#5 Not being aware of the food danger zone The food ‘danger zone’ is described by the United States Department of […]
#5 Not being aware of the food danger zone
The food ‘danger zone’ is described by the United States Department of Agriculture, as a temperature range between 40°F and 140°F. In these conditions, bacteria can double in less than 20 minutes. To keep food out of the food danger zone, you should avoid thawing food on the counter, using the fridge, microwave, or cold water instead. You should also avoid letting food cool on the counter for more than 2 hours— and no more than one hour if the temperature is above 90°F.
#6 Reusing shopping bags that have held raw meat
According to Consumer Reports, reusable material shopping bags can be “a breeding ground for bacteria” as a result of being splashed by raw meat juices. To avoid this potential food hazard, they suggest washing your bags regularly using hot water. If you can, stick to having one bag for meats or, at the very least, wrapping the raw meat packages in a plastic produce bag before putting them in your tote.
#7 Putting raw meat on the fridge’s top shelf
Just like material bags, bacteria caused by raw meat juice can quickly spread to other food items and surfaces. Professor Tom Humphrey of the Insitute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool tells the Daily Mail, “The golden rules of fridge hygiene are that raw meat must be stored at the bottom of the fridge. You must also keep food that is to be eaten raw separate from processed, home-cooked or raw meat. Fish is generally clean from bacteria, but it does spoil quickly.”
#8 Not checking your fridge’s temperature
This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s another thing that often goes forgotten during day-to-day life. If your fridge isn’t cold enough, it can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. Use a refrigerator thermometer to quickly check the temperature. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, your fridge should never go above 40°F, while your freezer should always be at 0°F or lower.