Another Restaurant
Guide and Food & Drink
Article

Do you realize the many ways that bacteria can contaminate the food YOUR
FAMILY eats? Do you know how to tell if your food is THOROUGHLY cooked to keep
YOUR family safe from Food Poisoning? Do you know what to do if you or SOMEONE
YOU LOVE gets Food Poisoning?

When it comes to food preparation and storage, "Common Practices" could be
POISONING your family!

Here's how to avoid the problem entirely:

1. Plan For Safety

Make sure you have the right equipment, including cutting boards, utensils,
food thermometers, cookware, shallow containers for storage, soap, and paper
towels. Make sure you have a source of clean water. Plan ahead to ensure that
there will be adequate storage space in the refrigerator and freezer.

2. Shop Smart

Prevention of food poisoning starts with your trip to the supermarket. Pick
up your packaged and canned foods first. Buy cans and jars that look perfect. Do
the cans have dents? Don't buy canned goods that are dented, cracked, or
bulging. These are the warning signs that dangerous bacteria may be growing in
the can. Are the jars cracked? Do they have lids that are loose or bulging? The
food may have germs that can make you sick. Look for any expiration dates on the
labels and never buy outdated food. Likewise, check the "use by" or "sell by"
date on dairy products such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt, and sour
cream and pick the ones that will stay fresh longest in your refrigerator.

3. Store Food Properly

After shopping, get home as soon as you can. Then put food into the
refrigerator or freezer right away. Make sure to set the refrigerator
temperature to 40° F and the freezer to 0° F. Check temperatures with an
appliance thermometer. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared
foods, and leftovers within 2 hours of shopping or preparing. Place raw meat,
poultry, and seafood in containers in the refrigerator, to prevent their juices
from dripping on other foods. Raw juices may contain harmful bacteria. Eggs
always go in the refrigerator.

4. Prepare Food Safely

Wash hands and surfaces often. Bacteria can be spread throughout the kitchen
and get onto cutting boards, utensils and counter tops. To prevent this, wash
hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using
the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets. Wash everything else before
and after it touches food. Use paper towels or clean cloths to wipe kitchen
surfaces or spills. Wash cloths before you use them again for anything else. Use
the hot cycle of your washing machine. Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils,
and counter tops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before
you go on to the next item. A solution of 1 teaspoon of bleach in 1 quart of
water may be used to sanitize washed surfaces and utensils.

5. Cook Food Thoroughly

Cook food thoroughly until it is done. Cooked red meat looks brown inside.
Poke cooked chicken with a fork. The juices should look clear, not pink. Dig a
fork into cooked fish. The fish should flake. Cooked egg whites and yolks are
firm, not runny. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of
meat, poultry, casseroles and other food. Use a thermometer with a
small-diameter stem. Insert the thermometer 1 to 2 inches into the center of the
food and wait 30 seconds to ensure an accurate measurement. Check temperature in
several places to be sure the food is evenly heated.

6. Chill Food Promptly

Place food in the refrigerator. Don't overfill the refrigerator. Cool air
must circulate to keep food safe. Divide food and place in shallow containers.
Slice roast beef or ham and layer in containers in portions for service. Divide
turkey into smaller portions or slices & refrigerate. Remove stuffing from
cavity before refrigeration. Place soups or stews in shallow containers. To cool
quickly, place in ice water bath and stir. Cover and label cooked foods. Include
the preparation date on the label.

7. Transport Food Safely

Keep cold food cold. Place cold food in cooler with a cold source such as ice
or commercial freezing gels. Use plenty of ice or commercial freezing gels. Cold
food should be held at or below 40° F. Hot food should be kept hot, at or above
140° F. Wrap well and place in an insulated container.

8. Reheat Food Correctly

Heat cooked, commercially vacuum-sealed, ready-to-eat foods, such as hams and
roasts, to 140° F. Foods that have been cooked ahead & cooled should be
reheated to at least 165° F. Reheat leftovers thoroughly to at least 165° F.
Reheat sauces, soups, and gravies to a boil.

9. Serve Food The Safe Way

Use clean containers and utensils to store and serve food. When a dish is
empty or nearly empty, replace with fresh container of food, removing the
previous container. Place cold food in containers on some ice. Hold cold foods
at or below 40° F. Food that will be portioned and served should be placed in a
shallow container. Place the container inside a deep pan filled partially with
ice to keep food cold. Once food is thoroughly heated on stovetop, oven or in
microwave oven, keep food hot by using a heat source. Place food in chafing
dishes, preheated steam tables, warming trays and/or slow cookers. Check the
temperature frequently to be sure food stays at or above 140° F.

10. Complete Your Meal Experience Safely

Cooked foods should not be left standing on the table or kitchen counter for
more than 2 hours. Disease-causing bacteria grow in temperatures between 40° F
and 140° F. Cooked foods that have been in this temperature range for more than
2 hours should not be eaten. If a dish is to be served hot, get it from the
stove to the table as quickly as possible. Reheated foods should be brought to a
temperature of at least 165° F. Keep cold foods in the refrigerator or on a bed
of ice until serving. This rule is particularly important to remember in the
summer months. Leftovers should be refrigerated as soon as possible. Meats
should be cut in slices of 3 inches or less and all foods should be stored in
small, shallow containers to hasten cooling. Be sure to remove all the stuffing
from roast turkey or chicken and store it separately. Giblets should also be
stored separately. Leftovers should be used within 3 days. Discard any food left
out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.