Have you ever worried about whether your fresh produce has been washed properly, if the food prep area is clean, or if the cooking area is tidy?
Don’t worry, Mummy, you’re not alone.
These are just some of the concerns people have when it comes to serving safe food.
But this should also be your way of thinking even when dining at home.
Storing and preparing food for your family or guests must be done hygienically to ensure that they are both clean and safe to eat.
NSF.org recommends to follow these ten rules to maintain the highest levels of food safety, cleanliness, and hygiene:
Try Not to Overcrowd Your Fridge
Remember that air circulation is necessary to keep food cool even though it may be tempting to overpack and overfill your refrigerator with a stockpile of groceries.
Make sure the temperature of the food in the refrigerator is kept at or below 4°C by using a thermometer (or your fridge’s in-built one, if applicable).
This might require lowering the refrigerator’s temperature below 4°C.
And while it’s best to avoid overfilling your refrigerator, keep in mind that a full freezer operates more effectively.
Load Food in Your Fridge Strategically
There are several ways to store your food in the fridge to keep it fresher for longer, including:
- Designate a drawer or container in the refrigerator for raw meat to thaw. This keeps juices from spreading outside of the drawer or container.
- Never store pre-cooked meat or plant-based ‘meat’ next to raw meat to avoid cross-contamination.
- Before storing fresh produce, wash and rinse it thoroughly.
- Use a sanitising wipe to clean all plastic packaging and bottles from the grocery store before storing them in your refrigerator or pantry.
When Storing Leftovers, Let Them Cool First
Are you aware that leftovers can be safely stored?
The most crucial step in proper storage is making sure leftovers don’t sit out for more than two hours at room temperature.
Distribute leftovers among smaller, airtight containers that are 1″ to 2″ deep, and let them cool completely before storing them in the refrigerator.
Safely Reheat Food
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises allowing food to reach 74 °C when reheating leftovers.
Stir food halfway through cooking when using a microwave.
You run a higher risk of getting food poisoning if you don’t microwave your food until it reaches a safe temperature.
So, always use a certified thermometer to check the temperature of your food in different spots.
Know When Leftovers in the Refrigerator or Freezer Will Go Bad
In general, leftovers should be used up within 3-4 days if they are kept in the refrigerator.
If you won’t be eating leftovers right away, you might want to freeze them.
In the freezer, leftovers can be kept for 2-3 months.
To know when to dispose of something, label your containers with the date that they were last stored.
Thaw Frozen Food the Proper Way
Using a safe method to thaw frozen foods reduces the risk of foodborne illness.
Here are three different methods for properly defrosting or thawing your food:
- Thaw in the fridge. Keep raw meat in a container to prevent juices from contaminating other foods in your fridge. When using this method, allow 4-5 hours per pound for most foods to thaw.
- Run in cold water or immerse in cold water. If you place the frozen food in water, change the water every 30 minutes to prevent it from becoming too warm. It could take up to 30 minutes per pound. Use this method only if you intend to cook the food right away.
- Microwave to thaw or defrost. You should also only use this method if you intend to cook the food pretty much immediately. Follow your microwave’s instructions or use the defrost setting.
Make sure the internal temperature of frozen foods is never in the ‘danger zone’ between 4 °C and 60 °C, where bacteria can quickly multiply and lead to foodborne illness.
Also, never thaw food on the countertop or at room temperature, as this can result in uneven temperatures throughout the food.
If you do cook from frozen, the recommended cooking time for fully thawed or fresh meat and poultry will be about 50% longer.
Keep An Eye Out for Expiration Dates
Pay close attention to the expiration dates and understand the distinction between the best before, use before, and expiry dates if you frequently keep canned food in your home.
- Use before and expiration dates: Refer to food safety. After these dates, do not eat the food.
- Sell-by dates: These are guidelines that retailers can use to determine how long to keep an item on display for sale.
- Best used before dates: These indicate how long a product will maintain its best quality and freshness.
Understand the Distinction Between Cleaning and Disinfecting
Cleaning is the process of removing soil, germs, and dirt from a surface.
Disinfecting is the process of using chemicals to kill microorganisms on a surface. Using a 70% alcohol solution is one method.
Another option is to dilute 3.8 litres of water with five tablespoons (1/3 cup) of household unscented bleach.
It’s important to remember that both of these methods differ from sanitising.
Make sure you understand the differences between the three so you know when to use which one.
Engage the Entire Family in Cleaning High-Touch Surfaces
Children are excellent housecleaning assistants.
Engage them in a game that requires them to name all of the common touch points in the house.
These may include light switches, faucet handles, refrigerator handles, cabinet knobs, and countertop knobs.
Then, make sure to inform them that all the identified touch points must always be cleaned and disinfected often by everyone in the house.
Wash Your Hands
You will never hear enough of this.
Hand washing is one of the simplest ways to prevent the spread of germs.
According to the CDC, you can keep yourself and your loved ones healthy by washing your hands frequently.
This is especially during times when you are more likely to pick up and spread germs, such as:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before and after eating food
- Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhoea
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
So, there you have it. Ten tips for keeping things hygienic when dealing with food at your house.
Hopefully, these guidelines will help you serve food safely while also keeping your kitchen clean. You’ve got this, parents!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!