Lifestyle Desk: Not only cooking to fill the stomach, you also need to make sure the food is safe.
It is commonly said that bacteria begin to grow as soon as cooked food is left outside for two hours. That is why it is recommended to eat the food immediately after cooking. Otherwise, it has to be cooled quickly and kept in the fridge.
Again, it is not right to keep cooked food in the fridge for more than three or four days.
And there are several things to keep in mind after cooking meat. Because just as bacteria spread from raw meat, the germs can also pass through cooked meat through carelessness.
Keep cooked meat in raw meat containers
It is not at all safe to keep cooked meat in the same container in which the raw meat was kept.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that inadvertent germs in raw meat can spread to cooked meat.
So the CDC recommends using two pots. One to keep raw meat, the other to keep cooked meat.
Just washing the plate is not effective
After cooking, and utensils should be cleaned properly. Not very effective in general washing.
This is because the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) instructs that the first step in eradicating bacteria is washing. However, bacteria that can poison food can survive anywhere for a long time.
For example, Campylobacter survives in the kitchen for up to 4 hours. Salmonella can live up to 12 hours. And these two bacteria are present in raw poultry.
So this company recommends taking time to wash all types of pots after cooking meat with water mixed with lukewarm soap.
Sanitize raw meat containers
Washing cooking utensils is a common way to get rid of germs. However, raw meat containers should not only be washed but also cleaned with a sanitizer suitable for use in the kitchen to disinfect.
The USDA says containers that contain raw meat must be cleaned with a sanitizer after washing. Not only dishes but also kitchen sinks, floors, and places where raw meat is kept and washed should be cleaned with sanitizer. Otherwise, the germs will not be removed.
There are various types of sanitizers available in the market for use in kitchens and dishes. You can also make this disinfectant yourself.
According to the USDA, sanitizers can be easily prepared by mixing one tablespoon of odorless liquid bleach in one gallon of water.
The utensils can be soaked in this mixture for a while and then washed in lukewarm soapy water.
You can then wipe with a tissue or leave the water to dry in the air.
Wash your hands
You have to wash your hands after washing all the dishes and utensils. Not just after cooking, but also before cooking.
In order to prevent germs from getting into the food or food from the hands, the CDC recommends washing the hands and feet with soap and water twice a day before and after cooking.
And you have to be more careful in cleaning meat and eggs. Because of these raw foods, bacteria can spread to different places including sinks and kitchen shelves.
So it is best to arrange for meat washing outside the kitchen.
