PAM'S PANORAMA: Would your kitchen pass inspection?

You can read daily about reports of health inspections in restaurant kitchens.  Some times these reports can be enough to discourage eating out, yet home kitchens also can provide a welcoming environment for germs and foodborne microorganisms.

A clean kitchen can prevent foodborne and other illnesses such as the common cold or flu; and, there’s more good news: Keeping a kitchen clean need not be difficult.

You can make a homemade sanitizing solution by adding one tablespoon of household bleach to one gallon of water; transfer the solution to a spray bottle for use as needed, and, as with other cleaning products, label the sanitizing solution and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Use the sanitizing solution on countertops and other surfaces that come in contact with food before and after food preparation.

Hot soapy water and a clean rinse also will work.  You can use this method to sanitize cupboard handles, knobs and drawer pulls; refrigerator and range handles, controls and keypads on appliances; faucets, and the kitchen telephone.

Clean as you go tips:

Wipe up spills as they occur.