'Tis The Season To Ring In New Home Food Safety Traditions

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 28 Oct 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Eat, drink, be merry and break some old and possibly dangerous food handling habits this holiday season with these tips from the American Dietetic Association.

Reckless Thawing

Old Habit: Thawing a frozen turkey or other main meat dish on the kitchen counter, in the oven or even under hot water in the kitchen sink.

New Tradition: To prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, frozen meats should be thawed and marinated, for that matter in a refrigerator set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Or, if you are pressed for time, thaw a wrapped frozen turkey breast-side down in a sink filled with cold tap water, making sure to change the water every 30 minutes.

Holding Out on Hot Stuff

Old Habit: When preparing a cooked dish that needs to chill for storage or serving purposes, some home cooks think it's necessary to wait until food cool before putting it in the refrigerator.

New Tradition: In the old days, placing hot food in a refrigerator could raise the temperature of the fridge and cause food to spoil. Not anymore! To ensure the freshness and safety of your freshly cooked food, place it in the refrigerator promptly after cooking…No need to wait.

Covered Dish Delivery

Old Habit: Bringing a homemade holiday dish to a relative or friend's home.

New Tradition: Figure out how much time will pass from the minute you leave your door until your dish is eaten. If it will be more than two hours, pack a cold dish in a cooler and a hot dish in an insulated bag to keep both safe and bacteria-free.

Rocking the Gravy Boat

Old Habit: You probably know to bring gravy to a boil before serving it, but do you remember to boil gravy when reheating it, too? More than half of home cooks just reheat leftover gravy in the microwave until it's hot before serving again.

New Tradition: To eliminate harmful bacteria, always bring leftover gravy to a boil on the stove before serving it.

Festive Floor-grazing

Old Habit: Thinking there is such a thing as a "five-second rule" or other guideline to determine how long food is safe to eat after it falls on the floor.

New Tradition: Sorry, there's no such rule. If holiday treat topples to the floor, it's never a good idea to eat it. In the spirit of "out with the old, in with the new," throw away any food that has touched the floor.

For more tips on having a healthy and safe holiday meal, contact a registered dietitian. Visit the American Dietetic Association at http://www.eatright.org to locate an RD near you.

American Dietetic Association (ADA)
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
United States
American Dietetic Association