Answer:
To ensure the food you eat is safe, you can follow these comprehensive food safety tips derived from reputable sources:
- Clean Living:
- Wash your hands and surfaces often with hot, soapy water, especially before and after handling food.
- Clean countertops, cutting boards, utensils, and dishes thoroughly to prevent bacteria spread.
- Use nonporous cutting boards and wash them after each use.
- Consider using paper towels for cleaning or wash cloth towels frequently in hot water.
- Keep Things Separate:
- Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods.
- Use different cutting boards for raw meat and other foods.
- Wash utensils and surfaces that come in contact with raw meat thoroughly.
- Avoid placing cooked food on surfaces that held raw meat.
- Embrace the Heat:
- Cook food to the appropriate temperatures to kill harmful bacteria.
- Use a clean thermometer to ensure food reaches safe internal temperatures.
- Refer to specific temperature guidelines for different foods like poultry, beef, eggs, and fish.
- Keep It Cool:
- Refrigerate perishable foods promptly to prevent bacteria growth.
- Set your refrigerator below 40°F and the freezer below 0°F.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and thaw food safely.
- When in Doubt, Throw It Out:
- Discard food if you are unsure about its safety, especially if it has been sitting out for too long.
- Throw away food that looks or smells off or if raw food has touched cooked food.
By following these guidelines meticulously, washing hands frequently, separating raw foods, cooking thoroughly, refrigerating promptly, and discarding questionable items, you can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and ensure the safety of the food you eat.
