A Comprehensive List of Food Safety Tips
Top 5 YouTube Videos of 2009 Top 5
Whether you have a career in food preparation, entertain privately, or just cook for your family, food handling has some science to it that you should know. What with hearing a story in the news every other day about yet another Salmonella or E. Coli outbreak, we could all stand to hear a refresher course in the sanitary preparing of food.
Handling food Wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling food. Always use clean kitchen utensils for handling foods. Keep raw and cooked food apart at all times. Apply this especially to raw meat, fish, and poultry. Keep these away from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods. Wash and dry hands, utensils, cutting boards, knives, and flat surfaces thoroughly after preparing raw meat, fish, poultry and other raw foods and before contact with other food. Ideally you should use separate cutting boards for raw and cooked foods. Never put cooked food onto a plate which has previously held these raw foods until it has been washed. Do not use the same utensil to stir or serve a cooked meal that was used to prepare the raw ingredients.
Vegetables of the root family such as potatoes, leeks and carrots often have traces of soil on them which can contain harmful bacteria, so wash them thoroughly before use. As a rule you should wash other fruit and vegetables too, especially if they are going to be eaten raw. Avoid preparing food for yourself or others if you are sick.
Defrosting When cooking packaged frozen foods always follow instructions provided for defrosting or cooking directly from frozen. If cooking from frozen allow sufficient time for food to be thoroughly cooked and check it before serving; an extra minute in the fryer won't hurt it. When defrosting foods make sure they are fully defrosted before cooking; being sure to allow food enough time to thaw. Never re-freeze food once it has started to thaw.
Thaw food by placing it on the bottom shelf of the fridge in a container to catch any juices, or in a bin or rack over a sink. These juices will often be contaminated so wash dishes and hands thoroughly after use. Only thaw food in a microwave oven if it is to be cooked immediately. To thaw very large meat items like turkeys, leg of lamb, etc. more quickly, let them defrost outside of the fridge. Put them in a cool place and make sure they are completely thawed before cooking.
Cooking and heating Follow recipes and label instructions on cooking times and temperatures. Remember to preheat the oven properly - the instructions for preheating take into account that the cooking time should be at the full temperature. Cook all foods until they are piping hot. Remember that sausages, burgers, pork and poultry are cooked all the way through and they should not be rare or pink in the middle. As a test, pierce it with a knife; any juices that run out of the meat should be clear, not bloody. Lamb and beef (except when minced or rolled) can be eaten rare, but you should make sure the outer surface is thoroughly cooked to kill any germs on the surface of the meat.
Elderly or sick people, babies, young children and pregnant women should only eat eggs cooked until both yolk and white are solid and should never eat raw or partially cooked seafood. Don't cook foods too far in advance. Once cooked, foods should be kept covered and piping hot (above 145F) until it's time to serve them. Keep prepared cold foods in the fridge until you are ready to serve them.
When using a microwave, stir foods and drinks and allow them to stand for a couple of minutes to avoid hot or cold spots. Check that food is hot throughout before serving. Foods that are not thoroughly cooked should be re-heated for another few minutes, but when it comes to microwaves food should not be reheated more than twice.
Cooling Never put hot food directly into the fridge or freezer, let it cool sufficiently first. Cooling should be completed within one or two hours after cooking. To speed cooling you can divide foods into smaller portions, place in a wide dish and stand this in a shallow tray of cold water.
Extra care for babies Because babies' immune systems are less developed than those of an adult, they are at a greater risk of illness. To take extra care for young babies, wash bottles and utensils in hot soapy water and sterilize them using a sterilizing solution or a steam sterilizer. When adding water to baby foods, milks and other drinks always use bottled water and never water straight from the sink tap. Cook foods thoroughly until piping hot and cool them rapidly until they are comfortable to eat.
Extra care with barbecues and grills Cooking food outdoors, particularly for large groups, can increase the risk of food poisoning. It's harder to keep foods very hot or very cold and to keep everything clean. But with a little extra care barbecues and outdoor grills can be used safely.
Light the barbecue well in advance, making sure that you use enough charcoal and wait until it is glowing red with a powdery gray surface before starting to cook. Keep meats, salads and other perishable food in the fridge, or in an ice-packed portable cooler box, until just before you are ready to cook them. Serve salads at the last minute. Ideally use separate cooler boxes for raw meats and ready-to-eat foods. Cooler boxes can only keep food cool for a limited period so cook sooner rather than later. Better still, if possible, fully pre-cook all poultry and sausages in an indoor kitchen and then take them straight to the barbecue to add the final barbecue flavor.
