A sizzling grill, pouring iced tea and booming fireworks are all sounds many of us will encounter during upcoming Fourth of July celebrations. Amid all the fun and festivities, don’t forget one important detail, food safety.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests these four steps to stay safe when grilling meat or poultry:
- Clean: Make sure you clean all surfaces, utensils and hands with soap and water.
- Separate: When grilling, use separate plates and utensils for raw meat and cooked meat and ready-to-eat foods (like raw vegetables) to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cook: Cook foods to the right temperature by using a food thermometer.
- Chill: Chill raw and prepared foods promptly if not consuming after cooking. You shouldn’t leave food at room temperature for longer than two hours (or 1 hour if outdoor temperatures are above 90° F), so if you’re away from home, make sure you bring a cooler to store those leftovers.
If you have food safety-related questions, call the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Recorded messages are available 24 hours a day and the hotline is staffed with food safety experts, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. You also may visit foodsafety.gov.
No matter how you decide to celebrate, be sure to make it a fun and safe experience.
