In observance of July being national grilling month, here are some summer grilling food safety tips.
Preparing
At home, refrigerate meat and poultry immediately. Raw meat and poultry always should be stored below other foods to prevent cross-contamination. Freeze ground meat and poultry that will not be used within two days. Larger cuts of meat, such as steaks, should be used within four days or properly wrapped and placed in the freezer.
Unwashed hands are a major cause of foodborne illness. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling food. To assure even heat distribution while cooking, completely thaw meat and poultry before grilling. Thaw meat or poultry in the refrigerator or by running cold water over sealed packages. Defrosting meat and poultry in the microwave is a safe practice if the food will be placed on the grill immediately.
Marinating is used to tenderize and add flavor to meat and poultry. Marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Don’t re-use meat marinades on cooked meats or other foods. If some of the marinade is to be used as a sauce on cooked food, reserve a portion before placing raw meat and poultry in it.
Shopping
When shopping, choose meat and poultry last, right before checkout. Keep meat, poultry and seafood separate from other groceries in your cart. Make the grocery store your last stop. Perishable foods, such as meat and poultry, should not be out of refrigeration for more than two hours (one hour if the temperature is above 90 F).
Transporting
■ Transport meat and poultry to the picnic site in an insulated cooler with plenty of ice or frozen gel packs. Transfer food directly from the refrigerator to the cooler just before leaving home.
■ Keep the cooler inside the vehicle (preferably air-conditioned) while driving and in the shade at the picnic site.
Please visit HOMEFIELD to shop our two grill products; The Big Green Egg ( 3 in one,grill,oven and smoker) and the Grilla ( wood pellet smoker). We have two showrooms convenient to the Austin, San Antonio, Hill Country and Corpus Christi areas. So please stop by one of our two HOMEFIELD showrooms at 1975 N IH 35 in New Braunfels TX or our Corpus Christi TX location at 1126 South Padre Island Drive to see all the wonderful outdoor living products we carry!
