There’s nothing quite like the joy of cooking. If you are someone that loves to prepare meals and whip up something new and delicious in the kitchen, you’ll know the joy is incomparable. Yet it’s imperative that when you do cook, you practice proper hygiene and cleanliness practices.
Not only does it make it much easier for you to get things done, but you can rest assured the chances of giving anyone who eats your dishes food poisoning is a lot less. Because let’s face it, that’s never a good thing to do! You don’t want to cook a fancy dinner only to have your group heading to the ailments department to get treated. If you are looking for some tips to help with food safety in the kitchen, we have you covered.
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Ensure your workspace is clean before, during, and after you cook
One of the first things you need to sort when cooking is keeping your workspace clean. This means wiping the sides down with an antibacterial spray, removing any “non-kitchen” items from the work surface that might have accumulated during the day and cleaning the sink.
If the sides are cluttered and covered in food debris, germs can quickly gather and multiply, potentially causing food poisoning or safety issues. We also recommend cleaning as you cook and then again as soon as you are finished. This means nothing can build up and it’s a much more sanitary place to work from and live in.
Use different utensils for different food categories
It’s a good idea to get different colored chopping boards and different knives for different ingredients. It’s well known that white meat, such as chicken, can be some of the worst for causing salmonella, so by using separate utensils, there is a much lesser risk of cross-contamination.
Remember to also wash your hands between preparation of items or when you have touched the meat and use different tea towels and clothes, too if you are being particularly careful.
Keep your food stored correctly
As well as preparing your food correctly, you want to keep it stored in the best manner. Keep meats stored on the bottom shelf of the fridge so no juices can leak onto other items.
Store your cooked and raw meats away from each other and keep them away from things such as vegetables, fruit and dairy.
Always check the expiration date of food items and use the smell and look test before using something if you aren’t too sure. If something smells off or has any fuzz or discoloration, it’s best not to use it just in case.
These are just a few things you need to consider when it comes to food safety in the kitchen. Correctly preparing your food and keeping your ingredients stored properly is highly important and can help prevent anyone from getting sick. Being organized will also make for a much more enjoyable cooking experience. What are some top tips you have for food safety in the kitchen? Let us know in the comments below!
