The Importance of Basic Food Safety
By Sara Butler
Keeping the food you cook in your kitchen safe to serve and eat is one of the most important things you need to do. If you don’t take the time to understand the basics of food safety, then you’re creating an unsafe environment for you and your family and taking great risks with everyone’s health. Here’s what you need to know about food safety – it’s easy to understand and put into practice!
Wash Your Hands and Other Surfaces
If there are no bacteria to spread around the kitchen, then there’s no chance people will get sick! So, make sure you wash your hands and all other surfaces in your kitchen often. This includes:
- Cutting boards
- Utensils
- Counter tops
- Handles on appliances
Bacteria are really easy to spread around. When you touch a surface that isn’t clean, you easily spread it all over. It's called cross-contamination. You can combat this by:
- Washing your hands with soap and warm water – Do this right before and right after you touch food, change diapers or use the bathroom. Also wash hands after playing with pets.
- Wash all surfaces – Pay special attention to utensils, countertops, cutting boards, and dishes. Wash them in hot, soapy water after you prepare an item and before using it on or for something else.
- Use paper towels – When cleaning kitchen surfaces, disposable paper towels are the safest option. If you’d rather use cloth, just make sure to wash it in hot water when you do laundry.
- Wash fruits and vegetables – Wash everything with water before preparing, even if it’s covered by a rind or peel you don’t eat. If the skin is firm, use your hands to rub it under the water.
- Don’t use the kitchen table for storage – It’s best to keep shopping bags and backpacks off the kitchen table and the kitchen counters, they’re full of germs and bacteria you don’t want near your eating areas or prep surfaces.
Cross-Contamination
It’s easy to spread bacteria around your kitchen. When you’re handling items such as seafood, eggs, raw meat or poultry, keep them away from other items. To be safe:
- Keep meat separate in the shopping cart, in grocery bags and in the refrigerator
- Use separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables
- Use a thermometer to check that meat is cooked fully
- Don’t use plates that previously had raw meat on them if they’ve not been washed
These tips should get you started on the road to a healthier kitchen, free from contamination!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.