Hints from Heloise

Dear friends: Here are some important hints to keep your kitchen safe:

“Meat and poultry should be placed in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible. After grocery shopping, put perishables away first.

“Don’t thaw food on the counter or in the sink for more than two hours. When the temperature is high (85 degrees or above), don’t leave food out for more than one hour.

“Meat and poultry must be cooked thoroughly to kill bacteria. Meat should be cooked to 160 degrees, poultry to 170-180 degrees, and fish to 145 degrees.

“Store leftovers in small containers and place in the refrigerator immediately, so they cool quickly.

“Wash cooking utensils that come in contact with raw meat, poultry and fish. Cross-contamination is always a concern, so don’t use the same utensils or platters for raw and cooked meat.

These hints will help keep your food safe. – Heloise