Should dishes be dried with a clean towel after sanitizing?

Dishes should not be dried with a towel after sanitizing because doing so can reintroduce contaminants to surfaces that have just been sanitized. The main goal of sanitizing is to reduce the number of pathogens on surfaces to a safe level. Air-drying is the preferred method because it allows for the disinfectant to effectively kill harmful microorganisms without the risk of cross-contamination that comes from using a towel, which can carry bacteria or other contaminants.

When items are air-dried, you also ensure that they are not touched again by anything that hasn't been sanitized, maintaining the cleanliness achieved during the sanitization process. Therefore, it is essential to let dishes air-dry thoroughly. This practice maintains hygiene standards in food service environments.