During cooking, turn food often. If it starts to burn on the outside raise the grill height or reduce the heat of the charcoal. You reduce charcoal's heat by dampening the coals slightly or partially closing the air vents. As always, cook poultry, burgers, pork and sausages throughout with no pink bits in the middle. Keep raw and cooked foods apart at all times.
Don't handle cooked foods with utensils that have touched raw meats and don't put cooked or ready-to-eat foods such as salad and bread on plates that have held raw meats.
Freelance writer for over eleven years. Discount Chef Coat Chef Apron Medical Lab Coats
Here are some other great websites
USBHDTVTUNER.COM
GlobaliPhone.com
BlackMediaOnline.com
GreenAmerica.us
DiabeteshealthLive.com
AssetsBuyer.com
AnsweringServiceCalifornia.com
CHELATEDVITAMINS.COM
ENZYMETABLETS.COM
LAPTOPNOTEBOOKS.NET
BioMass-Ethanol.com
MyInsuranceRates.info
BestiPTVs.com
DatingServicePro.com
TheSafe.mobi
PayPlan.mobi
FortCollinsFSBO.com
PayDayAhead.com
MyDatingServices.info
MesotheliomaLawyersWeb.com
TheDatingServices.info
PayCheckAdvancePro.com
ConsolidateLoansWeb.com
EatingDisordersHelp.info
BigAppleRealEstate.info
ExoticSpas.net
LatinMedia.us
CellulosicBiomassEthanol.com
CarSalesMedia.com
WarofThePods.com
WeatherPhones.com
MobiCash.net
VideoStreamingMedia.com
RestaurantRome.com
RestaurantCairo.com
RestaurantPanamaCityBeach.com
RestaurantDestin.com
INFRAREDREPEATERS.com
PainControlMedicine.com
GreenEnergyMedia.com
VisitRomaItaly.com
ROMAAPPARTAMENTO.COM
VisitRomeIT.com
VisitRomaItalia.com
RomaItalia.org
VisitPanamaCityBeachFL.com
VisitDestinFL.com
VisitMemphisTennessee.com
MemphisTennesseeLoans.com
MemphisTennesseeApartments.com
MemphisTennesseeBanks.com
GlobalWarmingCrisis.org
DVB.LA
iTube.us
SELFPESTCONTROL.COM
BanksDeposits.com
DNAcomputing.info
BuyTheRightDomain.com
NaperVilleFSBO.com
OnlineBudgetTravel.com
MediterraneanCusine.com
WAWireless.com
LowestPriceDrugsOnline.com
MySpacePlans.com
ComposingSoftware.com
HydraulicMassageTable.com
MiniCircuitBreakers.com
USBENCLOSURES.COM
VOICESTRESSTEST.COM
IndoorCages.com
SettingupEmail.com
XDReader.com
MiniWidgets.com
GuaranteeRates.com
TextTeen.com
BankOfSavannah.com
xPestControl.com
MemphisCan.com
CreditBorrow.com
TextSexMe.com
TextSex.us
WirelessBroadBandTV.net
WirelessBroadBandHDTV.com
CountryWesternMedia.com
BUSINESSDOMAINS.NAME
EASTERBUNNYBASKETS.COM
TheGutBuster.com
xAmericans.com
TextCoins.com
MethylTetraHydroFuran.com
MobiCharge.net
MobiCoins.com
MenopauseOnline.info
Fun Shop Memphis
#Green #Energy #Global Warming #Fuel #Climate change #Travel #Restaurants #Vacation #Destinations #Food #Hotels #Motels #Cash #Money #Loans #Payday loans #Borrow #Credit #Asset buyer #Text #Texting #Sexting Computers #Computer services #Health #Medicine #Drugs #Vitamins #Spa #Disease #Pain control #massage table #FSBO #Real Estate #FortCollins #Naperville #Media #Advertising #Newspapers #magazines #Online Advertising
howard74@peoplepc.com
Enables users to search the Web, Usenet, and images. Features include PageRank, caching and translation of results, and an option to find similar pages. The company's focus is developing search technology.
A social utility that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos.
YouTube is a way to get your videos to the people who matter to you. Upload, tag and share your videos worldwide!
Indian version of this popular search engine. Search the whole web or only webpages from India. Interfaces offered in English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi and Tamil.
Social networking and microblogging service utilising instant messaging, SMS or a web interface.
Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Site has numerous personalization features and services including one-click buying, extensive customer and editorial product reviews, gift registries, gift certificates, wish lists, restaurant and movie listings, travel, and photo processing.
