"Only one koan matters - you."Ikkyu Sojun
|
| |
Don't mess with my Magic Trick!
Don’t mess with my Magic Trick!! There is usually one in every crowd that just has to be thespoiler in exposing your magic trick. You know, the guy, and Isay guy, not girl, for a reason, as in all my experiences, Ihave yet to have a girl behave in what I ...
Newsletter Publishing Made Easy!
Newsletter Publishing Made Easy! By BB Lee (C)2002 http://www.angelfire.com/zine/smallbiz ---------------------------------------------------------- 600 Words Publishing an Online Newsletter isn't easy. And, like the world beyond the Internet, you'll ...
The Pros And Cons Of Ceiling Speakers
Office buildings, airports and restaurants were the first homes of ceiling speakers. They can be easily recognized by the dense grilles that pour decibels right into your head. But why would someone want ceiling or in wall speakers, instead of a pair of ...
|
|
|
| |
Do you realize the many ways that bacteria can contaminate the food YOUR FAMILY eats? Do you know how to tell if your food is THOROUGHLY cooked to keep YOUR family safe from Food Poisoning? Do you know what to do if you or SOMEONE YOU LOVE gets Food Poisoning?
When it comes to food preparation and storage, "Common Practices" could be POISONING your family!
Here's how to avoid the problem entirely:
1. Plan For Safety
Make sure you have the right equipment, including cutting boards, utensils, food thermometers, cookware, shallow containers for storage, soap, and paper towels. Make sure you have a source of clean water. Plan ahead to ensure that there will be adequate storage space in the refrigerator and freezer.
2. Shop Smart
Prevention of food poisoning starts with your trip to the supermarket. Pick up your packaged and canned foods first. Buy cans and jars that look perfect. Do the cans have dents? Don't buy canned goods that are dented, cracked, or bulging. These are the warning signs that dangerous bacteria may be growing in the can. Are the jars cracked? Do they have lids that are loose or bulging? The food may have germs that can make you sick. Look for any expiration dates on the labels and never buy outdated food. Likewise, check the "use by" or "sell by" date on dairy products such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt, and sour cream and pick the ones that will stay fresh longest in your refrigerator.
3. Store Food Properly
After shopping, get home as soon as you can. Then put food into the refrigerator or freezer right away. Make sure to set the refrigerator temperature to 40° F and the freezer to 0° F. Check temperatures with an appliance thermometer. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours of shopping or preparing. Place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in containers in the refrigerator, to prevent their juices from dripping on other foods. Raw juices may contain harmful bacteria. Eggs always go in the refrigerator.
4. Prepare Food Safely
Wash hands and surfaces often. Bacteria can be spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils and counter tops. To prevent this, wash hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets. Wash everything else before and after it touches food. Use paper towels or clean cloths to wipe kitchen surfaces or spills. Wash cloths before you use them again for anything else. Use the hot cycle of your washing machine. Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next item. A solution of 1 teaspoon of bleach in 1 quart of water may be used to sanitize washed surfaces and utensils.
5. Cook Food Thoroughly
Cook food thoroughly until it is done. Cooked red meat looks brown inside. Poke cooked chicken with a fork. The juices should look clear, not pink. Dig a fork into cooked fish. The fish should flake. Cooked egg whites and yolks are firm, not runny. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat, poultry, casseroles and other food. Use a thermometer with a small-diameter stem. Insert the thermometer 1 to 2 inches into the center of the food and wait 30 seconds to ensure an accurate measurement. Check
temperature in several places to be sure the food is evenly heated.
6. Chill Food Promptly
Place food in the refrigerator. Don't overfill the refrigerator. Cool air must circulate to keep food safe. Divide food and place in shallow containers. Slice roast beef or ham and layer in containers in portions for service. Divide turkey into smaller portions or slices & refrigerate. Remove stuffing from cavity before refrigeration. Place soups or stews in shallow containers. To cool quickly, place in ice water bath and stir. Cover and label cooked foods. Include the preparation date on the label.
7. Transport Food Safely
Keep cold food cold. Place cold food in cooler with a cold source such as ice or commercial freezing gels. Use plenty of ice or commercial freezing gels. Cold food should be held at or below 40° F. Hot food should be kept hot, at or above 140° F. Wrap well and place in an insulated container.
8. Reheat Food Correctly
Heat cooked, commercially vacuum-sealed, ready-to-eat foods, such as hams and roasts, to 140° F. Foods that have been cooked ahead & cooled should be reheated to at least 165° F. Reheat leftovers thoroughly to at least 165° F. Reheat sauces, soups, and gravies to a boil.
9. Serve Food The Safe Way
Use clean containers and utensils to store and serve food. When a dish is empty or nearly empty, replace with fresh container of food, removing the previous container. Place cold food in containers on some ice. Hold cold foods at or below 40° F. Food that will be portioned and served should be placed in a shallow container. Place the container inside a deep pan filled partially with ice to keep food cold. Once food is thoroughly heated on stovetop, oven or in microwave oven, keep food hot by using a heat source. Place food in chafing dishes, preheated steam tables, warming trays and/or slow cookers. Check the temperature frequently to be sure food stays at or above 140° F.
10. Complete Your Meal Experience Safely
Cooked foods should not be left standing on the table or kitchen counter for more than 2 hours. Disease-causing bacteria grow in temperatures between 40° F and 140° F. Cooked foods that have been in this temperature range for more than 2 hours should not be eaten. If a dish is to be served hot, get it from the stove to the table as quickly as possible. Reheated foods should be brought to a temperature of at least 165° F. Keep cold foods in the refrigerator or on a bed of ice until serving. This rule is particularly important to remember in the summer months. Leftovers should be refrigerated as soon as possible. Meats should be cut in slices of 3 inches or less and all foods should be stored in small, shallow containers to hasten cooling. Be sure to remove all the stuffing from roast turkey or chicken and store it separately. Giblets should also be stored separately. Leftovers should be used within 3 days. Discard any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Copyright (c) Terry Nicholls. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Terry Nicholls is the author of the eBook "Food Safety: Protecting Your Family From Food Poisoning". For more tips like this and to learn more about his book visit his site at http://tinyurl.com/3fr2t
yourguides@cogeco.ca
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Police planned to arrest ex-Utah trooper - KHOU
SOUTHLAKE, Texas—An ex-Utah state trooper who police say was involved in a series of roadway shootings last month learned just hours before the deadly incidents that he would soon be arrested on burglary and robbery charges. Southlake police ...
Stocks open lower on Wal-Mart and retailers - Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened lower on Thursday after Wal-Mart Stores Inc ( WMT.N ) posted disappointing December sales and cut its fourth-quarter profit outlook, compounding investors' concerns about the worsening recession. Highlights: * Many ...
Window Shopping: The January Transfers - The Independent
The defender Glen Johnson (right) has signed a new four-and-a-half year contract with the club. The 24-year-old England international is now committed to the Fratton Park outfit until the end of the 2012-13 season. The deal is a fillip for the ...
Lenovo buys into Nortel virtual shopping app - Network World Fusion
Lenovo is using web.alive in an online virtual store as a way to give consumers a new avenue for e-commerce (and perhaps the system can help lessen the load on what will soon be a leaner Lenovo staff, with the company announcing an 11% workforce ...
Buried alive by 16yr pile of shopping - The Sun
AN elderly shopaholic was buried alive in her home after a 16-year pile of unopened purchases collapsed on her. Joan Cunnane, 77, was crushed under 3ft of ornaments, clothes in suitcases and electrical goods, still in their untouched packaging. The ...
|
