Stay Safe at Your Next Cookout
By Sara Butler
Cookouts are a lot of fun, but they can also be full of hidden dangers. There are a few precautions that should be taken when cooking outside on your grill. If you don’t follow these safety measures, then you could make yourself or the people you’re feeling ill. Here are a few important food safety tips to keep in mind!
Handle Meat Properly
There aren’t many cookouts that are complete without grilled meat. No matter if it’s chicken, hamburgers, or steaks you have on your menu, it’s important to follow handling instructions properly. First and foremost, if you’re using frozen meat, then it needs to be thawed completely before use. You shouldn’t wash poultry or meat before you cook it since it can spread bacteria all over your kitchen in the process.
Keep the Marinade in Check
Foods should be marinated in the refrigerator, not left out on the counter. The cold environment of the fridge keeps the bacteria from growing -- bacteria that can make anyone who eats it sick. You should also never reuse marinade. If you want to put some on the food after you’ve cooked it, then put some aside before adding raw meat to it.
Cook to the Proper Temperature
You should rely on a food thermometer to let you know when a food is cooked right, not just sight alone. Take the temperature in the thickest part of the meat and keep in mind that the temperature that’s safe varies depending on the type of food it is. Follow these guidelines from the USDA:
- Seafood - Should be cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit
- Pork, beef, veal, and lamb - Cook to 145 degrees Fahrenheit
- Poultry - Cook to 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Ground meat - Cook to 160 degrees Fahrenheit
Remember to rest pork, lamb, veal, and beef for at least three minutes before you slice it.
Keep Hot and Cold Foods Apart
Hot and cold food don’t belong together unless it’s in your belly! For cold foods, keep them refrigerated until they’re ready to be served and don’t keep them out for longer than an hour. If they need to be left out, use a cooler or ice packs to help keep the temperature down.
As far as hot foods are concerned, you should keep them hot until they’re served. It’s easy to keep them on the grill at a low temperature or in chafing dishes to stay hot.
Don’t skip over any of these important rules to stay safe at your cookout!
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