versatile bit of equipment that can heat or cook both solids and liquids.
Plus, it’s more time-efficient than the traditional oven or stovetop.
Due to the fact that it is exposed to so many kinds of foods and drinks, it can easily be contaminated and it can also cross-contaminate other kinds of food.
Microwaves often don’t get very good maintenance either and even get rust inside a microwave, which is a serious issue and can go unnoticed.
If you hear a crackling or zapping sound while using the microwave, this is a sign of rust on the inside of the microwave.
Switch the microwave off instantly if you hear any crackling.
An easy solution is to get rust-removing liquid and clean the rusted spot with this liquid. If the rust is just on the surface, this can be remedied.
However, if the rust has eaten through a thicker layer of the metal, you might have to get a new microwave.
Rusted spots can also cause radiation to leak out of the microwave which is extremely dangerous so do not use a microwave with any kind of rust.
Blender/Food Processor
The challenge with food processors and blenders is that they go through a lot of different materials.
They are used to process everything from dairy to meat to fruit to dough and many other things.
This means that these appliances are exposed to a much wider variety of risks as compared to coffee machines that only interact with water and dry coffee.
Due to their design, they also have areas that are hard to reach and clean such as the underside and connection point of the blade.
With extensive use, these hard-to-reach areas can build up a lot of debris which will rot and spoil with time.
There are multiple ways you can clean a blender depending on the size and design.
A good solution is to mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 tbsp of salt and pour this into the blender or food processor. Blend this at high speed in bursts of 10 seconds at a time for at least 8 times.
This will help to soften all the settled debris and will also kill any bacterial growth.
After this process, you wash the blender jug and the blades separately as you normally would with warm water and dishwashing soap.
Maintaining kitchen appliances is very straightforward.
As long as you know how to keep them clean and you regularly clean them, they will easily serve you for many years, even decades.
The main problems arise when people either do not take care of their equipment or they use it incorrectly which results in damage and additional problems.
Understand the specific appliance you are using and make a point of giving it a thorough cleaning every month.