Final answer:
To effectively sanitize using the hot water method, a minimum temperature of 171°F (77°C) must be reached and maintained for at least 30 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
When sanitizing manually using the hot water method, it is essential to reach temperatures that are high enough to kill most microbes, achieving levels of sanitization that are considered safe for public health. Although the exact temperature can vary depending on regulations and industry standards, a general guideline for effective sanitization is a minimum of 171°F (77°C). It is important to maintain this temperature for at least 30 seconds to ensure the reduction of bacteria to safe levels. For items that can withstand high temperatures, such as cookware in a commercial kitchen, this method is effective in reducing pathogenic microbe counts. When considering the temperature required for sanitization or sterilization, it's useful to note that while sanitization aims to reduce microbes to safe levels, sterilization, such as in an autoclave, aims to kill all present microbes, including resistant spores, by reaching temperatures as high as 121°C or higher.