How should you dry your hands after washing them?

• A. With a clean towel or air dry.
• B. With a dirty towel.
• C. On clothing.
• D. By wiping on pants.

Answer: (A)

Drying your hands after washing is important to remove moisture that can help germs spread and multiply. The best way is a clean towel or air drying. A clean towel is designed for this purpose and won’t reintroduce germs you just washed away, while air drying keeps your hands free from contact with potentially contaminated fabrics. Using a dirty towel can recontaminate your hands, undoing the wash. Drying on clothing or wiping on pants also carries germs and moisture to your clothes, which isn’t sanitary in a kitchen setting. Keeping hands dry with a clean towel or by air drying helps maintain good hygiene when handling food and in food-prep areas.