Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Recommendations of Food safety
If you’re preparing food for a large group of people it’s particularly important to take care. Planning ahead can help – make food in advance if you can and store it in the fridge. If you’re short of space, move wine, beer and other drinks into a cool place, such as the garage. Even if people are waiting for food, don’t shorten cooking times, and always check everything’s cooked through before you serve it.
Barbeques:
When you cook food on a barbeque, it can be hard to tell when it’s done – the biggest risk of food poisoning is from undercooked meat. You can avoid this by lighting the barbeque well in advance and waiting until the coals are glowing red with a powdery surface – putting food on to cook before the flames have died down simply burns the surface and doesn’t cook the inside. Turn food often as you cook it and move the grill shelf up a level if things are starting to burn.
If you’re cooking for lots of people, it ‘s often easier to cook meat in the oven and then finish it off on the barbeque. Make sure any frozen meat is fully defrosted before you cook it, and check everything’s piping hot and cooked through before you serve it. Keep raw and cooked foods separate and use different plates and utensils for them. Keep salads, cheeses, dips and other perishable food in the fridge until the last minute.
Picnics:
If you’re having a picnic, don’t take perishable food such as cheese and meat out of the fridge until the last minute, and use a cool pack to keep it cold in the picnic box. Wash and cut up fruit, salad and vegetables before you leave, and try to wash your hands before eating or take antiseptic wipes.
Picnics can attract insects and birds, so keep food covered as much as possible and if you can’t find a bin to dispose of your rubbish, take it home with you.
Parties and buffets:
The same rules apply to buffets – wait until the last minute to take perishable food such as sandwiches out of the fridge. Try not to leave food out for more than a couple of hours – throw leftovers away or put them straight back in the fridge.
