Food safety tips can be a simple practice with many areas of concern. Like hand washing, tool cleaning, cooking temperature, product storing, leftovers, and lunchboxes.
Milk and Dairy Products
Buy milk and dairy products toward the end of shopping trip.
Store dairy products below 40° F.
Never store milk in door of refrigerator where it will be susceptible to warmer air.
Discard milk after it has been opened one week regardless of expiration date.
Buy milk in cardboard cartons or non-translucent jugs.
Translucent containers allow light in that can cause milk to spoil more easily and more quickly.
Make homemade ice cream with pasteurized eggs.
Eggs and Poultry Products
When buying eggs, choose eggs that are clean and aren't broken or cracked.
Store eggs in the original carton in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not in the door.
Food safety requires that you NEVER eat raw eggs--and this goes for raw cookie dough too.
When preparing eggs cook until yolk are firm (yolks should not be runny).
Hard-boiled eggs can last a week in the refrigerator (in or out of the shell).
Cook egg dishes to 160°F.
Choose chicken that looks pink and fresh.
Make sure package is sealed and very cold.
Check the sell by date before purchase.
Meats
When shopping make sure the meat is tightly wrapped.
Pick up the meat last and have it bagged apart from other groceries.
Always wash hands before and after handling meat.
Store meat in coldest part of refrigerator.
Use freezer-safe wrap to freeze meat at 0°F.
Freeze cooked meats within 3 to 4 days.
Use separate cutting boards for raw meats and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination.
Defrost meat in the microwave by using the defrost setting or in the refrigerator--not on the counter top.
Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperatures.
Cook ground meats to 160deg&;F.
Beef, veal and lamb should reach 145°F.
Cook pork to 160°F.
Leftovers
For storing leftovers, keep refrigerator setting to below 40° Fahrenheit.
When reheating food in the microwave, make sure food reaches 165°F internal temperature.
For food safety do not eat pizza that has set at room temperature for more than two hours, throw it out.
If you take a doggie bag from a restaurant, discard it after 5 days.
If reheating leftovers in microwave give it a half turn midway through heating time.
Lunchboxes
Be sure all preparation surfaces are clean when preparing lunches.
Pack in an insulated bag or box with an ice pack or frozen beverage container if needed.
If you reuse lunchbox containers, clean thoroughly with warm soapy water after each use.
For kids lunches pack a hand sanitizer towelette and remind them to use it.
