Are you Cleaning Correctly? (2302)

Keep food clean to keep it safe. Start with these 6 tips:

1. When grilling, wash the platter used to bring meat to the grill with hot soapy water and rinse before using again. If you use the same unwashed plate, bacteria from the raw meat will contaminate the cooked meat.

2. Cutting boards made of plastic are easiest to keep clean. Wooden boards can absorb the bacteria from one food and pass them on to the next food. Wash cutting boards with hot soapy water and rinse with hot water.

3. Wash produce, such as fruits, vegetables and fresh herbs thoroughly. Avoid using soap for washing produce, because soap residue may make you ill.

4. Air-dry dishes or use a clean towel each time. Use a separate towel for hands.

5. Keep raw meat, poultry, and fish and their juices away from other food. For instance, wash your hands, cutting board, knife and countertops in hot soapy water after cutting up a chicken and before slicing salad ingredients.

6. Handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to reduce risk of foodborne illness. Wash hands with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling food.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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