How to Stop Food Contamination
Remaining mindful of actions that can cause food contamination is important whether you're cooking for a banquet or your family. It's imperative to store the food under appropriate conditions and also to keep all food preparation surfaces sanitary. Though this process won't take care of contamination problems that stem from the food's source, it can ensure that those issues don't start in the kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- 5 cutting boards
- Permanent marker
- Dish soap
- Scrub brush
- Spray bottle
- Bleach
- Fruit and vegetable wash
- Plastic wrap
Instructions
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Wash everyone's hands thoroughly and frequently. All chefs should follow this advice, but it's especially important if small children will be helping in the kitchen. Hold hands under hot running water and scrub with antibacterial hand soap for at least 30 seconds. Make sure to scrub the lower arms as well. Don't forget to rewash hands after touching raw meat or eggs.
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Keep cutting boards clean and separate. Purchase individual cutting boards for produce, pork, seafood, beef and poultry. Use a permanent marker to label the underside of every cutting board so that they are only used for their specific foods. It's also helpful to buy five different colored cutting boards, so that they won't get mixed up. Use separate knives to prepare meat and produce while cooking.
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Scrub all cutting boards, knives and other kitchen utensils with hot water, dish soap and a scrub brush after each use. Make sure that all tools are free of food bits by fully disassembling items such as food processors and blenders between uses.
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Make a solution of bleach and water to clean the kitchen. Rinse out a clean (preferably new) spray bottle and add two teaspoons of bleach and two quarts of water. Screw on the spray nozzle and swirl to combine. Use this bleach solution on all surfaces in the kitchen, particularly where raw meat is prepared. Do not use it on food preparation devices or tools.
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Wash all produce with fruit and vegetable wash, a product that removes bacteria, pesticides and dirt on the surface of the produce. This step is important regardless of whether the produce is organic, as organic produce will still have germs and dirt on the surface.
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Remain mindful while shopping. When visiting the grocery store, pick up produce and nonperishable items first. Then, work your way through the dairy, meat and frozen sections. The longer perishable items sit out, the more likely they are to succumb to bacteria. If the store is far from your house, pack coolers with ice to transport all perishable items.
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Never thaw food at room temperature; either put it in the microwave or the refrigerator. Serve cooked food immediately, and don't allow leftovers to sit out after mealtimes.
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Use all refrigerated, uncooked meat within a couple days of buying it. Make sure the meat is tightly bundled in plastic wrap so that the juices can't escape and contaminate other foods in the refrigerator. Freeze meats that aren't used right away.
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