Free blogs managed by the developers of the WordPress software. Includes custom design templates, integrated statistics, automatic spam protection and other features.
Related Articles:
Why You Need Bacteria In Your Colon
Bacteria in your colon are referred to by many different names – probiotics, good or bad bacteria, beneficial bacteria, acidophilus, disbiosis, micro flora, proflora. friendly flora, and unfriendly bacteria.
Grocery Manufacturers Association Outlines Wide-Ranging Initiatives to Bolster Food Safety
Projects Highlight Private Sector Expertise, Experience and Commitment
Bacteria Resistant Gloves: Keeping That Bacteria At Bay
There are few things as cherished in our workplace as the headgear and hand gear we utilize to offer us convenience and safety. There are many types of gloves in a variety of colors and sizes perfect for allowing you the option to customize your experience. One type of protective hand wear used by more and more working men and women are those bacteria resistant gloves.
Employee Development And Leadership Training Company Now Offering Two Food Safety E-Learning Courses
Certified professional food safety courses now offered by leading e-learning company specializing in employee development and leadership training.
Biggest E. coli Outbreaks of 2008 Show a Problem Getting Worse, Says Food Safety Lawyer
A look at the biggest E. coli outbreaks in 2008 suggests an ever-worsening problem. Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker says failure of regulation is evident as E. coli outbreaks continued to cause death and serious illness. "You still get companies that continually flout the rules, and there's not enough consequences to stop the bad actors,'' Pritzker said. Pritzker lists details of five major E. coli outbreaks of 2008.
DNV and Michigan State University Release Initial Findings of U.S. Food Safety Survey
Consumers alter shopping habits based on food safety concerns and express confidence in the idea of labeling products with evidence of independent food safety certification.
How to Calculate a Cost of Living Index
Definition:
A Cost Of Living Index (COLI) is a price index that measures the relative cost of living over time It is an index that measures differences in the price of goods and services
EtQ, Inc. to Exhibit at the 2009 Food Safety Summit
EtQ is pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at the Food Safety Summit to be held on April 27th through 29th at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.
Presenting the HACCP Food Safety Solution Center at The NAFEM Show, Hall B, Booth #7833
The IntelliHACCP? Food Safety Solution Center will be sponsored by E-Control Systems (ECS), the leading company for HACCP/Food Safety monitoring solutions, and hands-on experiences are being offered to NAFEM and FS/TEC 2007 attendees.
Total Logistic Control (TLC) Earns Food Safety/Quality Certification at Georgia Facility
A Total Logistic Control® (TLC) facility in Athens, Ga., has been certified by Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute in recognition of its food safety and quality assurance practices. The months-long process to earn the SQF 2000 certification, which is designed for manufacturers, processors and distributors, required TLC to present ongoing evidence of sustainable food safety and quality systems and will require additional audits during the first three years of certification.
AIB International to Implement MetricStream for Compliance and Safety Audits
MetricStream solution to improve efficiencies of conducting rigorous independent inspections and audits that enable AIB’s worldwide foodservice clients to lower business risk and strengthen reputation.
NSF Announces Recipients of the 2009 Food Safety Leadership Awards
NSF International today announced the 2009 recipients of the sixth annual Food Safety Leadership Awards. NSF International is a not-for-profit public health and safety organization.
Meet Delilah: Entertaining and Educating Children and Parents on Handwashing & Food Safety
Green Apple Tales brings food safety to life in this series of children's books, teaching families the basics of food safety and hygiene, and preventing the spread of bacterial and viral diseases.
This is a novel approach to delivering food safety information, through its team of lovable characters, full-color illustrations and easy-to understand principles. Based on USDA and FDA guidelines, a different principle is depicted in each story to help keep families safe, from handwashing to food allergies, to keeping foods safe at a holiday party.
USFoodSafety.Com Provides A More Comprehensive, Up-To-Date List Of Recalled Consumer Hazelnut Products
USFoodSafety.com, the first website to provide consumers with the most up-to-date food safety alerts, recalls, advice and columns will provide a complete list of recalled Hazelnut products as well as a safe to eat hazelnut product list when warranted. For easy consumer viewing visit http://www.usfoodsafety.com. The blog, http://blog.usfoodsafety.com, will provide intermittent recalls as they become available.
U.S. Foodservice Helps Set the Standard For Food Safety in the United States
U.S. Foodservice Hosts Meeting for the Produce Good Agricultural Practices Harmonization Initiative