BB-Q Do's and Don'ts

Memorial Day is just around the corner. Time to take your bathing suits out of storage and dust off the outdoor furniture...summer is here!! For many of you, the kick-off to summer usually means the start of the barbeque season. That said, it's also time to remind everyone of food safety, especially when it comes to dining alfresco. Before you weekend warriors spark up the grill here are a few do's and don'ts to keep in mind:

• Keep meat and poultry separate after purchasing to avoid cross contamination from any of the juices. Wrap each separately in plastic bags to be safe. 
• Already have food in the freezer? Frozen meats or poultry should be thawed in the refrigerator. Never leave foods out on the counter to thaw; you're just asking for trouble. No time for a slow thaw? You can also thaw wrapped meats and poultry in cool water or in the microwave. Foods that are only partially thawed before cooking will not cook as evenly. 
• Just like thawing, marinate your food in the refrigerator. If your marinade is so delicious and you want to use it while cooking, keep a portion aside. Never use the same marinade for cooking that you used for the raw food - throw that away as soon as you move the meat or poultry to the grill (or you can boil it to make sure you kill all the bacteria, but who has the time?)
• Don't use the same utensils or plates for raw and cooked food without cleaning them thoroughly first. 
• Cook foods to the appropriate temperature and keep a thermometer handy to check. 
• Poultry: 165 degrees 
• Hamburgers: 160 degrees (for medium)
• Beef, veal, lamb (i.e. steaks, chops: 160 degrees for medium, 145 for medium rare 
• Pork: 160 degrees 
• Keep cooked and prepared foods out of the danger zone! If you are not eating immediately, best to keep your foods covered to stay warm and cold items refrigerated until you are ready to eat. Bacteria thrive in temperatures between 40 degrees and 140 degrees. The rule to remember is...."Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold!"
• After your done enjoying your meal, don't leave food out in the heat for longer than an hour, especially mayonnaise-based foods. Any food left out for more than 2 hours, just throw out (in my house that's never a problem). Or to make it even simpler: "If in doubt, throw it out!" 

Start the summer off safe and healthy! Have a great Memorial Day weekend.