How to Keep Your Food Safe During Hot Summer Months

With summer coming, warm temperatures will soon be setting in. This is can be a dangerous time for our food supply, as food will spoil quickly in the heat. Bacteria love to multiply!

Here are some tips to make sure you keep your groceries safe this summer!

When going shopping, always get your non-perishable items first. After, pick up your frozen and cooled items. Try to bag the cold items together; they'll help keep each other cold until you can get home. Ideally, if you're in a hot area, it's a great idea to keep a cooler in your trunk to put perishable items in until you can get home.

When you do get home, put away your cold foods first. Keep eggs in a carton, putting them in the door opens them up to fluctuating temperatures which can cause them to spoil faster. Make sure your refrigerator is set on the right temperatures, as well as your freezer. A fridge should be at the highest, 40 degrees, and a freezer at 0 degrees.

For fruits and vegetables, you want to rinse for at least 20 seconds each before storing. If you're defrosting something, make sure you set it out ahead of time, in your refrigerator. Do not leave it on the countertop to defrost!

One of the biggest sources of contaminated food in your kitchen is your cutting board. Try to use a separate one for everything that needs cutting, eliminating cross-contamination. Always wash thoroughly between uses with soap and water. Once a week, treat them with a bleach and water mixture to kill any leftover bacteria.

It's common sense, but not always followed. Wash your hands often when preparing raw foods, and before eating. Rinse away any bacteria that might have come onto your hands before you serve meals to your family.

Cook your meat thoroughly in the summertime, get all the pink out. Bacteria love to thrive on raw, and undercooked meat. Anything that's been left over for more than 2 hours should be thrown out, so store your leftovers as soon as possible after your meal. Reheat the same way; make sure your food is heated thoroughly inside.

It's so important that you treat and handle your food properly during the summer! It's not hard for bacteria to take advantage of the warmer weather. Keep your family safe, and out of the sick bed this summer!