5 Food Safety Mistakes You’re Probably Making

Food poisoning can cause much more than an uncomfortable inconvenience. Check out these 5 food safety mistakes you’re probably making and what to do instead.

Food poisoning is no big deal… right? Wrong. Food poisoning affects 1 in 6 people and leads to over 100,000 hospitalizations each year. Food poisoning might not be a short-term inconvenience, either. It can lead to long-term negative consequences like kidney failure (E. coli), chronic arthritis (Shigella, Salmonella or Campylobacter), brain or nerve damage (Listeria or Campylobacter), paralysis (C. botulinum), or even death. Here are 5 food safety mistakes you’re probably making and how to fix them.

5 Food Safety Mistakes You’re Probably Making

1. Thawing meat on the counter. Bacteria grows and multiplies quickly at room temperature. Even if it’s frozen beforehand, thawing at room temperature is not safe. Instead, thaw raw meats in the refrigerator, under cold water (under running water or in a plastic baggy submerged and change the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave. Likewise, marinate meats in the refrigerator.

2. Rinsing your meat. Raw meats, including fish, don’t need to be rinsed prior to being cooked. In fact, rinsing your meats can splash bacteria onto your countertops, clothes, and other surfaces. Instead, remove raw meat from its packaging and take it straight to the heating surface.

3. Waiting too many days to cook or eat your food. The smell and taste checks are not strong enough tests to determine whether bacteria has spoiled your food, and even a small bite of spoiled food could make you sick. Most raw meats should be cooked within 2-5 days and most leftovers should be consumed within 3-4 days (check this chart to be more specific).

4. Not washing fruits and vegetables properly. Whether you plan to peel it, cut into it, or eat it as is, you need to rinse your produce first. Any time the peel is pierced, an opportunity arises for bacteria to enter. Never use soap, bleach, or detergent to clean your produce; instead use running tap water.

5. Improper hand-washing. Contaminated hands are a major contributor to spread of foodborne illness. If you’ve touched your phone, laptop, an unclean countertop, face, hair, or surface with raw meat remnants, absolutely wash your hands. Wash your hands in warm, soapy water for 15 to 20 seconds.

Time Out for Top Health

Take a little extra thought for food safety to keep you and your family in tip top shape! Even a few minutes can make the difference between spending the weekend doing your favorite things and spending the weekend bear hugging your toilet bowl (or worse). Don’t let these easy-to-fix, common food safety mistakes slow you down!

What do you think? Any room for improvement in your kitchen?

Disclosures: None. This post was not created in partnership with any product or brand. 

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