Kitchen Food Safety
Food Safety Tips for Kids
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of foodborne illness.
Always wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before and after handling food. Wash again when you switch from one food to another. Wear a chef hat to keep hair out of the food preparation area.
Keep your utensils and countertops clean and sanitized.
Make sure you clean everything that comes in contact with your hands or your food. Remember to keep the following things clean: kitchen cloths, faucet handles, sink drains, garbage disposals, can opener blades, small appliances, utensils…just about everything!
Helpful Food Tips
- Keep separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and seafood and a different one for ready-to-eat and cooked foods. Clean and sanitize cutting boards after each use. Plastic ones can be put in the dishwasher.
- Wash the lids of canned foods before opening them and clean the blade after each use.
- Take small appliances apart (food processors, meat grinders and blenders) right after you use them, and clean and sanitize them.
- Air dry dishes and utensils or use a clean kitchen towel. Wash and sanitize sponges, cloths and towels regularly to prevent bacteria from growing.
- Clean the pantry regularly and keep food off the floor and stored in sealed containers.
- Thoroughly wash and sanitize any utensils that were in contact with raw food before you reuse them.
- Use disposable gloves if you have a cut or infection in your hand, and make sure it is covered with a bandage. Wash gloved hands as often as bare hands.
- Use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of your food.
- Don’t overload your fridge and freezer. Cool air must be able to circulate freely to keep food properly chilled.
- Bacteria can be carried in raw meat juices so make sure raw meat, poultry and seafood are placed in containers on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
