At Raise-The-Grade, it is our mission to create a food safety culture that keeps everyone safe and healthy no matter the food they enjoy. Whether you are a restaurant owner in search of adequate food practices or simply someone interested in maintaining food safety, we have the information you need to succeed! In the following blog, we will discuss some tips for handling food outdoors. If you are interested in partaking in our courses in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia, contact us today.
Clean The Area
When handling food outdoors, the first important thing to do is maintain a clean area. Always make sure to wash your hands, cutting boards, dishes, and anything else that will touch food. While you are at it, make sure to clean all of your products including fruits and vegetables. With canned goods, remember to clean the lids before you open them!
Separate Your Products
Always make sure to keep raw products separated from cooked food. If you mix the two, it can create numerous food-borne illnesses that can get you or your guests very ill. Keep different containers available for different types of products, such as raw and cooked meats. Also, make sure to use different cutting boards and never place cooked food where raw food once was.
Cook To Temperature
When grilling outdoors, cook all of your food to the right temperature. Color and texture are unreliable indicators of safety, so always make sure to use an accurate thermometer. It is best practice to cook all food to a safe minimum internal temperature, as this destroys harmful bacteria.
Keep Cold Food Cold and Hot Food Hot
If eating cold food, place it in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Cold food should be stored at 40 degrees or below to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Try and keep these coolers closed as long as possible, as constant opening can increase the temperature. Hot foods should be kept at or above 140 degrees, so wrap your food well within an insulated container until serving.
Never leave your food out sitting for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour in temperatures above 90 degrees no matter if hot or cold.
Food safety is always an important aspect of enjoying food, especially when outdoors. Follow these tips to make sure you and your family stay safe during those fun weekend barbeques! Visit us online today to learn more about the courses we teach!