OCD Archives

Well, it’s getting to be that BBQ time of the year. So I thought it would be good to freshen up on some safe food handling instructions. Here are some very important tips to follow to protect your family and guests.

• Maintain a clean food preparation area at all times. This includes cutlery, utensils, cutting boards and work area.

• Keeping meat refrigerated is very important. Meat should be selected last when shopping and immediately placed in the refrigerator or freezer.

• When thawing frozen meat, it should be done in the refrigerator over night. The refrigerator temperature will inhibit bacterial growth. While it’s not my favorite way to thaw meat you may in the microwave. Be sure to thaw completely and cook immediately.

• Thorough cooking will destroy potentially harmful bacteria, if present. Once meat is cooked, keep it hot prior to serving.

• Harmful bacteria are usually limited to the surface of the cuts of meat (Roasts, steaks, or chops). The heat from cooking should be sufficient to destroy the bacteria. These cut can still be pink in the center.

• With ground meats, however, any harmful bacteria that may have been present on the surface may be mixed throughout during grinding. This is why we here so much about how important to cook your ground beef, pork, turkey, etc. to an internal temperature of at least 160*F to assure any harmful bacteria are destroyed.

If you would like any more information on this please visit the USDA.