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Basic InformationLatest NewsMediterranean Diet Could Keep Aging Brains SharpSwitch to Plant-Based Diet Could Protect Older Women's BrainsAHA News: Lower Your Sodium, and Blood Pressure Will FollowDaily Coffee Tied to Lower Risk for Heart FailureAHA News: Avocados Are a Healthy Option Super Bowl Sunday – and Year-RoundMany U.S. Adults Aren't Getting Healthy Amounts of Fruits, VegetablesWhole Wheat Better for You Than White Bread, Study ConfirmsWhat's the Most Nutritious Way to Juice Your Vegetables?Pandemic May Be Affecting How Parents Feed Their KidsOmega-3s From Fish Might Curb Asthma in Kids, But Genes MatterAHA News: 5 Things Nutrition Experts Want You to Know About New Federal Dietary GuidelinesJust 2% of U.S. Teens Eat Recommended Amount of VeggiesHealthy Eating Could Delay Onset of Parkinson's DiseaseFried Food a Big Factor in Heart Disease, StrokeStrict Low-Carb Diets Could Push Type 2 Diabetes Into Remission, But Effect FadesClimate Change Is Spurring Malnutrition in Kids WorldwidePlant-Based Diet Brings Better 'Microbiome,' Healthier LifeAHA News: Trendy Microgreens Offer Flavor You Can Grow at HomeMediterranean Diet Could Help Stop Prostate Cancer's SpreadWhen Soda Tax Repealed, Soda Sales Rebound: StudyCan 2 Nutrients Lower Your Risk for Parkinson's?AHA News: Ring In the New Year With a 'Mocktail'New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Ignore Recommendations on Sugar, AlcoholWhich Seafood Has the Highest Amount of Microplastics?Could Going Vegetarian Lower Kids' Asthma Risk?1 in 7 Studies in Nutrition Journals Have Food Industry TiesAHA News: Teatime Can Be Good for Your HealthSugary Drinks' Effect on Hormones Could Spur Weight Gain: StudySocial Media Messages Can Lower People's Meat IntakeAHA News: The Best Foods for Brain HealthGet Rid of Red Meat to Help Your Heart: StudyMetabolites From Food Could Affect Your Stroke RiskAHA News: Eating Foods That Promote Inflammation May Worsen Heart FailureCocoa Might Give Your Brain a Boost: StudyAHA News: Teens' Ultra-Processed Diet Puts Their Hearts at RiskMediterranean Diet Cuts Women's Odds for DiabetesJunk Food, Booze Often Star in America's Hit MoviesVegan Diets Tied to Higher Bone Fracture RiskAHA News: Tackling Turkey Day: Strategies for a Healthy FeastAHA News: Inconsistent Mealtimes Linked to Heart RisksHot Discovery: Chili Peppers Might Extend Your LifeAHA News: Is Honey Healthy? How to Make Sure You Don't Get StungNearly 1 in 5 Americans Follows 'Special' DietTips for a Healthier Holiday SeasonDiet Drinks Don't Do Your Heart Any FavorsAHA News: Persimmons Pack Plenty of Nutritional PunchRestricting Promotions of Sweet Foods Cuts Sugar, Not Profits: StudyWhat Foods, Medicines Can Lower Your Colon Cancer Risk?Americans Are Cutting Back on Sugary DrinksAre School Lunches a Ticket to Healthy Eating? Questions and AnswersLinks |
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Keep Food Safe! Food Safety BasicsUnited States Department of AgricultureSafe steps in food handling, cooking, and storage are essential in preventing foodborne illness. You can't see, smell, or taste harmful bacteria that may cause illness. In every step of food preparation, follow the four guidelines to keep food safe:
- Clean — Wash hands and surfaces often.
- Separate — Don't cross-contaminate.
- Cook — Cook to proper temperatures, checking with a food thermometer.
- Chill — Refrigerate promptly.
Shopping
- Purchase refrigerated or frozen items after selecting your nonperishables.
- Never choose meat or poultry in packaging that is torn or leaking.
- Do not buy food past "Sell-By," "Use-By," or other expiration dates.
Storage
- Always refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours (1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F).
- Check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer with an appliance thermometer. The refrigerator should be at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F or below.
- Cook or freeze fresh poultry, fish, ground meats, and variety meats within 2 days; other beef, veal, lamb, or pork, within 3 to 5 days.
- Perishable food such as meat and poultry should be wrapped securely to maintain quality and to prevent meat juices from getting onto other food.
- To maintain quality when freezing meat and poultry in its original package, wrap the package again with foil or plastic wrap that is recommended for the freezer.
- In general, high-acid canned food such as tomatoes, grapefruit, and pineapple can be stored unopened on the shelf for 12 to 18 months. Low-acid canned food such as meat, poultry, fish, and most vegetables will keep 2 to 5 years-if the unopened can remains in good condition and has been stored in a cool, clean, and dry place. Discard cans that are dented, leaking, bulging, or rusted.
Thawing
- Refrigerator — The refrigerator allows slow, safe thawing. Make sure thawing meat and poultry juices do not drip onto other food.
- Cold Water — For faster thawing, place food in a leak-proof plastic bag. Submerge in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook immediately after thawing.
- Microwave — Cook meat and poultry immediately after microwave thawing.
Preparation
- Always wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
- Don't cross-contaminate. Keep raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices away from other food. After cutting raw meats, wash cutting board, knife, and counter tops with hot, soapy water.
- Marinate meat and poultry in a covered dish in the refrigerator.
- Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Cooking
Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures.
Ground meats: Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160°F as measured with a food thermometer.
Poultry: Cook all poultry to an internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
Serving
- Hot food should be held at 140°F or warmer.
- Cold food should be held at 40°F or colder.
- When serving food at a buffet, keep hot food hot with chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays. Keep cold food cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice or use small serving trays and replace them often.
- Use a food thermometer to check hot and cold holding temperatures.
- Perishable food should not be left out more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F).
Leftovers
- Discard any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature was above 90°F).
- Place food into shallow containers and immediately put in the refrigerator or freezer for rapid cooling.
- Use most cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
- Refreezing Meat and poultry defrosted in the refrigerator may be refrozen before or after cooking. If thawed by other methods, cook before refreezing.
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