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Safer Food Storage and Preparation
Safety in food
preparation and storage is always important, especially to maintain
good health during pregnancy. Avoiding food-borne illness requires
prevention. You can protect yourself by practicing basic safe
techniques of food handling at home and following some general
food safety tips below.
| Food Safety
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| To Do |
- Open egg cartons before purchasing and avoid cracked or leaking eggs.
- Use only pasteurized dairy products and apple juice.
- Buy dated foods only before the "sell by" or "use by" date and use within a few days at home.
- Separate raw seafood, meat, and poultry into plastic bags while shopping and storing to prevent contamination of other food products.
- Making
shopping your last errand before going home and quickly refrigerate
or re-warm items.
- Store
eggs in their original container and not in the door which is
not as cold.
- Store
fresh meats, poultry, and fish on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator
in plastic to avoid dripping on other foods.
- Refrigerate
or freeze foods in small containers so that it cools down faster.
- Keep
refrigerator at or below 40 F (4 C) and freezer at or below 0
degrees F (-18 C).
- Wash
hands, utensils, counters, and cutting surfaces with hot soapy
water to avoid contamination.
- Thaw
foods in the refrigerator.
- Wash
fresh vegetables and fruits well with water.
- Store oils
in a cool, dark location. Keep covered. Refrigerate if possible.
Buy only small amounts you can use within a two to three months.
- Cook
vegetables as quickly as possible and use as little fluid as you
can.
- Cook
vegetables by microwaving, steaming, or stir-frying
- Internal
temperatures of foods during cooking should reach the following:
- red meats: 140 F(60 C)
- poultry: 165 F(74 C)
- eggs: cook until white and yolk are firm and dry
- fish: until flaky
- reheat all foods to 165 F (74 C)
- Stir foods reheated in microwave often to allow even cooking.
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| Avoid or Limit
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- Avoid
raw or undercooked meats, poultry, or seafood such as sushi,
oysters, and clams.
- Soft
mold cheeses such as brie or camembert.
- Don't
thaw foods on the counter or in the sink at room temperature.
- Use
separate cutting boards for animal and plant products.
- Do
not wash eggs as this may cause bacteria on the outside
shell to get inside the egg.
- If
food smells or looks spoiled, always throw it out.
- Fried,
grilled and barbecued. Move racks or grills away from the
heat sources, cook more slowly, and wrap food in foil.
- Avoid
overcooking or adding lots of water to vegetables. This
dilutes nutrients.
- Processed,
salt-cured, smoked, nitrite-cured meats and foods. When
you can, buy fresh.
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