Which component must be self-draining?

• A. Refrigerators
• B. Sinks and drain boards
• C. Dryers
• D. Countertops

Answer: (B)

Water used during cleaning and handling foods should flow off surfaces and into a drain, not pool and linger where bacteria can grow. A self-draining component is designed with a slope or built-in drainage so moisture moves away quickly toward a drain. Sinks and their attached drain boards are made to shed water directly into the sink or floor drain, keeping the area dry and sanitary. Refrigerators and dryers are enclosed units that manage condensate with pans, not long, sloped surfaces meant to channel water away. Countertops should be easy to wipe clean and non-absorbent, but they aren’t designed to drain water away by a built-in slope. So the part that must be self-draining is the sink and drain board.