What is NOT an acceptable substitute in the third sink for items being sanitized?

Rinsing after sanitizing is not an acceptable practice because it can eliminate the effectiveness of the sanitizer. When items are sanitized, they must be allowed to retain a certain level of sanitizer concentration to effectively kill remaining pathogens and maintain food safety. Rinsing would wash away the sanitizer, potentially allowing harmful microorganisms to survive, which defeats the purpose of the sanitization process.

In contrast, a sanitizer solution is precisely designed to effectively kill bacteria and viruses, while hot water can be used for sanitization in some cases but may not be as effective as chemical sanitizers. Air drying is also an important step because it allows the sanitized surfaces to dry without introducing contaminants, as drying with a cloth could contaminate the surface again. Therefore, rinsing after sanitizing is the only option that disrupts the necessary process of maintaining sanitation standards.