The good cook’s guide to food hygiene

The good cook's guide to food hygiene When cooking up a storm in the kitchen, it's easy to let your hygiene habits slide. But did you know that by storing, cooking & handling food incorrectly, you may be putting you, your family and your friends' health at risk? To make your home a little healthier, here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself. An estimate of 133348 million people in the US and 31 million people in the UK suffer from foodborne illnesses An average kitchen sink contains 10000 more germs than a bathroom The average chopping board contains approximately 200% more bacteria than a toilet seat a kitchen sponge can carry over 10 million bacteria per square inch 1" Have you washed your hands? Neglecting to wash your hands is a recipe for disaster. Before preparing food, touching raw meat or using kitchen utensils, make sure you clean your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Don't forget to wash them after you handle raw foods like meat, eggs, fruit and vegetables too. Have you sanitised your surfaces? Grubby surfaces are the perfect breeding ground for germs, so it's important to keep them clean. Whether you have wooden, granite or stainless steel surfaces, always wash them using warm, soapy water and wipe them dry. Is your fridge cool enough? Keep your fridge at 5°C or cooler to avoid bacteria from growing. Avoid overpacking the fridge too, as this can prevent cold air from circulating. Is everything in its place? For a healthy fridge, organise your foods like so: Yoghurt • Cheese • Sauce • Cooked meat • Milk • Leftovers • Raw meat Fish • Poultry Salad drawer • Fruits Vegetables Door rack with lidded compartment • Butter • Margarine Door racks • Eggs • Condiments • Jams Fruit juice Are you in tune with temperatures? Use a food thermometer to ensure your food is properly cooked and safe to eat. Ground meat 74°C Beef, lamb, pork, ham 63°C Turkey, chicken & other poultry 74° C Seafood 63°C worktop express® Beferenceя: kinewupdatampalgnitehheck www.h mhd adun www.nhaak Livewellhomelsginae Pag Foodlogiennapa www.nha.ak/Livewell/homhyrienePagtodletenep www.ldagowPod ResoureforiaCenumersuemano worktop-express.co.uk