How to Keep Food Safe

The old adage of keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold is just as true today as it has been in years gone by. Seldom does a week go by that a food product isn’t recalled, and much of how safe your food is depends on how you handle it in the kitchen.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Storage containers
• Freezer bags
• Plastic wrap
• Butcher paper or tin foil
• Water
• Common sense

1. Begin thinking of food safety before you leave the grocery store. Ask the clerk to bag your food purchases with all the cold foods together. Any package that may leak should be bagged alone. Carry a cooler in your trunk or backseat to put frozen and refrigerated foods in if you live more than 10 minutes from the store.
2. Carry the cooler into your house first when you arrive home. Put all refrigerated foods away first. To guard against freezer burn, put all frozen packages into freezer bags or wrap with butcher paper or foil. Bring in the rest of the groceries and put away appropriately.
3. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating. This applies to pre-washed salad greens.
4. Thaw all frozen items in the refrigerator unless they are going straight to a heat source, i.e., oven, crock pot or microwave.
5. Prepare foods on a clean surface. Clean the surface thoroughly between different foods, especially after meats.
6. Cook all meats to the appropriate internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to be sure. Under cooking meats can lead to various food borne illnesses.
7. Put any leftovers away promptly after every meal. Foods should be stored in closed containers in the refrigerator and used within a few days. If you don’t have a lid, cover with plastic wrap or foil.

Tips & Warnings

• Refrigerator science projects (foods with mold or other signs of spoilage) should be thrown away immediately. The saying, if in doubt, throw it out, serves well on any food product.
• Home canned foods, other than jellies and pickles, should be boiled for at least ten minutes before eating.
• Use common sense anytime you are dealing with food. Food safety begins at the store and ends when the product is consumed.