Clean
- Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before and after handling food
- Wash cutting boards, knives, utensils and counters with hot soapy water
- Rinse all fruits and vegetables under running water; use a vegetable brush on firm fruits and vegetables
- Immediately wipe up spills with soap and water
- Wash dish cloths and kitchen towels often and in hot, soapy water and dry on high heat.
Separate
- Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood away from other foods both at home and in your grocery cart
- Wash reusable grocery bags in-between uses
- Use separate utensils for raw foods and cooked foods
- Use separate cutting boards for raw meats, cooked meats, and produce or scrub cutting boards thoroughly between uses.
Cook
- Always use a meat thermometer! Color and texture are not reliable indicators of food reaching proper cooking temperatures.
- Cook ground meat to 160° F, poultry to 165°F, roasts and fish to 145°F
- Be sure to follow cooking instructions on prepared foods
Chill
- Refrigerate foods at ≤ 40°F.
- Use a thermometer in your refrigerator to ensure it is operating at ≤40°F
- Ensure your freezer is set to 0°C or lower
- Keep your refrigerator clean and wipe up any spills immediately with hot, soapy water
- Refrigerate or freeze foods and leftovers within 2 hours of cooking or preparation
- Separate portions into smaller containers to speed up cooling
- Only thaw foods in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. NEVER leave foods out on the counter to thaw.
- Discard foods that have exceeded safe storage times
Keep food in the safe zone
- Keep hot foods hot (> 140°F) and cold foods cold (< 40°F)
- During gatherings, store perishable foods on ice and keep warm foods on a hot plate or in a slow cooker.
- Refrigerate or freeze foods within 2 hours. Discard any food that has been out longer than 2 hours
