(NC)—Enjoying the warm weather with friends and family is one of the best ways to get the most out of summer. Whether it's sitting outside in the backyard or grilling delicious favourites on the BBQ, there is so much to enjoy.
Summer creates different challenges in the kitchen than meal preparation during other seasons. Warmer temperatures can affect foods being served and special attention is required to make sure food safety is maintained.
Bonnie Lacroix, a registered dietitian and professional home economist with a PhD in consumer food safety, says that consumers can do a great deal to reduce or eliminate food safety risks during the summer season. “Everyone should have their own food safety plan at home. There are many practices people can incorporate into cooking and entertaining.”
Some safety tips are even more important during the summer, especially when food is set out for guests.
• Platters with vegetables, dips, cheeses, and deli meats should be kept fresh by keeping the platter on ice and replacing containers of dips and other foods, not replenishing them. Do not leave the food out for more than two hours.
• Do not let foods linger during preparation – cook them thoroughly and serve them quickly. Keep hot foods hot with warming trays or crock pots.
• When frozen food, such as meat is thawed, cook immediately after thawing. Allow sufficient time for food to defrost properly. If not completely thawed, the food will take longer to cook.
• Meat should be cooked to an internal temperature minimum of 74°C or 165°F. You cannot determine whether meat is done by simply looking at the colour of the meat or juices, so use a food thermometer to check.
• Use leftovers within four days for best quality or freeze for later use. Reheat solid leftovers to at least 74°C or 165°F until “steaming” hot.
• When the kids are off to day camp or play dates, make sure their lunches and snacks are packed in a cooler bag with a freezer pack to keep foods fresh and safe.
- News Canada