If you’re planning on cooking out this holiday weekend, you may want to plan ahead.
Nearly 48 million people get food poisoning every year.
A small mistake may make you sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that you should thinking about the following for your meal preps:
Before you cook
Store your food properly. Uncooked foods should be stored in coolers. The temperature should be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Anything above that can breed microorganisms, which will make you sick. This should include raw foods, like meats, eggs, milks and even some pre-cooked foods, like fried chicken.
Separate the foods in different containers. Cross-contamination can easily make you sick. Make sure that you have plates prepped and used on different plates, cutting boards and utensils.
Download the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ‘FoodKeeper’ App. This mobile app was released this year and gives tips and tricks to stay safe with preparing foods, cooking foods and cleaning up after foods. The app has specifics on different types of foods, how to cook them without worrying about getting sick, and how long you can store them fresh or frozen. The app goes beyond produce and raw meats. It has more than 400 different foods and beverages that you can scroll through.
This new app could help curb our eating problems and extend the shelf life of our food. According to the USDA, 21 percent of the available food in the U.S. goes uneaten at the consumer level. In total, 36 pounds of food per person is wasted each month, according to FoodSafety.gov.
While you cook
Use a food thermometer. Foods need to reach a proper internal temperature to be safe. It’s recommended that poultry reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Beef and pork need to reach at least 160 degrees.
Place the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat – up to two inches deep. For thin meats, like a hamburger, push the thermometer through the side to the middle of the meat.
Read the thermometer right. You should wait 10 to 20 seconds to get an accurate reading with your device.
After you cook
Put food on clean plates and wash plates before using them again. Also, never serve food on the plate you prepared any raw meats. Disposable paper plates can help ease the cleanup process if you’re camping.
Clean the thermometer after each use. Soap and water are a must in the clean-up phase. Warmer water is best to help clean the bacteria. Make sure your soap lathers up and rinse until it’s clean. You can also use disposable anti-bacterial wipes to clean surfaces if you don’t have soap and water handy. Just be sure the surface area is completely cleaned off.