Final answer:
The minimum recommended temperature for a chemical sanitizer is 100°F. This is suitable for reducing microbes to safe levels for public health, but lower than temperatures required for full sterilization or cooking food.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minimum recommended temperature for a chemical sanitizer is 100°F (38°C). This is below the standard operating temperatures for autoclaves, which are higher to achieve sterilization. Sanitization requires lower temperatures to reduce microbial presence to safe levels. In food service, dishwashers achieve sanitization using very hot water and air, typically at higher temperatures than the minimum for chemical sanitizers. It's also important to note that higher temperatures, like those in the range of 160°–222°–240°F (71°–105°–115°C), are often used to sterilize or cook food to ensure the elimination of bacteria, as is the case with reaching a safe internal temperature for meats to kill any bacteria present.