Food-Safe Holidays

young girl carrying turkey on platterWith the ghouls and goblins of Halloween all full with sugar for the year, it’s time to prepare our homes and kitchens for the holiday meals and parties that will be here before you know it.

There’s no holiday for food-borne illness, so as you prepare your holiday shopping lists, be sure you have these basic food safety tools to keep your family happy and healthy.

Keep your kitchen and dishes clean by using:

  • Unscented liquid bleach or sanitizing spray
  • Clean sponges
  • Clean towels
  • Paper towels
  • Dish soap
  • Hand soap
  • Brush for cleaning fruits and vegetables under running water

Separate your meats from everything else by having:

  • 2 clean cutting boards - 1 for meat, poultry and seafood; 1 for fruits and vegetables
  • A large rimmed baking sheet to put under your turkey in the refrigerator

Cook thoroughly, then store at safe temperatures by using:

  • Accurate food thermometer
  • Aluminum foil to tent your resting turkey
  • Appliance thermometers: 1 for your refrigerator, 1 for the freezer
  • Kitchen timer to set as reminder to put food in the refrigerator when its temperature is neither hot nor cold
  • Shallow containers with lids for leftovers
  • Food labels for containers
  • Plastic wrap and storage bags

For more information about how you can keep your family eating safely this holiday season, visit www.holidayfoodsafety.org