When most of us think of eating healthy, we think of eating food that is high in nutrition. However, eating healthy can also refer to taking the right food safety precautions when preparing meals. These measures can limit the amount of bacteria in food reducing the chance of foodborne illnesses.
If you are trying to boost food safety in your kitchen, here are a few helpful tips.
Wash Hands Before Touching Food
Before touching food, you should wash your hands thoroughly to get rid of germs. Hands should be washed for at least 20 seconds and then dried with a clean paper towel.
Sanitize Surfaces
The surfaces you will be cooking on should be sanitized as well. You can use an antibacterial cleaner or hot, soapy water.
Go Through Your Fridge
It’s advisable to go through your fridge once a week to throw out perishable foods that are beyond their expiration dates.
Clean Appliances
Appliances should be cleaned regularly, especially on the exterior where a spread of germs is most likely to occur.
Rinse Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables should be washed before they are eaten. Even foods that are eaten peeled and cut should be washed as the germs from the outside can easily be transferred into the interior when the produce is being prepared.
Separate Foods
Raw seafood, meat, and poultry are known to cause bacterial diseases like salmonella. Therefore, they should be separated from other foods at all times – in the grocery store, once they are taken home, and when they are being prepared. If you are preparing meat along with other foods, do not use the same surfaces and utensils on all foods.
Use a Food Thermometer
A food thermometer is a great way to tell if food is cooked to a safe internal temperature. If meat, seafood, and egg dishes are not heated to the right temperature, they can cause illness.
Store Foods at Safe Temperatures
Make sure to keep foods at the proper temperature when they are being stored. Cold foods should be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and hot foods should be kept at 140 degrees or above.
Earlier in the article, we discussed how important it is to wash your hands before preparing foods. Making sure your hands are truly clean starts with the right soap. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Foaming Hand Soap is highly recommended.
The Mrs. Meyer’s company prides itself in making cleaning products with essential oils and other natural ingredients that smell great and are effective in fighting dirt, grime and germs. Their lavender foaming hand soap is made with plant derived ingredients and does not contain any harsh chemicals. The soothing lavender scent and foaming action makes cleaning fun.
Taking the right food safety steps can greatly reduce the chance of foodborne illnesses. Cleaning food, surfaces, appliances and hands and keeping food at the proper temperatures will help keep your kitchen safe. What measures do you take to make a healthy kitchen?
