Food Safety
Whether putting food in the refrigerator, the freezer, or the cupboard, you have plenty of opportunities to prevent foodborne illnesses.
The goal is to keep yourself and others from being sickened by microorganisms such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and C. botulinum, which causes botulism.
Keeping foods chilled at proper temperatures is one of the best ways to prevent or slow the growth of these bacteria.
These food storage tips can help you steer clear of foodborne illnesses.
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Storage Basics
Refrigerate or freeze perishables right away. Foods that require refrigeration should be put in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home.
Stick to the "two-hour rule" for leaving items needing refrigeration out at room temperature.
Never allow meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or produce or other foods that require refrigeration to sit at room temperature for more than two hours—one hour if the air temperature is above 90° F.
This also applies to items such as leftovers, "doggie bags," and take-out foods.
Also, when putting food away, don't crowd the refrigerator or freezer so tightly that air can't circulate.
Keep your appliances at the proper temperatures. Keep the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C).
The freezer temperature should be 0° F (-18° C). Check temperatures periodically. Appliance thermometers are the best way of knowing these temperatures and are generally inexpensive.
Check storage directions on labels. Many items other than meats, vegetables, and dairy products need to be kept cold.
If you've neglected to properly refrigerate something, it's usually best to throw it out.
Use ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible. Refrigerated ready-to-eat foods such as luncheon meats should be used as soon as possible.
The longer they're stored in the refrigerator, the more chance Listeria, a bacterium that causes foodborne illness, can grow, especially if the refrigerator temperature is above 40° F (4° C).
Be alert for spoiled food. Anything that looks or smells suspicious should be thrown out. Mold is a sign of spoilage. It can grow even under refrigeration.
Mold is not a major health threat, but it can make food unappetizing. The safest practice is to discard food that is moldy.
Be aware that food can make you very sick even when it doesn't look, smell, or taste spoiled. That's because foodborne illnesses are caused by pathogenic bacteria,
which are different from the spoilage bacteria that make foods "go bad."
Many pathogenic organisms are present in raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs; unclean water; and on fruits and vegetables.
Keeping these foods properly chilled will slow the growth of bacteria.
Following the other recommended food handling practices
(clean your hands, surfaces and produce, separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods, and cook to safe temperatures) will further reduce your risk of getting sick.
Refrigeration Tips
Marinate food in the refrigerator. Bacteria can multiply rapidly in foods left to marinate at room temperature.
Also, never reuse marinating liquid as a sauce unless you bring it to a rapid boil first.
Clean the refrigerator regularly and wipe spills immediately.
This helps reduce the growth of Listeria bacteria and prevents drips from thawing meat that can allow bacteria from one food to spread to another.
Clean the fridge out frequently.
Keep foods covered. Store refrigerated foods in covered containers or sealed storage bags, and check leftovers daily for spoilage.
Store eggs in their carton in the refrigerator itself rather than on the door, where the temperature is warmer.
Check expiration dates. A "use by" date means that the manufacturer recommends using the product by this date for the best flavor or quality.
The date is not a food safety date.
At some point after the use-by date, a product may change in taste, color, texture, or nutrient content, but, the product may be wholesome and safe long after that date.
If you're not sure or if the food looks questionable, throw it out.
The exception to this is infant formula. Infant formula and some baby foods are unique in that they must be used by the use-by date that appears on the package.
Freezer Facts
Food that is properly frozen and cooked is safe. Food that is properly handled and stored in the freezer at 0° F (-18° C) will remain safe.
While freezing does not kill most bacteria, it does stop bacteria from growing. Though food will be safe indefinitely at 0° F, quality will decrease the longer the food is in the freezer.
Tenderness, flavor, aroma, juiciness, and color can all be affected. Leftovers should be stored in tight containers.
With commercially frozen foods, it's important to follow the cooking instructions on the package to assure safety.
Freezing does not reduce nutrients. There is little change in a food's protein value during freezing.
Freezer burn does not mean food is unsafe. Freezer burn is a food-quality issue, not a food safety issue.
It appears as grayish-brown leathery spots on frozen food.
It can occur when food is not securely wrapped in air-tight packaging, and causes dry spots in foods.
Refrigerator/freezer thermometers should be monitored. Refrigerator/freezer thermometers may be purchased in the housewares section of department, appliance, culinary, and grocery stores.
