Food Safety

 

Cleaning out the house and closet isn’t the only thing that you should clean in the springtime. Updating your kitchen health is also a wonderful idea. Bacteria can still be lurking around your kitchen, attaching itself to many different surfaces. This includes utensils, cabinets, countertops, refrigerators, etc.

• Clean your countertop surfaces with warm water and soap. After drying, you can use chlorine bleach solutions or kitchen safe disinfectants as a second layer of protection. Once dried again, you can rinse it off with some cold water and wipe it dry. Be sure not to get any chemicals near food that is to be consumed.
• Kitchen sponges and scrubbers can easily carry bacteria that will fester there and spread over time. When cleaning the kitchen, try to use paper towels or cloths. Throw away the towels and wash the cloths in a hot cycle on your washing machine. Try to avoid the use of sponges for kitchen cleaning. Remember to replace them frequently so you do not spread bacteria to clean surfaces.
• Clean your refrigerator's often, not just once every season. Try to do it weekly or as often as you can. Clean any spills right as they happen to prevent cross-contamination amongst other products in the fridge. Rid your refrigerator of mold, mildew, and bacteria with warm water and soap, and try it with a towel. Avoid using chemicals like bleach and kitchen cleaners because it can contaminate your food as well as ruin components inside of the fridge.
• Also be sure to clean your drains disposal with warm water and soap or chlorine bleach. A lot of food rinses down, which means bacteria will also enter the drain and stay there.

Extra small tips:

• The weather is getting warmer, but your refrigerator shouldn’t! Remember to keep foods safe, the fridge should be at 40 degrees or below.
• Don’t leave perishables out for more than two hours without refrigeration or cooling.

More food safety information is provided at www.foodsafety.gov