When you are barbecuing this summer, take precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This may be the perfect season for cookouts and picnics outside, but there are also many different bacteria floating around in the air this time of year. The FDA says bacteria in food multiply faster when the food is cooked between 40 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. When you are out barbequing, keep these helpful tips in mind to avoid a dangerous food borne disease.
The first step to prevent food borne illness this summer is a basic one. Wash your hands. While that may sound like a typical charge, the fact is that it is very important. Our hands can become home to thousands of germs if we don’t take care to wash them properly. The FDA recommends that you run your hands under water and lather soap for at least 20 seconds for a good, thorough, bacteria-killing washing. Always wash before eating or cooking, or after touching a contaminate substance.
Another tip for your barbecue dinner is to keep your raw food away from your cooked foods. If a plate previously held raw meat, wash it off before placing the hot barbecue on it. This will eliminate the possibility that your tasty steaks will pick up germs that were in the uncooked food. Another tip from the FDA is to marinate your food in the fridge. Many people place their steaks, chicken, or other meats on the counter in the marinade. However, this can cause the meat to spoil, developing dangerous bacteria. Also, never reuse a marinade that contained raw meat, because of the diseases associated.
Always cook food thoroughly. Some people may like their filet mignon pink in the middle, but make sure that it is never raw. With the exception of fresh fish, most meats are dangerous when consumed without cooking. Hamburgers should always be grilled at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit in order to get rid of contamination. Ground beef should be cooked all the way through, and chicken should be grilled at 165 degrees. Refrigerate or freeze any food that you are planning to save as soon as possible. Leaving food out gives it more opportunity to spoil. If exposed meats collect bacteria, it could send you to the hospital when you dine on the leftovers in the future.
If you use these grilling tips, you can better your barbecue safety and help to eliminate the possibility of food poisoning. If you were food poisoned at another's home, and they did not follow these instructions, then you may be able to sue. This depends on the extent of your pain and suffering, whether or not there was a trip to the hospital involved and how sever your illness was. Talk to a personal injury lawyer to determine whether or not you have a case.