We are in the season of cookouts, picnics, and barbeques. Over the Fourth of July weekend alone, more than one hundred twenty two million Americans will be grilling outside! Make sure that your guests go home with happy memories and not upset stomachs with these tips:
- Skip the rare burgers and steaks. In general, grilled meats should be cooked to at least 160 degrees. Bring your kitchen thermometer along to make sure everything is cooked enough to be safe.
- The USDA has a handy fact sheet about meat preparation that tells you the appropriate temperature each type of meat should be cooked to.
- Don’t use the same utensils for raw and cooked meat. Pick up different colored utensils and use one color for raw meat and another color for cooked meat, so that you don’t spread bacteria from the raw to the cooked.
- Don’t use the same utensils for meats and veggies. If you’re planning to serve kabobs, remember to use separate knives for cutting the vegetables and the meat. Wash the cutting board thoroughly between chopping to prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Keep everything cold. Heat can spoil foods quickly — especially foods made with mayonnaise. Ideally, your cooler should be 25 percent ice and 75 percent food — this will provide enough cold air to keep your picnic supplies fresh and safe.
- Prep sandwiches in advance. Leaving your sandwiches in the fridge overnight means they are thoroughly chilled, and will stay cold (and safe) longer in your cooler or picnic basket.
- Freeze drinks in plastic bottles overnight — they can help keep foods cold in your cooler.
If you do eat something questionable and believe you may have food poisoning, call your doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible. The main symptom of true food poisoning (as compared to eating something that doesn’t quite agree with you) is the nearly uncontrollable vomiting. You will quickly become dehydrated if you can’t keep anything down, and will need a doctor’s attention.
For great cookout recipes and other tasty treats, check out the Food Blog!