Stephanie
Fullwell's
Cornucopia
Food SafetyTips
Counter Protection
When working with
raw meat and poultry, place a sheet of
freezer paper on
the countertop. The paper absorbs moisture while
the plastic coating
prevents the juices from leaking through.
Refrigerator Storage
Cover foods in bowls,
on plates and platters (except stainless steel
or silver trays)
or pitchers with foil. Wrap cut fruit or vegetables tightly
in foil before refrigerating.
Foil will prevent food from drying out and
prevent transfer
of food odors and flavors in the refrigerator.
Picnic Food Safety
Follow food safety
guidelines by keeping cold foods cold
(below 45°F)
and hot foods hot (above 140°F).
Keep Picnic Foods
Cold
Thoroughly chill
all cold foods before packing. Keep food in the cooler
until serving time.
Do not leave it out on the picnic table. Put leftovers
back in the cooler
as soon as you're finished eating.
Keep It Clean
Make grilling surfaces
at parks or campsites cleaner by placing a sheet
of foil on the grill.
Cut slits in the foil to allow juices to drip through.
This guarantees
a clean grill rack!
Cool Foods First
Cool foods before
freezing to ensure that they freeze quickly. Never leave
food at room temperature
for more than two hours. If space allows, freeze
packages in a single
layer; then stack when frozen.
Thawing Foods
In Refrigerator
Thaw frozen foods
while still wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator
on a tray. This
allows food to absorb ice crystals and retain flavor and moisture.
Freezing Tips
Set freezer temperature
at 0°F. or below to maintain the best food color,
texture and flavor.
For maximum efficiency keep the freezer at least 2/3 full.
Bread freezes well
and can take up any extra space.
Never Thaw Foods
At Room Temperature
Thawing at room
temperature is not recommended. It allows the food
to thaw unevenly
and encourages bacteria growth. In the time it takes
the center of frozen
food to defrost, the surface of the food could become
warm enough for
bacteria to multiply to dangerous levels. Thaw food, still
wrapped in aluminum
foil, on a tray in the refrigerator.
Thawing Foods
In Microwave Oven
Unwrap frozen foods
to be thawed in a microwave oven. Use small
pieces of aluminum
foil to shield areas that begin to cook before the
center of the food
has thawed. Use LOW (30%) power following
oven manufacturer's
instructions. Microwaves have improved quite
a bit since they
were first introduced in the 1970s. Although you still
cannot use metal
containers in a microwave, you can use small
pieces of aluminum
foil here and there.
