Final answer:
The last step after washing, rinsing, and sanitizing a food contact surface is to allow it to air dry, thus avoiding potential recontamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
After washing, rinsing, and sanitizing a food contact surface, the last thing you should do is allow the surface to air dry. This is crucial to prevent contamination from towels or other materials that could reintroduce bacteria to the surface. While dishwashers utilize hot water and air for drying, which kills most microbes, similar principles apply when manually sanitizing surfaces. Once a surface has been properly cleaned, it should be left undisturbed to dry completely and ensure the highest level of sanitation before it comes into contact with food again.