Separating Fact From Fiction In The Kitchen

Food Safety is a very important but often misunderstood part of everyday living. Let us face the facts of life and admit, some people keep a dirty house and don’t know jack when it comes to preparing food (those people shouldn’t be you or your friends.)  A lot of times people confuse getting a “24 hour Flu Bug” with what really happened which most likely is they ate something that wasn’t handled correctly.

With a little bit of care and common sense, a lot of hassles can be prevented, here are a few tips we put together to help separate fact from fiction in the kitchen.

Fiction: 

Food poisoning isn’t a serious matter.  Wait a few days and it will blow over.

Fact:  

Food-borne illness is a lot more serious than you may realize.  Some illnesses can lead to long-term health problems and in the worst cases, death.  According to the CDC, 48 million Americans get food poisoning each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.  Here are the facts on long-term effects of food poisoning.

Fiction: 

Thawing meat on the counter top is okay because frozen food doesn't harbor bacteria.

Fact:  Frozen foods can harbor bacteria!  Because bacteria grow surprisingly rapidly at room temperatures, your counter top is never a place to thaw foods. 

Check out the good folks over at food safety.org on how to properly thaw food. 

Fiction:  

The more bleach used to clean the kitchen, the better. Using more bleach kills more bacteria and is therefore safer for my family.

Fact:  

Actually, using more bleach is no more effective than using just one teaspoon of liquid unscented bleach to one quart of water.  To clean your kitchen properly, there is no need to use too much bleach.

Fiction:  

Washing fruits and vegetables is unnecessary because you plan to peel them.

Fact:  

Bacteria is easily transferred from the peel or rind to the inside of fruits and vegetables when being cut.  Wash all produce whether you plan to peel it or not.

Fiction:  

Rinse meat, poultry or seafood with water to get rid of the bacteria.

Fact:  

Rinsing with water is the last thing you want to do.  Splashing juices containing bacteria can contaminate your sink and counters, and result in an increase in your chances of getting food poisoning.  The correct way to cook meat, poultry, or seafood safely is to cook it to the right temperature.

Fiction:  

It's okay to eat food right away after it's been microwaved if it's not too hot.

Fact:  

Microwaved food should be allowed to rest ("standing time") to allow the food to cook more completely, to let the colder areas absorb heat from the hotter areas. 

Use a food thermometer if your ever in doubt.

Fiction: 

Leftovers are safe to eat until they emit an awful smell.

Fact: 

Bacteria that cause food poisoning cannot be detected by look, taste or smell of the food.  Don't guess about yours or your families safety.

Fiction:  

Since bacteria is killed during cooking, you have no need to worry once you consider it "done and ready to eat."

Fact:  

The opposite is true.  As the temperature lowers after cooking, the possibility of bacterial growth increases.  Keeping cooked food warmed to the right temperature is critical for food safety.

Fiction:  

Since marinades are acidic, which you believe kills bacteria, it's okay to marinate foods on the counter or in the sink.

Fact:  Bacteria grows rapidly at room temperature, even in acidic marinades.  Marinate foods in the refrigerator to prevent bacteria from thriving.

Fiction:  Washing fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent is the best way to clean them.

Fact:  

Truth is, soap and detergent can remain on the foods and are not fit for consumption.  Clean running water is the most effective way to wash produce properly.

Food Safety at home is an extremely important habit to develop for you and your family.  The entire food supply chain is responsible for delivering clean, safe food, and then, once it's in your hands, it's up to you to follow the Best Practices Possible.

Get into a "Food Safety Mindset" at the grocery store with these tips, and look for quality food brands that have your best health interests at heart.

Also, if you use a Reusable Bag, be sure to WASH them. A study released by the University of Arizona reveals that a high percentage of people don't wash these bags, allowing illness-causing bacteria to grow.