5 Safety Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning

Picnics, campfires, and backyard BBQ’s are a favorite summertime tradition. Don’t let poorly handled food ruin a good time. Follow these 5 tips to keep your food safe and edible.  

1. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold- Keep raw meat covered in an ice filled cooler or refrigerator until ready to prepare.
2. Wash your hands- Keep hands, plates, cutting boards, and utensils clean so that bacteria can not cross contaminate to other foods.
3. Cook meat thoroughly- Use a thermometer to determine if your food is cooked to the safe minimum temperature.
4. Defrost safely- Never let frozen meat thaw on a counter top. Thaw in a refrigerator, microwave, or bowl of water instead.
5. When in doubt, throw it out- If you have to question the safety, age, or freshness of a food, it’s probably not worth eating.

Visit WebMD for more tips on preventing food poisoning, and get creative with healthy recipes to grill meat, fruits and vegetables from EatingWell.