Don't Invite Bacteria Over For The Holidays

By: Lee Dobbins
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:18:04
Print this article | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

The holidays is a time to entertain guests with food and festivity is a but if you do not store, prepare and cook your food properly you may end up with one guest you don't want - bacteria.

Improper food handling can result in your food becoming a great host for bacteria which can cause food poisoning and make you and your guests sick. Bacteria is all around us every day but you can't smell, see or taste it so you need to be sure to prepare your food properly so that it does not harbor harmful bacteria.

Proper food handling starts when you purchase your food in the grocery store. You've probably seen meats in Styrofoam packages with the juices leaking out. These juices can contain bacteria! You want to be sure to put these meets in a bag by themselves so that the juices don't contaminate your fruits and vegetables or even your hands. Be sure to the meats in the cart at the end of your trip so that they will be thought of refrigeration for the least amount of time. When you get them home and pack them first and get them into the refrigerator right away.

When preparing your food you should always wash your hands before and after touching any meat. Also be aware that raw meat juices can get on your counters and cutting board so be sure to wash them with an antibacterial wash after you have prepared the meat. If you are grilling, and you put your raw meat on a plate to bring it to the grill, don't use that same plate to bring the cooked meat to the table as it can have harmful levels of bacteria on it from the raw meat.

Believe it or not, we carry harmful organisms on our skin that can produce a toxin would spread to food. While normal cooking destroys bacteria It does not destroy his talks and so this is another reason that it's very important to wash her hands with soap and water before you do any food preparation.

Defrosting can be a big problem. While it should be done in refrigerator, most people are impatient and leave their turkey or other meats out on the counter to defrost. This is a baf idea as a turkey defrosted on the counter instead of in the refrigerator can contain bacteria levels that are high enough to harm humans. Since the growth rate of bacteria speeds up between 40°F and 140°F, defrosting you meet in the refrigerator can allow it to be defrosted in a controlled environment where the bacteria growth has slowed. Another method is to defrosted in a sink full of water but you must be careful to change the water at least every 45 minutes.

Once you have defrosted your meat you should cook it right away or put it in the refrigerator but please cook it within 24 hours. You should not refreeze meat.

When it comes to cooking you should plan your meals ahead of time. It won't do to partially cook a turkey put it in the refrigerator and then put it back in the oven to complete the cooking this can cause a harmful level of bacteria to reside in the bird. Also, you can cook your meets to be rare or well-done but Turkey needs to be thoroughly cooked. Use a thermometer and keep the thermometer inside the oven with a turkey is so it does not provide a false reading. The thermometer should be put in the innermost part of the turkey thigh and should be 170°F for non-stuffed bird in hundred and 80 for stuffed. In addition make sure the staffing is at least 165°F.

Many families like to sit around the dinner table talking and drinking coffee in picking at the turkey and other foods for the whole afternoon. However this practice is not a good idea and you must get your cooked foods into the refrigerator within two hours to avoid risk of illness.

Leftovers are great and you could probably eat them all week long but you should be sure to eat your turkey and gravy within a couple of days.

Preparing and cooking your food properly can ensure safe eating for everyone.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://online-gourmet-foods.com when you can learn more about food preparation as well as discover the world of gourmet foods.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Food & Beverage category

  • Spices and Seeds that Might Please - By: Robert Kane
    We all know the rules when it comes to drugs. But what about the drugs that you don't realise you're ingesting? We take a look at the effects that various seeds, beans and spices can have on you, even though you might not realise they're in the foods you're eating every day. From cannabis seeds to ground nutmeg, we look at the seeds that might please.
  • Mario Batali's Babbo Restaurant in New York - By: M Haring
    Mario Batali is a famous and renowned Italian chef. He is also an Iron Chef on the Food Network channel. He is the author of many Italian cookbooks featuring his signature dishes. He studied at the Le Cordon Bleu and Rutgers University. He is of Italian, French, and English ancestry. Mario Batali lives in New York City with his wife and two sons.
  • Types of Italian Eateries and Monte's Trattoria - By: M Haring
    There are many different types of Italian Restaurants and dining experiences. There is the Osteria, which cater to simple regional foods of the area. These usually are open for dinner service but sometimes open for lunch.
  • Hop Kee Restaurant In New York City - By: M Haring
    Hop Kee Restaurant is a restaurant that specializes in authentic Cantonese dishes. It is located at 21 Mott Street in Chinatown in New York City. It is located in a Chinatown basement, so no need to dress up.
  • History of Italian food and New York - By: M Haring
    Italian food has been around since 4th century BCE. Wine, cheese, and coffee are important parts of Italian dishes. Italian cuisine focuses on using seasonal and quality ingredients. Simplicity is the key to Italian dishes. Olive oil is a major staple of most Italian cuisine also. One of the main Italian dishes is pasta.
  • For The Best Chinese Food and New York - By: M Haring
    American Chinese food was developed in the nineteenth century to suit the western palate. They placed Chinese restaurants in towns where Chinese food was unheard of. The Chinese people used local ingredients and bridged our wide food gap. This gave us all the chance to enjoy the delicious and traditional Chinese dishes.
  • Great Restaurants In New York For Breakfast - By: M Haring
    New York is widely known for their great restaurants. Not only do they offer some great lunch and dinner items they also offer some great breakfast items as well. However there are a few places that you should really consider checking out if you are looking for a great breakfast at a reasonable price.
  • Puglia Of Little Italy Restaurant in New York - By: M Haring
    Puglia of Little Italy Restaurant is an authentic, traditional, and mesmerizing Italian Restaurant. It is located on 2366 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, New York. This restaurant was created in 1919 by Gregorio Garofolo. He came from Italy and started creating his Homemade Italian dishes.
  • Raw Food Restaurants Found In New York - By: M Haring
    New York has some of the best restaurants found anywhere in America and among these restaurants you will find that the raw food restaurants are beginning to attract a lot more attention as more and more people are looking towards leading a healthier lifestyle. This great city has a great track record of serving some of the greatest raw food in the world. Out of these famous restaurants there are actually ten that actually stand out three of which are vegetarian. All of this is made possible because of the vast array of cultures that can be found within the big apple.
  • The Great New York Delis - By: M Haring
    You cannot be a true New Yorker without hitting one of these great New York delis that can be found throughout New York. Who doesn't love great pastrami on rye easing with cheese? Here are just a few of the best delis that anyone can find within New York. You should really consider giving one of these great hot spots a try today.