Final answer:
The minimum temperature for heat-sanitizing items in hot water is at least 74°C or 165°F, which is effective at killing bacteria and reducing microbial load.
Step-by-step explanation:
You are heat-sanitizing items by soaking them in hot water. The minimum temperature that the water should be for heat sanitization purposes generally is at least 74°C, or 165°F. This temperature is high enough to kill bacteria present on most surfaces or in food and water, reducing the microbial load to safe public health levels.
It is important to maintain this temperature for a sufficient period to ensure the items are properly sanitized. In professional settings, such as food service or healthcare, equipment like commercial dishwashers and autoclaves apply even higher temperatures to achieve sterilization and the destruction of more resilient organisms, such as bacterial endospores.