Place one in your refrigerator and one in your freezer, in the front in an easy-to-read location. Check the temperature regularly—at least once a week.
If You Lose Electricity
If you lose electricity, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
Your refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it's unopened.
A full freezer will keep an adequate temperature for about 48 hours if the door remains closed.
Once Power is Restored . . .
You'll need to determine the safety of your food. Here's how:
If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on.
If the freezer thermometer reads 40°F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety.
You can't rely on appearance or odor.
If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40 °F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was not out for more than four hours and the refrigerator door was kept shut.
Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.
Tips for Non-Refrigerated Items
Check canned goods for damage.
Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting,
or crushing or denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener.
Stickiness on the outside of cans may indicate a leak.
Newly purchased cans that appear to be leaking should be returned to the store for a refund or exchange.
Otherwise, throw the cans away.
Don't store food, such as potatoes and onions, under the sink. Leakage from the pipes can damage the food.
Store potatoes and onions in a cool, dry place.
Keep food away from poisons. Don't store non-perishable foods near household cleaning products and chemicals.
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Update page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
Updated: April 9, 2014
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Critical Temperatures for Food Service
The following temperature guidelines, based on the federal Food and Drug Administration’s 2009 Food Code, apply at various stages of food preparation and serving.
Strictly maintaining these temperatures is particularly important when dealing with potentially hazardous foods.
These foods, which favor bacterial growth, include meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, dairy products, cut melon, raw seed sprouts, garlic-in-oil mixtures, cooked rice or potatoes and others.
Remember the danger zone: 41º F - 135º F.
Potentially hazardous foods exposed to this temperature range for a cumulative total of more than 4 hours are not safe to eat.
Receiving
Refrigerated potentially hazardous foods 41º F or below
Frozen foods 0º F or below
Check temperatures of food upon receipt and reject any potentially hazardous foods that fall outside of accepted ranges.
Put perishable foods away promptly.
Storage
Refrigeration (air) temperature 38º F or below
Refrigeration (food) temperature 41º F or below
Seafood 30º F - 34º F
Fresh produce 41º F - 45º F
Deep chill 26º F - 32º F
Freezer (food) temperature 0º F or below
Dry storage 50º F - 70º F
Use open shelving and do not cover food with foil.
Checks foods in multiple locations throughout a cold storage area; temperature may not be uniform.
For ready-to-eat foods prepared on-site, label and comply with storage time standards (seven days maximum for food held at 41º F or below).
Thawing
In the refrigerator 41º F or below
Under running water 70º F or below (water temperature)
Do not thaw at room temperature.
If a microwave is used to thaw food, the food must be cooked immediately after thawing.
Cooking
Beef roast 145º F for minimum of 3 minutes or 140º F for 12 minutes or 130º F for 121 minutes
Beef, steaks, pork, ham,fish, seafood (filets, chops or intact pieces), bacon 145º F for minimum of 15 seconds
Ground beef or pork, chopped/flaked meat 155º F for minimum of 15 seconds
Poultry, stuffed foods 165º F for minimum of 15 seconds
Eggs
= Cooked to hold 155º F for minimum of 15 seconds
= Cooked to order 145º F for minimum of 15 seconds
Foods cooked in microwave 165º F, hold for minimum of 2 minutes
Fruits, vegetables 135º F (no minimum time)
For combination dishes, choose the ingredient with the most stringent standard and follow it.
Measure temperature in the thickest part of the food.
Cooling Potentially Hazardous Food
From hot temperature Cool to 70º F within two 2 hours; cool to 41º F or below within 4 more hours (6 hours total)
From room temperature Cool to 41º F within 4 hours
Do not cool at room temperature.
Use a blast chiller or ice bath to hasten cooling.
Divide food into small units or use a shallow pan.
Holding
Hot food 135º F or above
Cold food 41º F or below
Keep food covered.
Stir hot food frequently.
Store utensil in food.
Take actual food temperature; do not rely on a thermostat setting.
Check temperature frequently (at least every 2 hours).
Do not use hot holding equipment to heat or reheat food.
Reheating
Leftovers 165º F minimum
Cold food 41º F or below
Food must reach temperature within 2 hours.
More Useful Temperatures
Handwashing water 110º F
Sanitizing solutions (heat) 170º F for minimum of 30 seconds
Sanitizing solutions (chemical) 75º F - 120º F
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