Holiday Cooking: Keeping it Safe!

During the holidays, we like to celebrate by entertaining friends and family, throwing parties, and preparing feasts. From the buffet table to the office party, food moves center stage throughout the season. By following a few easy food safety steps, you can help make sure that everyone has a healthier holiday this year!

Clean: Wash hands and surfaces that are in contact with food often. Germs and bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto
cutting boards, knives, sponges, and counter tops.

Separate: Don't cross-contaminate--don't let bacteria spread from one food product to another. This is especially true for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Keep these foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods.

Cook: Cook foods to the proper temperatures. Foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause illness.

Chill: Put leftovers in the refrigerator quickly. Refrigerating foods quickly keeps most harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Refrigerators should be set at 40° F and the freezer at 0° F. Check these settings from time to time by putting a thermometer in each one to see if the readings match.

Informational Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

For more information:

• USDA information on cooking turkey
• Roasting those "other" holiday meats
• Preparing a safe Thanksgiving meal

Last updated: November 16, 2005