Fire Up Food Safety

As we head into a holiday weekend, many are preparing to fire up the grill and enjoy outdoor dining with friends and family. Keep your loved ones safe from foodborne illness with a few simple guidelines from the USDA.

Thaw Safely

Completely thaw meat or poultry before grilling so it cooks more evenly. Use the refrigerator for slow thawing or thaw sealed packages in cold water. Thaw food using the microwave only if the food will be placed immediately on the grill.

Transport and Store Safely

Keep food cold when transporting to another location to minimize bacterial growth; use a cooler with ice packs to keep the food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.  Keep meat and poultry cold until it is ready to use.

Store perishable fruits and vegetables in a cooler to keep them at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Bag fresh fruits and vegetable separately from meat, poultry and seafood.

Keep it Clean

Thoroughly clean utensils and platters. To prevent foodborne illness, do not use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry.

Prepare Safely

Wash your hands before handling produce and then wash all produce thoroughly before eating.

Cook Thoroughly

Cook all raw animal products to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. Browning on the outside does not mean the food is safe to eat; use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature.

Adhere to Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures

• Whole poultry, poultry breasts and ground poultry: 165 degree Fahrenheit
• Ground meats: 160 degree Fahrenheit
• Beef, pork, lamb: 145 degrees Fahrenheit and allow to rest at least three minutes

Store Leftovers:

Don’t let food sit out for more than two hours, and on a hot day of 90 degrees or higher, don’t let food sit out more than one hour as bacteria can multiply quickly on food left out in warm weather. Store leftovers in a refrigerator or cooler.

Bottom Line: The holiday weekend is a time to enjoy friends and family, don’t waste a second of the festivities feeling ill. Promote food safety with these simple guidelines to have a healthy and happy holiday weekend. 

Source

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