Handling & Safety Tips
In The Grocery Store
When shopping for meat, fish, and poultry:
- Put them in your grocery cart last
- Never buy a package that’s damaged or torn
- Check “sell by” dates
- Put packaged raw meat in plastic bags (prevents leaking juices from cross-contaminate other foods
- Load grocery bags with meat and other perishable foods in the air-conditioned section of the car, not in the trunk
- Refrigerate or freeze as soon as possible.
In addition, take groceries home immediately or bring along a cooler with ice packs and place the meat in it. If you won’t use meat, fish, and poultry within a few days, be sure to freeze immediately.
At Home
When carrying food to a picnic, the beach, or a tailgating party, keep it cold. Use an insulated cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep the food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove food from the refrigerator and pack the cooler just before leaving the house.
If using take-out foods such as deli potato salad, coleslaw, or baked beans, eat within two hours of purchase. Otherwise, purchase in advance and chill thoroughly then transport in a cooler and reheat those that should be hot just before eating.
Store refrigerated meat in the coldest part of the refrigerator in its original packaging. The more times the food is handled, the more chance of contamination. Put a plate under the package or place in a plastic bag to avoid juices dripping onto refrigerator shelves.
Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator, never on the counter. Allow sufficient defrosting time. Or, immerse packaged food in cold water to thaw. If you’re in a hurry, thaw in the microwave just prior to grilling.
Hand washing is paramount. Wash hands in hot, soapy water before preparing food, after touching raw meat, and after any interruptions such as using the bathroom, handling pets, stopping to help children.
Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices away from other food. That means thoroughly washing cutting boards, knives, platters, etc. before letting them come in contact with other foods that you’re preparing or with cooked foods that you’re about to serve.
Sanitize cutting boards and counter tops with chlorine bleach. Pour a small amount on surface and let stand several minutes, rinse thoroughly and air dry or dry with clean paper towel. Soak sponges and dishcloths in hot soapy water to which you’ve added chlorine bleach.
Marinate foods in the refrigerator, never on the counter.
Boil any marinade to destroy bacteria if you plan to baste with it or serve it with the cooked meat. Never save marinades for reuse.
On The Grill
Pre-cook chicken and ribs immediately before grilling. Never let partially cooked food sit for more than a few minutes before tossing it on the grill to finish it.
Cook meat thoroughly. Use a meat or “instant read” thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature. As a guideline, poultry should be cooked to 180 degrees F (breasts to 170 degrees), beef, lamb, veal roasts/steaks to 145 to 160 degrees, hamburgers to 160 degrees, and all pork to 160 degrees.
When grilling away from home, take meat out of the cooler just in time to put it on the grill and never take out more than will fit for immediate grilling. Keep cooler closed.
Reheat foods or fully cooked meats like hot dogs by grilling to 165 degrees F or until steaming hot.
Trim excess fat from meat to avoid flare-ups; never char the meat.
Refrigerate leftover food quickly (no more than two hours) and use within a couple of days.
Turkey without Fear of Frying
Deep fried turkey, a longtime favorite of the South, has become popular throughout the country. Once you’ve tasted the juicy, flavorful turkey with its crispy, golden skins, you may never want to roast the big bird again. Thanksgiving and Christmas are favorite times to fry a turkey but it’s increasingly popular at July 4th celebrations and other summer barbecue parties.
Use the appliance only for its intended purpose. Consult your owner’s manual on its safe operation.
A turkey that is 14 pounds or less is easier to handles, thus it increases the safety of frying.