A ten-minute guide to being a healthy and safe cook!

The Meal Makers Guide to Food Health & Safety

Washing your hands is numero uno when it comes to food health and safety. Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water....

make sure you wash your hands...- after using the toilet

- when handling raw food- before touching cooked food

In case you need reminding how, this is how you wash your hands

Unhygienic cooking conditions can lead to the growth of bacteria

(yuk!)

Bacteria can grow anywhere, and

•it can reproduce on its own

•it reproduces and thrives at body temperature (28c)

•it reproduces quickly in your body, giving off chemicals called toxins which can damage tissue and make you sick.

•examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.

Some foods are more prone to breeding bacteria than others...

Foods that have the potential to cause food-born illness include:

•proteins, like cheese, meats, seafood and poultry

•moist foods like quiche, or leftover curry

•slightly acidic or neutral ph, like beans and pulses

•carbohydrates like potatoes, rice and pasta

When storing food, keep raw and cooked foods separate.Raw meats should be kept on the bottom shelf in clean, sealed containers

Never store food in metal cans; use cling-film and clean tupperware containers

Your fridge temperature should be between 0ºC and 5ºC

Your freezer should be at -18ºC

And pay attention to sell-by dates!

Always check your food is piping hot before serving...

Always check your food is piping hot before serving...

...and when cooking burgers, sausages, chicken and pork, cut into the meat to see that it’s no longer pink and the juices run clear

Some meat, such as steak and other whole cuts of beef and lamb are safe to serve rare as long as they are properly sealed to kill any bacteria on the meat’s surface.

(this also makes it taste really yummy) hurrah!

When preparing food for cooking, safe practices are essential

When preparing food for cooking, safe practices are essential

•keep meat and veg separate at all times

•make sure all your utensils, surfaces and chopping boards are sparkling clean

•wash your vegetables thoroughly

Oh, and remember to wash your hands

(we can’t emphasise this enough)

And before taking the delicious meal you’ve just prepared around to your neighbour...

And before taking the delicious meal you’ve just prepared around to your neighbour...

•use a clean tupperware container

•let it cool totally before closing the lid and put it in the fridge within 90mins

•when reheating make sure food is piping hot

•only reheat once

Now you’re almost ready to be one of our amazing cooks!

Thanks!