I know, this is not one of those very exciting topics but it is very important nonetheless. Today seemed an appropriate time to write this since I got food poisoning yesterday. Thing is, I have no idea what it was that I ate that caused it because my husband and I ate the same things and he didn’t get sick. Figures. Anyways, I don’t wish this sickness unto anyone, it is bad, bad.
So in order to prevent possible poisonings, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Always buy fresh ingredients, especially any kind of animal products (meat, milk, eggs).
- Make sure you wash your produce before you eat/cook it, even if the store has done it for you.
- Refrigerate your groceries as soon as you get home from the store (assuming they need to be refrigerated). Don’t leave them in the trunk of your car for a while and especially not while your car is parked in the sun.
- Cooked food starts creating bacteria after 2 hours of sitting out at room temperature. As soon as you finish eating, pack the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate them.
- If possible, use a different cutting board for meat and fruits/veggies. You can’t cut raw chicken and then slice apples on the same board. This is a huge health hazard.
- If in doubt, cook your meat to well done. Raw or undercooked meat may cause illnesses.
- Raw or undercooked eggs may cause salmonella.
- Store nuts in the fridge or freezer. They produce oils that will turn rancid after a short while.
- I also store my oils (olive, vegetable, etc.) in the fridge for longer shelf life.
- If you can’t remember how long an item has been in your fridge, throw it out.
- Always check the expiration dates on packages before you buy them.
- Smell any meat before you cook it. If it’s got a funky odor, do not cook and eat it.
- Sometimes dried herbs in your pantry might attract little bugs. Always sprinkle dried herbs in your hand first to check before you add them to your meal.
These are all the ones I could think of now but a really good resource is the http://www.foodsafety.gov/ website. Check it out and be a wiser consumer/cook.
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